Scouting for scholarships

OK, you know you want to go to college, but you can skip over an article on

scholarships for now - right? Not so fast! Actually, there is no time like the present to begin preparing, especially if you think you will need financial aid. Here are some pointers from Becky Pengelley, a scholarship winner, who started early to prepare for college. She will tell you what worked for her. She advises,

Grades are important, so start early.

• Build excellent study habits,

• Get your work in on time and ask for extra help if you need it to pull in

those A's! Don't be discouraged when you see a B, but you might want to consider retaking an exam if possible, or redoing a paper to raise your grades. Aim high for success.

Choose challenging courses in high school.

Higher-level math and science classes that also earn college credits are your best choice. Look for an International Baccalaureate or advanced placement high school program, which specializes in preparing students for college. For example, if you are thinking of engineering, go for calculus and physics; or for nursing you will do well to take courses like biology and anatomy. Your counselors are there to help you make good decisions.

Improve your chances to win a scholarship with other schoolrelated strategies:

• Work on the school paper, or go out for a sport.

• Play an instrument in the orchestra or band,

• Volunteer to tutor a struggling classmate,

• Join a club at school,

• Help a teacher prepare class materials or correct papers.

Participate in extracurricular activities:

• Leam leadership skills in scouting or 4-H,

• Join a marching band or community orchestra,

• Take part in a church play or musical.

Pitch in to serve in your community

• Volunteer at a soup kitchen, or become a lifeguard,

• Visit the elderly at a senior residence,

• Offer to shelve books at your library, or to read at a preschool story hour,

• Teach a religion class at your church,

• Serve at your youth group's pancake breakfast or car wash.

In other words, use some of your free time to be helpful to others.

This is important. Keep a brief resume of your activities:

This advice might seem like "tooting your own horn," because you are doing

these things not to impress others, but simply from your heart. However, when you begin applying for scholarships, you will see that the selection committees are looking for students who are energetic and committed. Therefore, this resume of your volunteer and outside activities will tell them more about you and your interests.

Here is another idea.

Look for summer opportunities offered in newspapers, magazines or on the Internet:

Look for free programs such as Red Cross training, environmental programs,

math and science or medical career camps. You will be building skills while having fun.

Focus!

Stick with a specific interest, whether it is math, science, music, language arts, journalism, fine arts, or sports. You know your strong points. Concentrate on those, rather than always trying new activities and staying with none. Example: If you are in scouting or 4-H, stay involved, perhaps as a junior leader.

Show initiative through your volunteering and community service. This tells a scholarship committee you are a leader whom they can depend upon to be an asset to their program.

Becky has some further advice:

Do a project:

During the summer before your junior year, work on a specific goal. It might be serving as an intern for a missionary group, finishing your Eagle or Gold Award project for scouting or volunteering at a hospital or nursing home. This is a good way to show your maturity and readiness for college.

Develop a rapport with yourgu

counselors:

Ask to see scholarship lists they have on file. Stop by early and often. Make sure they know you are serious about landing a good scholarship. Remember, "the squeaky wheel gets the oil!"

Apply for scholarships on the Internet:

Look for scholarships that may be renewable for more than one year to students who continue to demonstrate good grades. Notice also, Becky says scholarships, plural. Even small local scholarships add up and can help buy your books, meals or travel. It is also a good idea to ask someone to review your applications with you before you submit them.

Plan your strategy and follow through:

Of course, this does not mean school has to be all work and no play. It just

suggests that the student who has long range goals, and who knows what he or she wants to accomplish in the future, is already on the road to success.

Apply, apply, apply!

Remember, only students who apply will have a chance to win a scholarship.

Many excellent awards go unclaimed because no qualified student has applied.