Obtaining a college scholarship may seem like a lot of work, but it is worth the effort. Unlike a student loan, a college scholarship does not have to be paid back; in essence you are obtaining a college education for free. You can obtain a college scholarship directly through the university, called an academic scholarship, athletic scholarship, or departmental scholarship. There are several other scholarships available as well. Different companies and organizations offer scholarships to students each year. A college scholarship is truly a blessing to a student that doesn't have the funding to pay for tuition.

Scholarships are normally given to students that excel in a particular skill. This could be in writing, mathematics, athletics, or other areas. Each year, around 3 billion dollars are given out as scholarships to worthy students. Several of these scholarships are given by outside programs.

One of the best ways to find a college scholarship is to start looking around locally. Are there pageants, shows, performances, or other things you can participate in? The Miss America Pageant was created to award a talented young woman with a college scholarship. Do a local search and see if there are some scholarships out there. Grocery stores, libraries, and banks often have bulletin boards that are full of information from businesses willing to award scholarships.

If you are religious, speak to your religious leader about a college scholarship. Some religions have a separate scholarship program for their members. Visit the city office and join clubs that award scholarships. Do everything you can to become involved in your city and you will start to network with businesses and find out what organizations are offering scholarships.

Don't wait too late to start working on your college scholarship. If you are in high school, start as a sophomore. You need to get involved as early as possible. Once you hear about some of the scholarships, start applying as soon as possible. Scholarships always have deadlines and if you miss it by a day, your name will be thrown out.

Contact your state office to see if there are any scholarships available. You may be on the phone with 10 different people before you find the right person to talk to, but it will be worth it. Several states have excess money that they disperse in college scholarships each year.

If you are currently employed, ask your employer if they offer scholarships. If they don't currently offer one, suggest that they do it as an employee reward. Some companies will offer one scholarship to their employees each year and if you are randomly selected, you get to obtain your schooling for free.

Contact the University and student organizations (clubs) to find out if there are some scholarships available. If you don't qualify for the University scholarships (academic, athletic, etc.) speak to the different departments at the University. You may be able to get at least one year of schooling paid for through the Family and Consumer Sciences Department or the Communication Department. Speak with the clubs at the University like the Science Club or the fraternities and sorties. Several clubs offer one scholarship each year to students that meet the requirements.

Once you have found a few scholarships, what do you do next? Here are a few tips to help you out:

Tip # 1 - Read all the requirements. Before you absent-mindedly fill out the application for a scholarship, you need to know what you are getting into. Do you have to pay any fees for the scholarship? Anyone that wants you to pay a fee for a scholarship is scamming you. Read through the requirements to make sure you are actually eligible for the scholarship. You also need to understand what the expectations are if you obtain the scholarship. Most scholarships require that you take at least 12 credit hours and you maintain a 3.5 grade point average or higher.

Tip # 2 - Follow the instructions to the "T". When you complete the application and mail it in, it will be denied if you have an error or a misspelling. Always read through the application after you complete it and have someone else read it. This way you will know if you missed any questions and if there are any errors.

Tip # 3 - Contact the company offering the scholarship if you have questions. When you are filling out the application, you may run into a few new things that you do not fully understand. Never hesitate to ask for clarification. You want to make sure the application is right and that you include everything you need to like samples of your writing.

Tip # 4 - Include personal information. Most applications will require that you submit an essay. When you write the essay, make sure it includes a bit of your personality. Don't just write an essay that is dry and informative, this will blend in with all the other essays and it won't make you stand out from the other applicants.

Tip # 5 - Make sure the application is neat. This doesn't only mean that you need to write clearly, it also means that it needs to be organized and packaged well. One way to make your application stand out is to mail it via Certified mail or through another carrier like UPS or FedEx.

After you submit your scholarship, you get to play the "waiting game". The company or University will contact you if you are selected for the scholarship. Even if you aren't selected, you will receive a letter explaining their decision to select another student. If you are denied your request for a scholarship, talk to a counselor at the University. They may be able to connect you with other scholarships you haven't found on your own. They may also help you with the applications to make sure they are correct and that you include all the necessary information.

If you are denied your request for a scholarship, try to attend the University with your own funding, even if it is only for a class. Once you are a student, join as many organizations as you can. Get involved with several clubs and get involved in your community. Once you are "in" it will be easier to receive a scholarship for your schooling for the next year. Most scholarship programs like to award scholarships to students that are involved. They like students that have been on student government or in clubs at their high school. If you can get into clubs in high school, keep track of the things you do and the community service you do. The more experience you have in these areas, the better it looks for your application. Some cities even offer scholarships to students that have been involved in the community.

Another thing you need to look at is your GPA. It is important to have good grades if you are trying to get a scholarship. Once you are awarded a scholarship, it can be revoked if you have poor grades your first semester. Do everything you can to keep your grades up, even if this means you need to spend several hours with a tutor each week.

Try to find a "full scholarship". These scholarships will pay for your entire education, books, fees, and other expenses that are related to college. If you aren't awarded a full scholarship, try to find one that pays for at least your tuition and books. The only cost you will need to pay for is your cost of living expenses.

If you are still in high school, talk to your guidance counselor and find out if they have any information about scholarships. Several guidance counselors have connections with Universities and they can find extra scholarships. There are various types of scholarships available from gender, academic performance, race, location, service, to specific programs. Guidance counselors can also help you prepare the application for a scholarship and they can provide you with a letter of recommendation. Guidance counselors are a great resource for high school students because they have connections with several organizations.

Another place you can check for college scholarships is internet sites. Several web sites will offer free scholarships if you sign-up to their web site. Then, your name will be drawn out from a pool and you will receive a scholarship. Check the web sites of state-wide companies and search for "community" links. They will provide information about events they are hosting where they will offer free prizes, which could be a scholarship. Attend local sporting events and visit the sponsorship booths. Banks and mortgage companies are known for giving out free scholarships if you compete in an event.

Keep your eyes open when you are looking for a college scholarship. Get involved in the community and with other clubs and organizations. You don't have to rely solely on athletics and academic performance anymore to obtain a college scholarship. With 3 billion dollars worth of college scholarships being awarded each year, you deserve to cash in on this money and get your college education paid for.