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As I submitted the last of my 10 college applications, I finally felt free from months of stress. No more personal statements. No more teacher recommendations. And having already been accepted early to Harvard, I thought I could enjoy the remaining days of my senior year without slaving over another application. But I was wrong. Soon after that fleeting moment of freedom, I found myself filling out more applications, this time for scholarships. On a recent Thursday morning, I was in my counselor's office completing one for a Bank of America scholarship - yet another laundry list of extracurricular activities, employment experiences and awards. Don't let the extra work discourage you, however, because there's more than a billion dollars of scholarship and grant money waiting for you to take. And who would turn down free money? Just a couple hours of effort may reward you with hundreds or thousands of dollars. For instance, I recently earned $1,000 by becoming a semifinalist in the Intel Science Talent Search, for which I submitted a chemistry research project. That money won't cover the $20,000-plus private education price tag each year, but at least it will pay for my books. And you don't have to be an up-and-coming scientist to earn scholarships: You just have to find one that's right for you. To begin your search, you should probably talk to your school counselor. He or she might be able to provide you with a list of potential scholarships, especially those sponsored by local organizations such as the Southern California Ronald McDonald House. You can also discover a treasure trove of scholarships by simply logging onto the Internet. There are countless websites - fastweb.com, collegeNET.com, scholarships.com and fastaid.com. Among these websites, the best and most popular is probably fastweb.com. It only takes a few minutes to fill out a personal profile, and voila, you'll have access to a long list of scholarships suited to your interests. The website will even act as your personal scholarship secretary, notifying you of new opportunities or last minute deadlines via e-mail. What you find might surprise you. Sure, there are always the typical ones that require you to write an essay about "why I deserve this scholarship." But if you strive for the less ordinary, you may find some unique offerings that are perfect matches for your personality. The Tall Club of Orange County provides $500 to $750 for high-achieving females taller than 5 feet 10 inches or males taller than 6 feet 2 inches. Indeed, free money for college is really only a click away. You just have to know where to find it. The only problem now is finding the time to fill out those pesky scholarship applications. Ryan Moy is a senior at Troy High School in Fullerton. |
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