By now you know scholarships can really make a difference in your ability to pay for college. But are you prepared for the college cash quest? Or do you need a little help to get in gear? Take this quiz to find out. 1. When do you plan to start searching for scholarships? A. You got started in eighth grade, after you saw how much cash your older brother kissed goodbye for his tuition.
B. Sometime your sophomore or junior year.
C. Around the same time you order your graduation announcements. 2. Your guidance counselor is hosting a "Scholarship Search Night" at your high school in a couple of weeks. You: A. Tell your parents, so they can mark their schedules. There's no way the three of you are going to miss this!
B. Check your work schedule and try to arrange to make it. If not, you'll ask a friend to take good notes.
C. Figure it's not worth missing your favorite TV show. After all, it's the show's final season, but you have plenty of time to figure out this money thing. 3. For scholarship essays, you: A. Write numerous drafts before running it past your panel of editors—Dad, Mom, your guidance counselor and your English teacher.
B. Give your best effort and get feedback from at least one person.
C. Recycle essays you wrote for class assignments. 4. The deadline for a big leadership scholarship you're interested in is two days away. Your application: A. Arrived in the judges' office last week—you know because you paid extra for delivery confirmation.
B. Is ready to mail, after you proofread your essays one last time.
C. Is still in your backpack. It looks like you have a couple of late nights and a last-minute delivery ahead. 5. How familiar are you with scholarship websites? A. You've sent up free accounts at four of them already.
B. You picked up a brochure from your guidance counselor's office with a list of sites and looked at several of them.
C. You surfed a couple sites, but got distracted and started IM-ing your friends. 6. A teacher recommends a few scholarship books you can check out from the school library. You: A. Tell her thanks, but you already own the books.
B. Plan to swing by the library and pick up the books before leaving school.
C. Make a mental note to flip through the books next time you happen to be in the library. 7. The local Christian bookstore is sponsoring an essay contest for college-bound students. You: A. Are the one who suggested a scholarship program to the bookstore owner.
B. Apply. You figure you have a better chance at winning smaller scholarships than the big national competitions.
C. Never apply for these small scholarships. The grand prize won't even cover the cost of your books for one semester! 8. During the 30 minutes after school before soccer practice starts, you: A. Sort the scholarship e-mail alerts you're receiving from several free sites.
B. Do homework, talk to teachers or search online for scholarships.
C. Relax. 30 minutes isn't enough time to get anything done. 9. What reminds you about important scholarship deadlines? A. The highlighted dates in your school planner book.
B. You have a general sense of when applications are due, and you usually get them in on time.
C. Your Mom reminds you. 10. You've just heard that a scholarship expert is giving a seminar during your lunch hour. You: A. Plan to grab a snack from the vending machine so you can bypass the cafeteria line and be on time for the lecture.
B. Are glad you brought a sack lunch today. You can eat it in that lecture just as easily as in the cafeteria.
C. Don't really think about going. Who wants to sacrifice their one slot of free time? 11. How many scholarships will you apply for? A. As many as you can. You've got a standard essay written that you can adapt for different scholarship applications.
B. Around 10—a mix of big and small ones. You also think you have a good shot at some awards from the schools you're applying to.
C. One or two, if you have time. 12. You filed your FAFSA: A. As soon as they began accepting forms—right after January 1.
B. In plenty of time to meet the deadline.
C. FAFSA? Is that something like NASA? 13. Tuition for your dream school is way over your parents' budget (not to mention yours!). You: A. Apply anyway. With all the scholarships you plan to win, you'll have enough cash to cover tuition, room and board, books … and a hoodie with your new school's logo!
B. Call the school and talk to a financial aid advisor about available scholarships, loans and work-study options.
C. Convince yourself the school really isn't that great, and limit your applications to schools within your price range. 14. Filling out scholarship applications is like: A. Opening Christmas presents. You never know what's inside, so you just keep "opening" them!
B. Brushing your teeth. It's gotta be done, and it will pay off.
C. Cleaning out the basement. Talk about torture! 15. You've been singing ever since you learned to talk. When you hear about a scholarship for vocalists, you: A. Mail in one of your demo tapes. You made one last summer, just in case.
B. Register for an audition.
C. Don't even think about applying. Results:
If you scored mostly A's:
Keep up the good work! Your motivation and hard work will really pay off! You're setting yourself up to score some serious cash. Just beware of going overboard. You don't want to become a Scholarship Psycho who's so buried in applications and essays that you don't have time for other important things like family, friends, schoolwork and sleep! And remember to focus on those scholarships that will most likely produce some results. While it's great to apply for as many as possible, you'd be wise to make sure you're spending most of your time on scholarships that have a chance of winning you some cash. If you scored mostly B's:
Good for you! You know there's college cash out there, and you're determined to claim some of it for your own education—but you're not going overboard, and that's good. Still, be careful about passing up a few good possibilities. While you won't win them all, you'd be wise to apply for as many scholarships as possible. Stay on top of those deadlines, and don't skip the smaller scholarships—less competition means a higher chance of winning. And the dollars add up fast! If you scored mostly C's:
Sounds like you need a nudge to get you going—or maybe a shove! Hey, the money is out there, but it's not going to fall into your lap. You have to work for it. Why not set a reachable goal for yourself this week? Make an appointment with your guidance counselor or research scholarships online and choose three to apply for. Filling out those applications and writing essays may feel like a chore now, but you'll be glad later when you're free from hefty loans. |
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