Who Qualifies For Financial Aid?

Most students qualify for some kind of aid. Even students whose parents make a lot of money and have a lot of assets often qualify are able to get scholarships or grants.

Students with very low incomes almost always get a range of financial incentives. Poorer students can get Pell Grants of up to $5000, need based aid from their institutions of higher learning, state based grants, work-study grants, and low interest loans.

Middle class students also qualify for financial aid. They too can get grants from their states and from their colleges or universities. Other forms of aid for middle class students include loans and work study programs.

Who qualifies for financial aid includes the top wage earners as well. Wealthier students are often surprised that they too often get aid when they apply for it. Whether it is grants from the school or non-subsidized loans from the government, the price of college can be discounted even for wealthier students.

You shouldn't overlook merit based aid when you are asking the question of who qualifies for financial aid either. Scholarships come in many forms. Students with good grades and high test scores can get academic scholarships. Athletes can often get aid in exchange for playing on teams. Musical and dramatic students can get arts based grants. And, there are a variety of "odd" aid packages including scholarships for left handed people and scholarships for red heads.

Almost everyone is able to get some reduction on their tuition by just applying for the various programs available. Who qualifies for financial aid? Maybe you!

Can I Cover My Education Cost With a Wacky Scholarship?

There are scholarships available for students, though almost all have specific criteria which students must meet in order to qualify. Some require a certain level of academic performance, some are targeted towards athletes, others to students whose parents serve in the military and so on. However, there are some other scholarships out there with much more esoteric criteria -- for example, for left-handed students! Sound strange? It is, but there are many wacky scholarships students may want to look into.

However, many of these scholarships go unclaimed because few students are aware of these less conventional sources of funding. These scholarships are somewhat eccentric in nature, being awarded on the basis of certain hobbies or personal traits. They may be unusual, but these wacky scholarships can be another way to help pay for college.

There is a scholarship offered by the Tall Clubs International. This $1,000 scholarship is available to students who are over 6' 2" in height (or 5' 8" and up for female students). Exceptionally short students aren't left out either - there are also grants awarded to students who are shorter than 4' 10" by the Little People of America and the Billy Barty Foundation.

If you happen to be overweight, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance may have a scholarship for you as well. The NAAFA awards two scholarships annually to members of the association on a merit basis.

If these wacky scholarships are a source of amazement (or perhaps amusement) to you, there's others you may want to learn about. For example, if you're a Star Trek fan this one in particular may interest you. There is a Kor Memorial Scholarship which is awarded to one student annually (and if you have any idea who Kor is, you're probably a good candidate) by the Klingon Language Institute; and yes, there really is a Klingon Language Institute. The best part is that you don't have to know any Klingon in order to be awarded this $500 scholarship.

These are just a few of the many unusual scholarships which are available to those students who seek them out and meet their unique criteria. There are many others - for instance, there are scholarships for vegans, working artists, caddies, redheads and just about everyone and anyone else.

Apply For and Get Your Minority Scholarship For College

A minority scholarship may be exactly what you require if you are a minority and are looking at the mountain of literature about the colleges you want to attend, where it seems like every little thing has a fee associated with it. What happens is that the total cost seems to add up to an astronomical figure, one that you could only afford if you were to win the state lottery.

Seriously, the cost of a good college education is very expensive these days. The problem with this is multiple things. First of all, many people are electing to only go to a two year college, or may elect not to attend college at all. This is a drastic mistake, especially in today's economic and very competitive times. Your college degree is your admission ticket to today's job market, and without that degree, your chances of getting the job you want or a good job are very minimized.

But this presents another problem. If not going to college is not an option, how are you going to get the money to fund your college education? Good question, and surely your parents have mentioned that money does not grow on trees these days. The option most prospective students take is to get a federal student loan. The interest rate is low, the rates are extremely competitive, and you don't have to start paying it back until after you graduate.

