Did you know that millions of dollars of college funding goes unclaimed every year? It's time to claim your fair share.

The hunt for scholarship money can seem a little daunting, but the payoff can be well worth your time and effort. What's the key to success? Motivated, energetic research— a process you have already started by reading these very words.

Start Early.
Give yourself plenty of time to find what you are looking for and apply for it. Missed deadlines are nobody's fault but your own, and even the most benevolent organization will usually not make exceptions to deadline rules.

Use All Resources and Strategies Available to You.
Don't hobble your search by ignoring possibilities you don't know much about. Investigate everything, because you never know when an unlikely source of funding may decide to grant you a scholarship. Look everywhere you can, using every tool available to you. Be sure to use the power of the Internet. Anything else would be cheating yourself.

Know What You Are Looking For.
On the other hand, when it becomes clear that a particular source is not appropriate for you, move on. If you are going to be an undergraduate student and you find a listing of graduate aid, it is probably pointless to follow that path any farther.

Follow All Steps and Instructions.
You would be surprised at how many people ignore this simple advice. Remember, you are asking for assistance with your education. The least you can do is precisely follow the instructions given to you. One of the qualities these organizations might be looking for is an ability to read and understand instructions and deadlines.

Be Confident and Self-Assured, but Polite and Respectful.
You need to have a good self-image, a high level of confidence in your abilities, and pride in your past achievements. But remember, nobody owes you anything, and if you treat people with anything less than polite respect, you are almost automatically proving yourself to be unworthy of their assistance. Just show folks the same respect and courtesy that you'd expect to be shown.

Remember to Thank Those Who Have Helped.
Remember, the most that many of these organizations and individuals receive in return for their generosity is the occasional thank you (and maybe a tax deduction!). An expression of gratitude will confirm that they have made the right choice, and it will lay the groundwork for possible renewals.

Don't Pay Anyone to Do This Work for You.
Believe it or not, there are many scholarship scams out there. To learn more about this subject, the FTC in 1996 inaugurated "Project $cholar$cam," an educational campaign to alert students and parents about fraudulent scholarship companies. These warnings can be found on its website www.ftc.gov.
 

Scholarships You May Not Know About

There are so many available scholarships for just about everything under the sun. There's definitely one out there for you. Start looking!