Take a look at yourself

By R.J. Ignelzi

   Before you begin looking for scholarships, experts say you first need to take a good look at yourself, your family and your surroundings to determine what categories of scholarships you may be eligible for. There's a good chance you may qualify for more than you ever imagined.

   Author Chris Vuturo suggests making lists and notations under each of the following possible categories:

   -- Major/academic interests. If you're absolutely sure you know what you want to study in college, or have already declared a major, then check out the scholarships relevant to that field. If you are unsure of what you want to study, which is more likely the case, explore the two or three general fields that most appeal to you.

   -- Career interests. If you have a burning desire to be a teacher, an engineer or doctor, for example, there may be a scholarship out there just waiting for you. Look for award money in that area.

   -- Hobbies/leisure activities. If you like to crochet, play the accordion, bake bread or do a number of other things in your spare time, you could qualify for a scholarship associated with that activity.

   -- Work experience. You can be eligible for a scholarship on the basis of your past work experience, including summer jobs and parttime employment. There are many scholarships reserved exclusively for people who have worked in a particular industry, such as footwear sales, grocery clerk, news carrier and golf caddy.

   -- Athletics: If you are a star athlete, don't assume that colleges will come looking for you to hand you money, Vuturo says. Contact the colleges you're interested in directly. Send them videotapes, newspaper clippings and letters from your coaches, so that they are aware of your talents. It's important that you do this well before your final season, so that the coach at your preferred college can come and observe you in a game situation. There also are a number of athletic scholarships that are not associated with any particular college. Apply for the scholarships in which you've demonstrated an athletic proficiency.

   -- Scholarships for minority students: If you are Asian, African-American, Hispanic or American Indian, you may be eligible for a scholarship. Numerous programs offer college money for members of federally recognized minority groups.

   -- Ethnic background. There are scholarships available for people of a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds from Armenian to Swedish. You don't have to be a member of a federally recognized minority group to win a scholarship based on your ethnicity. If you're unsure of heritage, check with your parents, grandparents or other relatives.

   -- Religious affiliation. Many scholarships are offered through local, state and national church groups. Also check directly with your church, synagogue or mosque administrator.

   -- Disabilities. If you have a physical or learning disability, you may be able to get a scholarship. Many organizations that serve the disabled, such as the National Hemophilia Foundation and the American Council for the Blind, offer scholarships or educational grants.

   -- Gender based. You may be able to get college money based on your sex. Some scholarships are designated just for women, while some are just for men.

   -- Military service. If your parents or grandparents served in any branch of the military, including the reserves and the Coast Guard, you may be able to get college funds. It's usually helpful if you know the specific division or unit in which your relatives served, as well as the conflict (if any) in which they fought, since some of these scholarships are very restrictive.

   -- Residence. Certain scholarships are designated for students of a particular state or region. In fact, state governments are one of the largest sponsors of financial aid.

   -- Colleges. Check if the schools you're most interested in attending offer any scholarships. You usually must be accepted at the school in question in order to be considered for any of the scholarships that they offer.

   -- Parents' employer/organizations. Have your parents check to see if their employer offers scholarship funding for employees' families. For example, General Motors awards $2,500 scholarships to more than 450 college students who are GM employees or spouses or child of GM employees. Also check with any organizations or civic groups with which your parents are associated -- the Elks, Jaycees or Rotarians, for example -- for any scholarship opportunities. Even your parents' insurance company may be a source of scholarship funding.

   -- Local businesses and organizations: Contact local businesses, chambers of commerce and community foundations to see if there are any scholarship opportunities there.