Aha! The key problem is that last part where it says "you start paying it back". Even with a student loan, it needs to be paid back. After you graduate and start looking for a job in your field of study, perhaps relocating to a different city and then also having to find an apartment or place to live, you have more than enough to worry about without having the additional stress caused by your student loan payments being due.

The beauty of a minority scholarship is that it does not need to be paid back, ever. It is money that is given to you and they do not expect repayment, not ever. And the additional beauty of it is that there is no law or regulation that prevents you from having several college scholarships all at once.

You see, most people realize this but they think their chances of getting a minority scholarship are minimal. The reality of it is that nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, there are hundreds of scholarships available every year that simply are not awarded simply because nobody applied for them! The sponsors of those scholarships would have happily given those scholarships to people who applied for them, but NOBODY applied for them, so they had to take it back and do NOTHING with it.

How sad is that? Prospective students need to be familiar with what scholarships are requiring these days, since it is very different from what it used to be. For example, it used to be that the vast majority of college scholarships were only awarded to the academic geniuses or the football jocks or the chess club champion. It used to be that you would only get a scholarship if your financial situation was so bad that you could not even feed a parking meter.

Those days are long past. These days, college scholarships are awarded to people who APPLY for them. Most do not require any particular financial requirement or need on the part of the student, and have very reasonable academic requirements, some even being awarded to students with a grade point average as low as a 2.0. And if you are a minority, there are many minority scholarships available that cannot be awarded unless the applicant is part of a particular minority group.

Remember, the key is that you need to apply for each and every minority scholarship where you meet the requirements. Most can be done online so there is not even the cost of a postage stamp involved with it, just the very simple requirement that you APPLY. Stop wishing and start applying today!

The Perfect College

Is your teenager having trouble narrowing down their list of potential colleges? Are they having trouble finding the perfect school? Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each college. Sit down with them, and make a list about the positive and negative features of each school.

For example, are you looking for a school near home or somewhere distant? Unless you live far from any major cities, there is probably a college within thirty miles. Some of the highest ranked schools are in smaller cities.

What is your student's major, and is it offered at the college? This is of primary concern, as some schools will not offer a major in your son or daughter's field. Also, check to see that the school is accredited. Accreditation will ensure the credibility of your son or daughter's degree.

When researching the academic credentials of a college, find out what the faculty-student ratio is. The more time a teacher is able to dedicate to your student, the better. Find out the average class size. Is a large school what your teenager wants? They offer more social opportunities, but small schools usually have better job placement programs.

Campus size and housing accommodations are key points in choosing a college. A large campus with gorgeous scenery may be a plus for some, but for others it means long walks and tardiness. Check out the housing opportunities. Does the prospective college offer dorm living, or are students expected to live off campus? Dorm life has its charm, but less distractions are a good thing for certain children. Then again, a cramped dorm room might be the key to your teenager's social development.

Both dorms and off campus housing have separate expenses. These costs, combined with tuition fees, books, and application costs make up the budgetary considerations. Don't forget the added cost of meals. Financial aid is available if you know the deadlines and have the proper forms. Many colleges offer part-time employment to help offset the costs.

Also consider the availability of extracurricular activities. What kind of clubs will interest your teenager? If he's a star athlete, this will factor into the decision. Especially if scholarships are involved, a college athletic career is a highly rewarding experience. Maybe your child is interested in joining a fraternity or sorority and bonding in this special way. College clubs are the best way to meet like-minded individuals who can be lifelong friends.

There are also religious affiliations to think about. If your son or daughter is dedicated to a certain religion, they probably want to attend a college with similar standards. On the other hand, if your daughter is not interested in religion at all, she probably won't want to attend a strict Baptist school. Of course, you don't have to be involved with a specific religion to enjoy the benefits of a religious school. For example, many non-Catholics attend Notre Dame.

A long list of colleges can be whittled down with a good question and answer session. Keep in mind all the factors that are important to your child and, when in doubt, take a tour of the college and see for yourself.

