January 2003 / Scholarships for High School Seniors
Ask the Superintendent: Scholarships for High School Seniors Superintendent's Column Peninsula Clarion D. Peterson January 2003 |
For high school seniors the second semester is a time when the rubber meets the road. This is the time of year that questions regarding post secondary training programs, colleges, the military, and other life options frequently arise. Foremost on everyone's mind is finding money to pay for an education which seems to always be an issue. So, what's a parent to do? It is never too soon to begin searching for answers to the above questions. One great resource for parents and students is the internet. Although school counselors can provide a much more extensive list of internet resources, the following will provide a starting point:
Beware of scholarship sites asking for money to apply, stating that you have won a contest you never entered, or guaranteeing money, as it is probably too good to be true. The best advice is to apply for all scholarships and awards, even if the dollar amount seems small or the criteria are only slightly met. Every dollar awarded is a dollar not needed from other sources. As a reader of scholarship and grant applications for many years, I have compiled some tips below that may be helpful for students putting together portfolios: Keep everything
Remember your audience
Be real
Start early and choose your recommendation writers well
Often, parents are at a loss at how to advise their student regarding selection of career and appropriate education for that career, whether the student should choose a narrow or more general field of study, whether a student should go out of state or stay in state for an education, or whether learning a trade is preferable to attending college. Unfortunately, there are not clear answers for any of these questions. Current research shows today's graduates will have several careers in their lifetime. Dependability, a good work ethic, and responsibility are just a few of the skills each student needs to learn to be successful beyond high school and as a contributing member of society. The events along the path to a career are often as important as the career itself. As with many things in life, a few students will get lucky and without much thought or time actually land "full ride" tuition, immediately get accepted at the school of their choice, and land the perfect job in their chosen career field. However, the majority of students will need to invest time and energy into applying, sometimes multiple times without success, to make their dreams come true. |