Do all scholarships work for all colleges?

Scholarships Available in the State of Georgia?

• I'm not in high school yet, but I will be come August. I know it will be a few years before I really have to worry about applying for colleges and things like that, but I'm still concerned for my future. My family is struggling with financial troubles and both my mom and dad work extremely hard to provide for us. I'm a straight A student and a very hard worker, and I don't intend to change that through out high school, either. I know there is the HOPE Scholarship, but there is talk that by the time I graduate the requirement to qualify will be raised to a 4.0 GPA or it will no longer be around. This has had me thinking about what other scholarships are out there that I can strive for. My mama and daddy have already given me so much and done so much for me, and I don't want them to have to worry about paying for my college education. So, if you can tell me what kinds of scholarships would be available to me in the state of Georgia and the basic requirements to qualify, I would seriously appreciate it. Thanks so much!

• Answer:

  It's great that you are already thinking ahead to college. Most kids put it off and wait too long to start searching for scholarships. Don't limit yourself to only those in GA though. There are merit-based (grades), need-based (income), athletic, creative, institution-specific, major-specific and much more available through private scholarship providers. Here are some tips to get you started: 1. Start a free profile with at least 2 scholarship search sites. I suggest ScholarshipExperts.com and Collegeboatrd.org 2. Once you complete your profile, arrange your list by deadline date. 3. Choose 5-10 per month to complete, starting with the one with the closest deadline 4. Check other resources for scholarships too, such as your guidance counselor, parents employers, church, local clubs/organizations, banks and even the library, 5. Check and update your scholarship accounts monthly to ensure you don't miss an opportunity and continue to apply every month until your graduate from college with your degree. If you'd like some more help with the college planning process, finding colleges and figuring out how much college will cost, check out WiseChoice.com. It has some pretty cool tools to help you figure out where to go and what major amy be good for you. Keep your grades up, volunteer and get involved in school activities, as these will all give you additional scholarship opportunities. You are on the right track, so stay focused and keep up the good work!