Reduce College Debt with Scholarships

Six Scholarship judges were sitting around an oval table. Forms were piled into 50 boxes. Each one had the name of a state. I looked at the boxes and wondered why some of them were overflowing and others had just a few. This was the first round of judging. By the time the contest was over almost 16,000 applications would be examined. Some of the comments were really critical, "Why did this person bother to send in an application? It's so sloppy." "This person put the wrong address on the envelope, even though the correct one is at the top of the application." One had a cassette tape inside. We played it and it was a country song. The applicant was a good musician.

That was twelve years ago, and many people still do not know or realize that College Scholarship Planning could reduce or totally eliminate college financial debt.

One of the first questions I am always asked is, "When should we start looking?" Then some answer their own question with, "I'll bet we're too late already huh?" The ideal time is to start is the 8th grade to freshman year. Good planning starts early, but scholarships are posted monthly, and if you start planning early, you have a chance to win, big. Many win the very first time. If you are a junior or senior in high school, go for it. But remember, your chances to win increase with every completed application.

You should start College Scholarship Planning even if there is a chance your child may decide not to go to college. But if the decision is yes, you will have everything in place. And the planning experience is more than filling out a few applications.

Another common concern is assuming your family income is too high to win scholarships. Fact: 80% of all scholarships are need based and income related, but 20% are not. This means millions of dollars are still available. It makes good solid financial sense to make an effort to win scholarship money regardless of income.

Always remember: the college scholarship effort is truly a family affair.

©2005 The Scholarship Doctor, Dale Clifton - All Rights Reserved - Dale is an educational consultant and expert at helping families win college scholarships. To learn more about planning to win scholarships, visit http://ScholarshipDoctor.com

In The News:

Simple Ways to Save Money

Things are so expensive these days. We seem to be... Read More

Government Grants - Beware of Scams

As the saying goes: "Buyer Beware". If you see ads... Read More

Benefits of Personal Finance Software

In this age of information, keeping track of your finances... Read More

Portfolio Planning can Lead to Irreconcilable Differences

The judge had to ask the question, and we had... Read More

Can You Afford Not To Look After Your Personal Finances?

Investing is a subject a lot of people don't want... Read More

Should You Borrow From Your 401(k) Account?

If you have a 401(k) account, it can be very... Read More

Are You Ready To Be Fired?

Your boss has just informed you that your department is... Read More

Live Green; Save Green!

Have you seen the recent article on a new "green"... Read More

How You Feel Affects How You Shop & How Much You Spend

Have you ever stopped to think about how your "mood"... Read More

Single Mother Resources Directs You Towards Success

As a parent you are bound to face a few... Read More

Developing a budget? Watch out for Those Budget-Bursting Gremlins

If you've developed a household budget to get your spending... Read More

Financing Collectibles for Fun and Profit

With the advent of the internet and especially auction services... Read More

Dramatically Improve Your Stock Trading Success

Get Access to Realistic profitable strategies & discover the mindset... Read More

Organizing Your Finances - Thinking Outside the (Shoe) Box

If you're like most people, your personal financial records are... Read More

Honor Those Who Serve with Checking Account Supplies

Our global society has had a wake up call in... Read More

Save Money on Groceries: Part I

One universal of humanity, no matter who you are or... Read More

Affording a Home

Can you really afford a house? If so, how much... Read More

Roth IRA Contributions - IRS Rules

Confused about whether you can contribute to a Roth IRA?... Read More

How to Draw a Personal Budget that Works

Many people spend their little income haphazardly without any planning... Read More

Bank On It: Places to Hide and Invest Money

Today I passed a thermometer at a bank that read... Read More

Single Mother and Learning how to Save

Saving may seem easier if you were saving for a... Read More

Personal Loans For Homeowners ? One Of The Numerous Rewards For Being A Homeowner

You no longer look at the pictures of homes cause... Read More

How To Reap The Rewards With Rewards Programs

Recently, many of these loyalty rewards programs have come to... Read More

Your Dry Cleaner?s Double Standard

Women are charged more for dry cleaning services. Don't fume,... Read More

Save Money on your Clothing Budget. Tame the Closet Monster!

Reducing the clothing budget was a serious challenge for me.... Read More