Posted on 04/19/2009 3:12:29 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
BOULDER, Colo. — Sharon Harper, coordinator of scholarship services at the University of Colorado, posed a challenge to a group of college-bound students: Apply for a national scholarship granted to vegetarians, and a second one sponsored by McDonald's.
Her point: "There are scholarships out there for literally everybody," she said.
(In fact, Harper will buy a roll of duct tape for high-schoolers willing to go to prom in a dress or suit made of the material. Turns out, duct tape offers a $3,000 "Stuck at Prom" scholarship for such a wardrobe).
Financial-aid experts say the economic crisis, coupled with rising tuition, is causing more competition for private scholarships, as families scramble for ways to cover tuition and housing for their college-bound students.
Harper advises students to launch an aggressive search for scholarship money, starting their freshman and sophomore years in high school, looking everywhere from local community groups to national corporations for awards. Even check out the peculiar places, such as the local tall clubs that award money to men 6-foot-2 or taller and women 5-foot-11 or taller.
"The students who get the scholarships really put in the work and start early," Harper said.
Joelle Rickard, who will be graduating from Heritage High School in Littleton this spring, said she knew early on in high school that it would be difficult for her mother, who is in the education field, to pay her college tuition and room and board.
Rickard doesn't golf, but she started caddying at Glenmoor Country Club, motivated by the possibility of earning the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship, a full tuition and housing college scholarship funded by donations through the Western Golf Association.
She is now among 11 CU-bound, high school graduates this year who earned the scholarship, which is renewable for four years and requires strong caddying and academic backgrounds. Financial need is also considered.
"It was a big weight taken off of my shoulders," said Rickard, who has been accepted to CU's business school to study marketing.
Last year, 2,843 CU-Boulder students received $5.3 million in private scholarships. In 2007, 3,024 CU-Boulder students brought in more than $4 million dollars in private scholarships. Private scholarship award amounts vary from $250 up to $12,000, Harper said.
Application numbers signal there's increased demand for federal and institutional aid, as well.
Nationally, there has been a 20 percent increase in the number of students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid from the same period last year. In Colorado, 47,373 families have completed FAFSA, compared to 41,113 in 2008.
CU's Boulder campus this year has received more than 3,500 applications for the 100-some scholarships it awards. Last year, there were slightly more than 3,000 applicants for the same number of awards.
Elizabeth Kudner -- a CU graduate who co-founded the Boulder-based myUsearch.com -- said her company sets aside at least 10 percent of its profits for scholarships, which are awarded to students who use the Web site. The site is a college matchmaker, asking students questions and returning suggestions of colleges that fit their needs.
The Web site has invited students to submit essays on how colleges can improve the admissions process, and whether standardized tests like SATs and ACTs are fair predictors of college success.
"Even for students who are in a fairly good financial position, the cost of college can be a lot more than they anticipate," Kudner said.
This month's $1,000 scholarship question on myUsearch.com is for international and undocumented students and inquires: "How will the completion of a U.S. degree impact your life, your family and your home community?" Students can reply with an essay or video.
Amy Weinstein, the executive director of the National Scholarship Providers Association, said the group has more than 265 scholarship-granting members. The organizations have reported that they are receiving more applications than in past years, she said.
The good news for scholarship-seeking students is they don't need to have straight-A report cards, Weinstein said.
"There are some pretty amazing programs out there that are not just based on high academic merit," she said.
Whatever happened to scholarships based on merit, future career plans, and need?
And we wonder why so many college students flunk and/or drop out of college without ever earning a degree...
Caddy Shack.
Duct tape prom clothes are are real laugh though:
http://www.ducktapeclub.com/contests/prom/entries.asp
First we have the Rodentator, then Bill Murray hits someone with a golf ball, and now we have caddy scholarships. It’s like life is imitating Caddyshack.
Moonbattery
FMCDH(BITS)
In addition to scholarship opportunities, the country club members can often open doors. Our club offers free playing privileges (at less desirable times), and free golf lessons (worth hundreds of dollars). Being a golfer (with good etiquette) can open more doors for young professionals. In cooler climates, country clubs also want most of their caddys just in the summer, which is compatible with school.
I wish that my father had directed me to the local country club, when I wanted a high school job. Unfortunately, our family background made us unaware of the advantages (and ease) of getting a job as a caddy.
I don't want to sound racist but if you're white, middle-class and good grades you are SOL for anything but "unsubsidized loans."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.