Student 4 Life

Get Free Money for College in the Form of Unique Scholarships and Grants

Posted by: admin at October 5th, 2008

Here is an interesting twist on the scholarship front. Consider looking outside the norm, when applying for college scholarships……..

Finding out that you do not have enough money to go to college can be a real problem - especially if you have already looked at the more common avenues. The good thing is that there may still be a way for you to get money for college with an unusual college scholarship. These scholarships for students can be for just about anything - including things you probably never thought about. Take a look at these ten sample award possibilities.

1. The All-American Apple Pie Recipe Contest

This opportunity for a college scholarship will enable the winner to get a $500 scholarship, plus he or she will receive a $1,000 cash award. In addition, the winner will have the privilege of becoming the spokesperson (Ambassador) for the National Beef Association. Contestants are required to enter a national speaking competition.

5. Tylenol Awards for Students

This college scholarship from the Tylenol Company offers 170 students the opportunity to win either $1,000 or $5,000 scholarships for college. They are based on academic standings, as well as leadership ability, and the student needs to be going into the medical profession.

6. The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance Scholarship

This college scholarship goes to those who are overweight and in their high school senior year. It awards either $1,000 or $500 at two times. To qualify, you must already be a member of NAAFA and have a grade average of at least 2.5. You also must be in the New England area.

7. The Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship

Skateboards can win this award. You can be going to either a 2-year or a 4-year college, and you will need to have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. There are 4 awards each year, one for $5,000, and three for $1,000. You will need to write an essay about how skateboarding has positively affected your life in order to qualify.

8. National Rifle Association Scholarships

The NRA requires that you be an active association member with at least one rating (ability to shoot - Marksman, Sharpshooter, etc.). It offers a scholarship of $5,000 for the winning essay about why you became involved in shooting as a sport. The NRA also offers other college scholarships, too, including financial aid for the children of a law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty.

9. The Helen James Brewer Scholarship

This college scholarship is awarded to those who are descendants of a Confederate soldier. In order to qualify, you will have to be studying Southern history or literature and be from a Southern state, such Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, or South Carolina. The award is $1,000.

10. The Students for Organ Donation Youth Leadership

If you have agreed to be an organ donor when you got your driver’s license, then you qualify for a possible scholarship. Those who win the scholarship will be promoting organ donation. The Scholarship amounts available are $500 and $1,000.

These weird scholarships are just a few that are offered to college students. As you can see, there is a wide variety - but there is almost no limit to what is really out there. There are also scholarships for Start Trek fans, duct tape proms, golf, women, fire safety, horse lovers, herbivores, height-challenged people, and so many more. Students who work hard to find scholarships often succeed.

Managing Your Student Loans

Posted by: admin at September 30th, 2008

What is the one thing that most college students or recent college graduates have in common. Student loans. They are taken out by the majority of students to help combat the high expenses that go along with higher education. Scholarships can help, but there are many other expected expenses. Even if parents have saved for college, they often do not have enough to help with the everyday living costs that college students have during the course of their learning.

There are a variety of options when it comes to student loans. Most high school students in their senior year must begin the process of researching the different forms of fiscal aid available. A college loan can be a federally guaranteed loan, a private loan or a loan specifically for parents. It is important to understand the differences before you sign the lender agreement.

If you are a student and need to take out an student loans, then you will want to make sure that your loan does not require repayment, as long as you are enrolled in school. Loans such as the Stafford Loan are guaranteed through the Federal government and have a set interest rate. The loan note becomes due within six months of graduation or leaving school full-time. In order to file for these loans, you must fill out a Federal Application for Student Assistance. If you are independent from your parents and do not rely on them for support, make sure and notify the university or college before filling out the paperwork.

Once the paperwork is filled out and submitted it can take several weeks for the information to be processed. An education loan takes time to administer, so it is important to get your paperwork finished and submitted months before classes begin. The consequences of waiting too long to fill out the paperwork and submit it, could mean not having the funds available to pay for your tuition and books when the semester starts.

It would be a great world if everyone could go to college and not have to worry about money. student loans would be unnecessary and learners could concentrate on studying rather than worrying about their loan repayment or student credit card debt. Unfortunately, this is not a world where everything is free, but there are ways to get through school with a minimal amount of stress and worry about making ends meet. The student loan can help you pay for the things you need, when you need them.