College scholarships for the average student -- Page 2

For those who prefer flipping the pages of a book, Peterson's also publishes "Scholarship Almanac," which lists the 500 largest scholarships in the U.S. and Canada. But printed books of this type quickly get stale, and though the information may be well-organized, you don't get the customization of an online search.

Registration is required at each of the Web sites to conduct a search. Note the privacy provisions before divulging personal information at these or any sites that offer college scholarship information.

There's gold in them thar sites
Some scholarships demand a minimum-level grade-point average or demonstrated ability in a particular field, but many don't. For instance, the First Data Western Union Foundation Scholarship Program "looks beyond criteria such as grade-point average, SAT scores, school rank or career choice, which often underestimate the true potential of an individual." Applicants must demonstrate financial need for this one. Scholarship amounts range from $500 to $3,000.

If your college student lists "reading" as an activity she enjoys, chances are good that she'll run across the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest at one or more of the scholarship search sites. The book by Ayn Rand was originally written in 1957 and runs more than 1,000 pages in length. So the commitment to read it and then write about it may occupy your daughter for much of the summer. First prize is $5,000, and last year the contest attracted 1,200 essays. (The 2005 entry deadline is Sept. 16.)

Sometimes just sheer desire to study abroad may turn up opportunities, even if a student lacks knowledge of a foreign language. For instance, Ambassadorial Scholarships through Rotary International enable recipients with no foreign language proficiency to study abroad for three to six months. The organization also offers stays for an entire academic year to those who do demonstrate some foreign language proficiency. The value of the award ranges from $13,000 to $25,000, and it pays for round-trip fare, tuition, fees, room and board expenses and supplies.

It's open to students in any field of study. Interested applicants should inquire at their local Rotary Club. I know someone who spent a year in Australia, thanks to the largess of his local Rotary Club.

Obviously, looking into these scholarships is time consuming, and so is fulfilling the requirements of those that match your kids' interests or abilities. It may be a long shot, but the effort can pay off.

For instance, the Paul Zindel First Novel Award requires submission of children's fiction running 100 to 240 typed pages in length. The prize money is only $1,500 but the winner (age 18 or older) also lands a book contract from Hyperion Books. Even if your kid doesn't win, it's an excellent way for him to pass the time.

Some corporate contests offer big prize money, most notably Intel's Science Talent Search, with 40 scholarship awards ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. Or maybe, by virtue of the fact that your parents come from Poland, your son might be eligible for the Pulaski Scholarship. It doesn't hurt to try.

Avoid scholarship scams
Just be leery of any offers from scholarship search services or clearinghouses that promise to get you a scholarship for a fee. While some services may be legitimate, chances are the list of scholarships they produce for you will be no better or worse than the ones you can find on your own.

The Federal Trade Commission warns consumers to be on the lookout for scholarship search firms that guarantee a scholarship; promise to do all the work; charge money for information or applications; claim to have access to proprietary information unavailable elsewhere; or request credit card or checking account information.

If your children spend the summer earning money at a regular job, that's a good thing. But in their spare time, put them to work at the computer, researching scholarship opportunities. Even if they don't win one this year, it gives them practice for next year. And if they do land a scholarship, while it may not pay for all their college expenses, it could make a big dent.

Longtime financial journalist Barbara Mlotek Whelehan earned a certificate of specialization in financial planning.

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