College scholarships offer many people the opportunity to achieve their educational goals. Don't let the financial aspect of college deter you from striving towards educational success. There are thousands of scholarships available, for absolutely everyone.

Scholarships are available for different ethnicities, abilities or disabilities. There are athletic scholarships available, as well as graduate school scholarships. If you can dream, or do it, a scholarship is available to help you make those dreams a reality. Before beginning your quest for a scholarship, keep in mind the following:

1. Give yourself at least six months to a year to search for education scholarships before entering the school or your choice.

2. Visit your college or school financial aid office and ask about scholarships available.

3. Utilize scholarship websites on the Internet to find the right financial aid for you.

4. Apply for as many college scholarships as you can.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Apply for college scholarships at least six months to a year before you plan to start college

The scholarship journey can be a lengthy process. It is important not to procrastinate--most scholarships have important application deadlines. Once receiving a scholarship, it may take some time to receive the check or reimbursement, so it is crucial to give yourself plenty of time before you need the scholarship.

I recommend: Sallie Mae offers in depth information about different types of scholarships available as well as helps to determine the qualities you must possess to be eligible. QuestBridge, a non-profit organization, provides financial scholarships that supply low-income individuals with incredibly dedicated minds. It gives a timeline for paying for college.

Ask your college or university's financial aid office for information on education scholarships

Most colleges and universities offer scholarship opportunities for incoming students. You can visit the financial aid office or call to inquire about scholarships and grants available from your school. In many cases, the financial aid department can provide you with application forms, contact information and the deadline for the application.

I recommend: Visit College Board, which will show comparisons of university scholarships and grants available, to help find the best program for you. Phi Theta Kappa is a National Honors Society for students already enrolled in a two-year college. They also have information and scholarships available for those ready to enter into state universities.

Search for different types of education scholarships

Whether you are in search of an art scholarship or minority scholarships, you will find an abundance of scholarship information.

I recommend: The number one site for scholarships and grants is FastWeb. Sign up and receive information on custom scholarships and grants that match your own personal profile. Scholarships for Hispanics offers scholarships available for individuals who come from a Hispanic family.

Fill out and apply for as many college scholarships as you can

Scholarships have a tedious process, and not everyone who applies for a scholarship will receive funds. You can have scholarships from a variety of sources, as long as you use the money to pay for educational expenses, which can include room and board and school supplies. Apply for as many scholarships as you can, which will help increase your chances at receiving enough funding for school.

I recommend: Student Scholarship Search offers a search engine based on scholarships for college. If you are worried about the scholarship process, Scholarship Help will give you detailed information, tips and tricks on how to make your application process successful.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Applying for scholarships can be tedious. If you struggle with where to start, call up your college adviser and set up a meeting to discuss your goals. Your adviser will help point you in the right direction.

College scholarships are a wonderful option when paying for college. Unlike loans, you do not have to repay the money from college scholarships. Every year colleges award their students tens of thousands of dollars in student scholarships.

If you or your child is preparing to enter college, it makes sense to spend time finding scholarships to reduce the amount of money you will pay.

1. Academic scholarships are an option for those with excellent grades. In addition to outside scholarships, many colleges offer full tuition scholarships to a limited number of students who have a high level of academic achievement.

2. When people think of athletic scholarships, they often think of basketball and football, but colleges offer athletic scholarships for all varsity sports, and many of the smaller colleges do not expect you to be a world-class athlete to receive one of these scholarships.

3. For the student who is neither an academic or athletic all-star, there are many other options, including scholarships for community service, artistic interests or related to the field of study.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Cast a wide net when looking for scholarships for college

Completing a scholarship application is not time consuming. Compile a list of scholarships that you qualify for, sit down and begin the application process. Winning scholarship money is like a sales job, a numbers game. As long as you complete the application correctly and apply for scholarships that you are qualified for, you will increase your chances by applying for more scholarships.

I recommend: Search engines like FastWeb and NextStudent allow you to search for student scholarships by major, qualifications and other filters.

Prepare to take advantage of all scholarship opportunities

Every year, organizations have scholarships that they do not award because no one applies for them. It is easy to assume that the top graduates in each class receive all of the scholarships, but this is not true. While you should apply for smaller, locally oriented scholarships, invest the time in scholarships that offer a large award as well.

I recommend: Perfect your scholarship application before putting it into the mail. JustColleges has an excellent article on preparing the scholarship application. If your application includes an essay, consider having it reviewed by an editor, like those available at GradeSaver. If this is not possible, have a parent or friend review the essay before sending it out. A second set of eyes often catches mistakes and typos that you may have missed.

Ask about special graduate school scholarships

If you have your heart set on a particular college, call or email to set up an appointment with the financial counselor. For graduate scholarships in particular, it can be difficult to find all of the available resources.

I recommend: Both The Princeton Review and FindTuition.com have graduate school scholarship searches. However do not limit yourself to those options. After a graduate program accepts you, make arrangements to speak with the financial counselor at that school and inquire about potential grant and fellowship opportunities.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Scholarships for college may be taxable; consult a tax adviser to find out.
• •  Fee based scholarship services may save some time, but they do not use different databases than the ones you can access on the Internet.
• •  If you have difficulty locating graduate scholarships because you are returning to school part-time, ask your employer about tuition reimbursement plans.