Leading and Transforming Traditional Academic Institutions - Nu Leadership Series

" A skilled Transition Team leader will set the general goals for a Transition, and then confer on the other team leaders working with him the power to implement those goals. "
Richard V. Allen

Just like an alcoholic in denial, higher education must first recognize its problems. Although externally the 4,000-plus academic institutions appear healthy, there are several problems including low college-completion rates, soaring tuitions, and business complaints of inadequate graduates. Davis, author of Future Perfect, argues that traditional educational institutions are trapped in a paradigm; the basic academic structure hasn't changed since the 12th century unless by outside forces. Traditional institutions are designed to educate traditional students, but the current norm is the nontraditional students.

What is causing traditional institutions to slowly change their views on managing their organizations? It is my theory that more knowledgeable students and the market demand are forcing traditional institutions to think differently. Organizational design changes are an intriguing subject for educational institutions because much has not changed since its inception. One of the pressing issues that higher education must bow to is the market.

The quickening pace of technology, global competition, and innovation, has caused students in these institutions to think of themselves as customers. Currently, students are now customers who have the power to force change in an economic manner. Students now have numerous options for being educated or trained. Therefore, students don't need to depend on the local universities to educate them. They can seek the universe for the right program with the correct fit.

Nadler and Tushman, management experts, argue that market forces have transformed the rules of engagement for organizations. Berg, author of Lessons from the Edges, maintains that the market has increased dominance of professional programs in higher education. The nontraditional student can be traced back in American history. On June 22, 1944 President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted the "GI Bill of Rights."

The passing of this legislation brought the enrollment of 1,013,000 veterans into American campuses; however, many administrators at the time view it as converting these noble institutions into "educational hobo jungles." Likewise, today's academic traditionalists complain about the erosion of the traditional student by catering to adult learners. Clearly, these market reactions should make any reasonable person rethink their organizational processes.

Unfortunately, established universities continue to fight to maintain their academic monopolies, but they don't understand the consequences of their inactions. Established universities should be nervous about current social trends. Non-traditional universities, like the University of Phoenix, are becoming more popular with both traditional and nontraditional individuals.

In volatile markets, change is rapid. Nadler and Tushman, authors of Competing by Design, maintain that managers should adapt in the following ways: (a) develop a rudimentary understanding organization design for an inherent competitive advantage and (b) recognize effective organizational design as ongoing.

Students, governments, and tax payers are becoming less patient and more demanding of traditional institutions. Traditional academic institutions are then forced to recognize their problems. Therefore, academic leaders should listen to the demands of the marketplace if their organizations want to survive the Knowledge Worker Revolution.

References:

Berg, G. (2005). Lessons from the Edges. San Francisco: American Council on Education Praeger.

Clayton, M. (2002). New models for higher education. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved May 5, 2006, from http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1001/p11s02-lehl.html.

Davis, S. (1996). Future perfect. New York: Addison-Wesley.

Nadler, D. & Tushman, M. (1997). Competing by Design. New York: Oxford University Press.

Culinary Arts Scholarship For International Students

A culinary arts education is expensive. But just because you don't have the money to pay for it, doesn't mean you can kiss your culinary career dreams goodbye. Regardless of who you are or where you're from, there's always an opportunity to getting that degree.

Culinary arts scholarship for international students is being offered by some culinary institutes. There are several culinary arts schools that provide financial aid to qualified individuals. The Johnson & Wales University for example has the International Presidential Scholarship which is aimed to provide financial assistance to full-time, undergraduate day-school international students. This culinary scholarship for international students is available only for the academic year and does not cover the summer term. It can also be renewed for up to 4 years to full time, undergraduate, day-school education, as long as the beneficiary of the culinary arts scholarship for international students is able to maintain a grade point average of 2.75. All international students who want to apply for the scholarship must submit an international admissions applications together with their high school transcript of records.

