September 25, 2008 by Mara Strom It’s time for our weekly round-up of scholarships with upcoming deadlines.  I’ve got a really exciting new opportunity for you this week, so I hope you will have a chance to work on your college scholarship applications this weekend. Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Are you interested in studying abroad?  One of the conundrums for many students who want to study abroad is that their financial aid might actually be in jeopardy depending on what program they choose.  That’s because if you receive scholarships directly from your college or university, you can only get that assistance if you pick a study-abroad program sponsored by your school. But let’s say you really want to go to Ireland and your college doesn’...

August 14, 2008 by Mara Strom It’s the middle of the August and the scholarship pickings continue to be slimmer than normal. The pace will pick up in the fall, though, and by November, you’ll need to plot out your application strategy in an Excel chart. In other words, enjoy the quieter season and the opportunity it provides to focus on some of the other pressing money matters for college, like picking a meal plan or snagging a deal on your textbooks. Of course, I do still have two great scholarship opportunities for you today! And winning just one of these could cover a major chunk of your costs, so be sure to check them out. 1. True Patriot Scholarship: $25,000 You might remember reading about this scholarship back on July 4, when I did a spotlight on Independence Day-inspire...

July 17, 2008 by Mara Strom July is more than half-way through, which means you’re probably starting to think about heading off (or back) to school. Believe it or not, it isn’t too late to earn a few more thousand dollars for your college education. This week, we’ve got a list of three great opportunities, that could net you over $23,000! So amidst your busy back-to-school shopping schedule, be sure to leave yourself some time to fill out a few scholarship apps. 1. CosmoGIRL of the Year Scholarship: $20,000 You’re odds are about one in a million to land this scholarship, but it’s still one sweet deal (and not a lot of work.) In 300 words or less, express why you deserve to be CosmoGIRL of the Year. (Yes, you must be a female to apply!) Focus your essay on what...

June 30, 2008 by Mara Strom Last week, we spotlighted the views of Barack Obama, the (presumed) Democratic nominee, on higher education and financial aid. I promised you then that I wasn’t being partisan — and that we’d look this week at what the Republican nominee John McCain has to say about funding your college education. Well, I’m keeping my promise, but in all honesty, there isn’t *that* much to say. On Scholarships For Veterans We know that McCain doesn’t like the Democrat’s proposal to give veterans a free-ride to college. But McCain’s criticism of the bill isn’t a knock on full scholarships to veterans (per se) as much as it is a critique of the bill’s terms: McCain says to give these benefits after only three years (as th...

June 23, 2008 by Mara Strom A few weeks ago, I mentioned the brouhaha that was brewing between Barack Obama and John McCain over the Democrats’ proposal to fully fund scholarships for 3-year veterans. Well, that’s not the only financial aid issue making its way onto the ‘08 campaign trail with the presumed Presidential candidates. We know that figuring out how to pay for college is probably the bane of your existence, but what do the candidates think about financial aid? Here’s a look at what Obama says on the subject (and before anyone freaks out, we’ll be talking about McCain next week. Stay tuned!) On Tax Credits For Students Obama says he would give anyone paying college tuition a $4,000 tax credit to help cover their higher education costs. His campaign e...

June 12, 2008 by Mara School may be out for summer – but don’t get too comfortable lounging at the pool, especially if you still need some more cash to pad your college fund.  Here’s a look at three great scholarships with mid to late June deadlines that you don’t want to miss. 1) Safety Scholars Competition Are you a budding film major?  Fancy becoming an advertising exec one day? Just like playing around with your computer’s editing software?  Bridgestone Firestone is giving you a chance to call “Action!” with its Safety Scholars Competition.  Make a short video spot (25-55 seconds) about safe driving and enter it in the competition – you might be one of three grand-prize winners to nab the $5,000 college scholarship and a free trip to ...