Meridian Career Institute presents

A Learning Resource Center Seminar

Searching for Scholarships

First things first! fafsa.ed.gov Before applying for ANY scholarships - complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at: fafsa.ed.gov

Create a free Web-based email account just for scholarship responses!

Yahoo email is a very popular choice. yahoo.com Yahoo email is a very popular choice.

Hotmail is another. hotmail.com

Gmail has many added features, making it an excellent choice. gmail.com

Create a document to keep track of all the Scholarships for which you are applying.

This is an example of a Spreadsheet used to keep track of scholarship applications.

Now you’re prepared to dig for the gold!

Google the word “scholarships” with any of the following: Google the word “scholarships” with any of the following: * Your field of study * Your ethnic background * Your disability (if any)

Scholarships and “field of study”

Scholarships and “ethnicity”

Scholarships and “disability”

Read over the scholarship details to see if you are eligible to apply.

If you are eligible, put the details into your document right away and save it.

Sign up with TWO (or more) scholarship matching services, such as: Sign up with TWO (or more) scholarship matching services, such as: * FastWeb.com * Collegeboard.com * Scholarships.com * Nextstudent.com

www.fastweb.com

Complete the requested information.

Collegeboard.com

Complete the requested information.

Scholarships.com

Complete the requested information.

Nextstudent.com

Many scholarship applications require an essay.

Get help writing your essay by taking the LRC’s “How to Write a Research Paper/Essay Seminar.”

Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) from your teachers and other professionals.

Check the LRC’s blog for Letter of Recommendation postings.

Search for “Letter of recommendation”

Two results appear. Click on the title to view the blog posting.

This is the first title that appeared in the search results.

This is the second title that appeared in the search results.

Watch out for Scams!

A scholarship offer might be a scam if: You are asked upfront for a fee (it might be called an application fee, processing fee, origination fee, guarantee fee, default fee, or insurance fee). You are asked for your social security number, bank account number, or credit card number.

There are scam artists in EVERY field, including the scholarship field.

Scholarship notifications are ALWAYS done by mail.

If someone calls you on the phone to notify you that you won a scholarship, BEWARE!

Do NOT hire anyone to apply for scholarships for you!

Remember, YOU must write any required essays and YOU must get your own Letters of Recommendation.

Start searching for scholarships TODAY!!

If you have any questions, please see your Librarian.