IF you wish to apply for the culinary arts scholarship for international students at the Johnson & Wales University, you need to create an online account first. Follow all the instructions on the online application webpage and make sure that all fields are correctly filled up. If you decide to partially fill out the form just yet, you may save the information and continue where you left off whenever you decide to. You can fill out the application in several sessions and you don't have to retype the data that were previously stored and saved. Application payments are also made online and you will have the chance to see when your application was received by the school.

There are other things that you need to accomplish if you want to apply for the culinary arts scholarship for international students at the Johnson & Wales University. Aside from the online application, you also need to mail in a certified bank statement or a government sponsorship letter which confirms financial assistance for one academic year, an International Student Financial Declaration Form, results of the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with at least a 550 score on the written test or at least a 210 score on the computerized one, official documents verifying high school completion, and transcripts, diplomas and/or certificates, and other pertinent documents needed for transfer credits.

The dream of a culinary arts career is within grasp, with or without the money to pay for a culinary education. So, if you really have the zeal for foods and the deep passion for preparing them, nothing can get in the way of attaining your dream.

Seeking Financial Support With the Help of Lowe's Scholarship Program

Scholarship programs nowadays are getting more efficient due to the various organizations that provide funds for this type of program. Lowe's scholarship program is one of those organizations that give out scholarship programs to those students that need financial support for their studies. In fact, they are planning to award more than $ 600,000 worth of scholarship programs to various students in the communities they do business. The good thing about their scholarship program is that, they are able to reach various families who are suffering from financial crisis within the community. Moreover, they are adding more support and hope to those students that needs educational benefits.

In fact, Lowe's will give out one hundred forty scholarship offering programs to different high school seniors who want to study for the school year 2009-2010. The said program is offered to both community and Lowe's employees and staff. On the other hand, LCBS (Lowe's Carl Buchan Scholarship) are also giving $50,000 worth of scholarship offering program to those full and part-time workers of Lowe's with at least 90 days of service in their company. Like other scholarship programs, their qualifications are based on the academic performance, leadership, working experience and community involvement of the student.

The scholarship also requires a minimum of 3.25 Grade Point Average (GPA) in order to qualify for the scholarship award program. The awards that they will receive can be used at any accredited two or four year college course in a university or technical school. The amount can be used for the tuition fee cost, books and other school supplies. However, the scholarship awards are not renewable. The Lowe's scholarship award programs are supported by Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. The said foundation is managed by ISTS (International Scholarship and Tuition services). In order to know more details about their program, you can use the internet to browse on different scholarship websites that affiliates with Lowe's.

Gathering more information about different scholarship award programs can also give more opportunities on availing one. Many organizations out there provide scholarship college programs for students. If you do not manage to avail a Lowe's Scholarship program, you might as well try another.

Scholarships For Developing Countries - Tips on How to Find Them

In their goal of promoting international development, many donor organizations and institutions focus on building the capacities of developing nations through higher education. For this purpose, a number of donor agencies offer scholarship programs specifically for developing countries. Some of the most popular and largest of these programs are provided by ADB-Japan, World Bank-Japan, Japan-IDB, and DAAD.

To promote education in their own countries as well as to promote development cooperation, Governments of developed nations are also known to provide scholarships for developing country students. Some of these programs include the Fullbright Foreign Student Program, Netherlands Fellowship Program, Norwegian Quota Scheme, and the Australian Development Scholarships (ADS).

Education grants and awards of Government and donor agencies are often administered through partner Universities or academic institutions. It is also important to know that there are Universities that implement their own scholarship programs for developing countries aside from those that they administer in behalf of donor agencies. Some of the notables ones are the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom), University of Ghent (Belgium), and University of Westminster (United Kingdom).

Thus to help them with their search, developing country students are encouraged to look into:

(a) Universities that have special scholarship schemes for developing countries and
(b) Universities that administer grants/awards of Government and donor agencies.

