10 Scholarship Tips for Parents

1. Devote one day per week to working on scholarship applications – Applying for Scholarships can be just as stressful as preparing for graduation or sitting for College Entrance Exams so it is best to devote one day per to completing applications, writing essays, and requesting recommendations.
2.  Stay connected to the process – Stay in tune to what scholarships your child is applying for and where they are in the process. Reading over their applications and essay checking for spelling and grammar issues, if you don’t feel comfortable doing so there are several companies who you can hire to do so. 
3. Be honest with your child about the costs of education as it relates to the family’s finances – It is important to let your child know the costs of education and not a blanketed statement but the actual cost of attendance even if they have already received or plan to receive a scholarship. Also let them in on the family’s finances and what the family can afford to contribute to their education. This information will provide them details on where they are and what they need in order to attend their choice school.
4.  Assist with the scholarship search - Searching for scholarships and completing applications can be overwhelming so make sure you take the time out to assist your child with the scholarship search. Utilize the guidance counselor from their high school, the financial aid office from the school(s) in which they plan to attend, and the internet to assist with your search.
5.  Make it easy to apply – There are some things that you can have on hand in order to make the process very easy and seamless. Make sure you have the following on hand: standard, generic letters of recommendation from teachers and guidance counselors, transcripts, and a strong personal statement. 
6. Pay attention to deadlines – Most scholarships have deadlines and it is necessary to apply before those dates arrive if you want an opportunity to receive the scholarship. Make sure you find a filing and organization method that works best for you and your child.
7. Start early and get organized – It is never too early to start searching for scholarships, my mom actually started looking for me when I was in the 7^th grade. Yes, there are scholarships that you can receive for college as early as the 7^th grade possibly even earlier so you want to make sure that you get started early so you can meet all deadlines. It is also imperative to be organized. It is best that students learn as much as they can about scholarships as early as a year ahead of time so they are prepared once they are eligible to apply.
8. Encourage your child to apply and continuing encouraging them –Always encourage your kids to apply even when they think they cannot meet the all of the requirements push them to apply. There are so many students who don’t apply for scholarships for various reasons therefore there are several scholarships that are let untouched so make sure your child completes the application prior to the deadline because the committee just might make an exception for your child.
9. Use several sources to apply for scholarships – Ask the guidance counselor and teachers about where to apply for scholarships, also seek assistance from the financial aid office of the school in which they plan to attend. You can also check with organizations that you belong to and finally try online scholarship sites that can provide you with a list of places in which to apply for certain types of scholarships. i.e. fastweb.com, scholarships.com, studentscholarshipsearch.com.
10. Check with your employers – A lot of times your employers will have scholarship programs available not only for you but your dependents so make sure you check with your employer to see if they have any options available.