Do not be afraid of the essay...

"The Essay" is what scares people away from applying for scholarships.


I tell my clients all the time: "Don't be afraid of the essay..."


• The Essay or Personal Statement is your opportunity to tell YOUR story
• Who can tell your story better than you?


The essay is also a wonderful opportunity to brainstorm and outline your goals and aspirations. My first Personal Statement took me over a month to write. There was no pressure because I had started months in advance of the deadline. It may not take other people that long, but the "process" really made me think and ask myself questions like:


• Why am I returning to college?
• Where am I coming from? Where do I want to go?
• Why do I want to study in this particular field?
• What are my goals and aspiration?


Putting these things in writing is an important step. The essay is your way of introducing yourself to the scholarship committee, the college admissions department, foundations, corporations, etc... You are telling them WHY they should invest in you.


Great Tips (Hint: Example of a Header)


• Follow Directions: For example...Stay within the word count
• Make it easy for the readers: Use headings and cover each subject the ask you to discuss
• Save Time: Keep a copy to use and re-use for other applications
• Always place you name in the header
• New!! Use Nice paper. This sets your essay apart from the other 300 essays to be read.
• Say Thank you!

Student Loans are a Trap!

I hate student loans!

This is money that is so easily handed over to 18-year-old college students with a wicked sneer....saying "Here little girl, do you want some candy?" or "You can have all you want little boy! Here take some more, and more, and more..."...and then the trap door slams shut *BAM*.

I borrowed $3,000 of student loan money for my 2nd year of college (in 1994)...and now 17 years later I now owe $12,000. I'm sure you are wondering how $3K of student loan money can turn into $12K. Well can you say subsidized? or involuntary consolidation fees? more fees? or interest accruing at a phenomenal rate? interest only payments? can you say TRAP!

Listen people! These are the facts:

• You can not file bankruptcy on student loans.
• You can not write-off student loan debt.
• You can never get rid of student loan debt except through death...
• Student loan companies can garnish your wages.
• Student loan companies can take your taxes.
• Student loan companies can haunt you for the rest of your life.
• Student loan companies will not use Vaseline (harsh but true)

 ...You will owe this money until your death, even if you don't finish your degree.

I encourage everyone to exhaust all other possibilities before accepting more than your first year's salary in student loans.

For example, a social work (BSW) student should not accept $65,000 of student loan money.

A BSW will never make $65,000/yr which equals a lifetime of debt. Run Forest Run!  The research says that a student should only borrow up to their first years expected salary.

Purpose...

I want to help others achieve their higher education goals….without racking up thousands of dollars in student loans. I am living proof that it is possible!


Scholarships are out there! But it is like the lottery…if you don’t apply you can not win.

So start dreaming… picture yourself walking across that stage in your cap and gown…earning your degree.

If you are willing to put forth the effort it will take to find, apply, and use the scholarships….you are almost there. Most people are not willing to do the work… so that leaves more scholarship money for you!

I want to help you along this journey… so that you can achieve your goals and reach back and help someone else.

Where do I find Scholarships?

Where do you find scholarships?


1. My favorite website is www.fastweb.com
It does all the work for you. After you fill out your profile fastweb continuously searches for any opportunity the fits YOUR qualifications. It gives you the website links, phone numbers, deadlines, etc...


2. www.scholarships.com is my second favorite; and it does the same thing.

3. YOUR University Scholarship Office:
Love them! Visit them! Study their website! Sign up to receive email notices concerning new scholarship opportunities!

4. Finally, Scholarship application time is typically Jan. to March/May of each year. So if you miss a couple of opportunities this time around don't worry....you will be WELL prepared for next season, and can hit the ground running. There are fall application opportunities so keep an eye out.

Start Early

Start preparing for college a year in advance.

I repeat...Starting this process a year in advance is not too early! Starting early will give you the following advantages:

• Less Pressure!...you can take your time and not feel rushed
• You can get prepared and GET ORGANIZED
• You can prepare to meet deadlines
• You won't miss out on great opportunities
• You will have time to request letters of recommendation
• You can tweek and re-tweek your essay (your story)
• You can order all your transcripts and wait patiently

Gemvara Scholarship - Deadline 12/15/11

Submission Deadline: December 15, 2011
Award Date: January 15, 2012
Apply here - http://www.gemvara.com/Scholarships/scholarship/view/