How then do you find these Universities? You can visit the websites of Universities and see if they have special scholarship programs for developing countries or your own country. Or you can also visit the websites of major donor agencies and find out which Universities are participating in their subsidized education programs.

Why Go to a Trade School - To Get Real Practical Knowledge

As an entrepreneur, I love to tell people that I left school to run my business. Well, that's not exactly what happened. Rather, I decided not to take a track scholarship to a four year university after completing my AA and AS in business at a community college. Nevertheless, I did quit my higher education to move on with my life and I've never looked back and would never change that path even if the opportunity presented itself.

Why you ask? Well, I went to meet the professors and had a chat with them about business and found that most of them had not really the experience level I was looking for in the real world prior to them becoming professors. So, I decided to leave the academic world for the real world, because I thought it was fake and once in the real world, I found out it was fake too. All sorts of bogus rules and regulations, barriers to entry to prop up more politically inclined larger business competitors.

Indeed, in considering all this, it appears to me that if you want a decent job, one that is in demand that you need to get specific training without all the clutter. This means you need to go to a trade school that will teach you exactly what you need to know to do the job that you seek. Then you need to be placed in the job you want in an industry that you like. This is one thing that Trade Schools are extremely good at, so think on this.

Obama's Scholarships For Fathers

The president knows that whoever wants to succeed will succeed and this is the reason for having grants for single dads. If you want it bad enough, you can have money for college, for being part of a minority and even academic help, not to mention scholarship grants.

Obama wants to help single dads by providing scholarships and grants for single fathers to help hard-working men be successful in business, hand-in-hand with the need to raise children. This way life will get just more simple, making it possible to have a normal income even as a single father. If you take the chance you may experience less stress in your life, which is really helpful!

Our president Obama worked out a master plan for providing financial aid for single dads. It's amazing to now know how single dads, who need to raise their kids, can be successful business men by applying to a university of their choice, opening the wide door to a brighter future. This is how nowadays you have all the chances, as single dads, to take care of the family, having a normal life and even more, you can now work out a strategy for the rest of your and their lives.

With scholarships and grants for single fathers you can now have a university degree, a real help when you're looking for a decent job, having a normal income, and being paid good enough for your efforts.

The best part is that these financial aids aren't to be paid back. You only need to take the chance and see how Obama is helping the economy and how he's taking care of a better future, providing you a chance to have a good education and work whenever you want.

You should never worry about things getting to complicated, I'm a single father too, and do know what I'm talking about. You have to know that these scholarships for dads need your effort, or else success is impossible. Nowadays you have higher chances to get a job as an educated man, also being able to have a decent income.

Types of College Scholarships

A scholarship is a kind of award of access to an institution, or a financial aid for a student to complete his or her further education. There are various criteria while awarding college scholarships to the students, which reflects the purpose and value of the donor. Awards can be classified into various categories like Merit, Need-based, financial aid, institutional, and general.

Merit based college awards are usually for those students who excel in athletic or academic capabilities. The monetary value of these scholarships may be zero, but it provides a great boost to student's self confidence and self esteem. Merit based college scholarship might not help the student financially but it provides students with a kind of recognition that can help them get other kinds of scholarships. Need-based college or university scholarships are for those students who would like to have financial help to cover their tuition fees as well as living costs, and come from families that suffer financial crisis. Other financial aid college scholarships tend to consider applicants based on race and religion. Institutional scholarships are provided by a particular institution or university to a student planning to attend that institution.

Some such scholarships have a bond requirement where the student has to work for a particular employer for a specified period of time, or repay the value of financial support they have received through such college scholarships. Apart from colleges and universities, many non-profit organizations and charitable trust also provide college scholarships to the students based on various criteria specified by the donors or the funding organization.

Many colleges and universities have guidance counselors that guide students on how to apply for the right type of scholarships, as per their situation and academic courses. Community foundations, labor union organizations and other volunteer organizations also provide students with college scholarships to help them complete their further studies.