How to Win Lots of Scholarship Money
By Dale Clifton, the Scholarship Doctor Want to Win a Lot of
Scholarship Money? Beginning in junior high/ middle school is a
great time to start. I'm serious. A winning scholarship effort
always requires a plan. And assembling a plan of action requires
time.
After one of my talks a happy couple asked me "Why do you think
starting in the 8th grade is the best time?" Before I could
answer they said, "We are telling our children in the fifth
grade to start working on winning scholarship contests and any
other contests that we find out about."
They Got Results! Before they left I discovered their first
child had already graduated from college with 50% paid by
scholarships only because they got a late start; or it would
have been 100%. They weren't going to make the same mistake with
their other student. I asked them what they thought was the
hardest part of a search. Their answer surprised me. "NOTHING!
There's just a lot to think about. We really didn't have a plan
then. Now we do. And now that we have heard your College
Scholarship Plan we're going to eliminate some things and add
others. We're glad we came to your seminar"
I met a senior, we'll call him "Jake", who was in the top third
of his class. His GPA was in the C+ B- range. I told him that
many scholarships had C+ qualifications or higher. Jake was
dumbfounded. He thought all college scholarships were for the
kids with really high GPAs. Later, in a letter, I learned that
Jake had won a scholarship that would enable him to go to
college.
Scholarship Doctor Rule #1 Make sure that you are on the same
page with your student and regardless of GPA, if he/she wants to
attend college, it will happen. And families can make it happen
by talking about it early, often, and openly.
Scholarship Doctor Rule #2 Start telling everyone you know about
your student's college and scholarship intentions. Broadcast it
morning, noon, and night to friends, relatives and
acquaintances. Do this not once or twice but continuously from
the 8th through 12th grades. Serious efforts require drastic
measures.
Scholarship Doctor Rule #3 Make it a goal for everyone in the
family to help your student win scholarships and attend college.
Scholarship Doctor Rule #4 Give the student enough space and
quiet time to study. Scholarship Doctor Rule #5 Be sure to offer
continuous encouragement.
And never forget: The college scholarship effort is truly a
family affair.