http://www.givemescholarships.com Free Advice From a Real Scholarship Judge. Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:44:35 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Happy Friday, everyone. One of my all-time favorite movies is "Dumb and Dumber." When I got my first job out of college and was so broke that my bed was actually my couch, I used to pop in the VHS tape (remember those?) on my tiny living room TV and listen ... http://www.givemescholarships.com/2009/06/19/what-jim-carrey-taught-me-about-scholarship-advice/ It's not a long article -- more of a USA Today-style nugget -- but it confirms what most of us already know, which is that college tuition rates are rising much faster than our rate of savings (or the interest anyone plans to earn on those savings in the very ... http://www.givemescholarships.com/2009/03/25/ny-times-basically-youll-never-save-enough-to-pay-for-college/ If you’re a student who’s already in college or about to start, you have my deepest condolences. The economy you’re inheriting hasn’t only devastated the job market you’ll soon be trying to claw your way into, but also the financial resources of the universities to which you’re applying. That’s right – ... http://www.givemescholarships.com/2009/03/18/5-ways-to-win-more-scholarship-money/ I write about scholarships because it's what I know, but let's be honest -- not everyone can bring 'em home. On the other hand, however, everyone has access to the federal financial aid system, and everyone's school has a financial aid office, so everyone should pay close attention to how ... http://www.givemescholarships.com/2009/03/16/10-tips-on-getting-the-best-college-financial-aid-package/ Jonathan Glater of the New York Times floats the idea, and although I don't agree with his primary reasoning (there may be more federal financial aid available due to new Obama proposals...or maybe not), I think it's an idea worth considering. Glater cites proposed new policies that would increase some grants ... http://www.givemescholarships.com/2009/03/15/should-you-take-a-year-off-before-starting-college/ Sometimes, the best story you have to tell a scholarship committee will involve explaining some of the worst or most embarrassing moments from your past. Maybe you hurt or insulted someone close to you. Maybe you had an addiction or even went to jail (actually, If you’re still hurting your loved ... http://www.givemescholarships.com/2008/03/31/dont-be-afraid-to-admit-your-past-shortcomings-and-explain-how-you-turned-things-around/ Over the last few years, the media has been telling us that America is a society where, to be blunt, kids are a lot slower to become independent than they used to be. Apparently it’s no big deal to graduate from college and move right back in with your parents ... http://www.givemescholarships.com/2008/03/26/do-not-under-any-circumstances-have-your-parents-write-essays-letters-or-anything-else-on-your-behalf/ There are many ways to make a bad first impression, but I can’t think of a worse one than making the committee pay money for the privilege of reading your essay. When in doubt, add an extra stamp or two. I hate wasting stamps as much as the next guy, ... http://www.givemescholarships.com/2008/03/26/do-not-send-your-essay-with-postage-due/ Yes, this actually happens, and more than you’d expect. We suspect the writer begins bolding certain passages here and there, and then before long, decides to shoot the moon and bold the whole thing. Don’t do it. Bolding text here and there adds emphasis to certain words, setting them apart ... http://www.givemescholarships.com/2008/03/26/do-not-print-your-essay-in-all-boldfaced-type/ Seriously. No excuses and no exceptions – everything. Here’s a little yarn about why it’s important to spell things correctly. My company once managed a very large online events calendar for a major news website in one of the largest cities in the U.S. It was a very important job, but ... http://www.givemescholarships.com/2008/03/26/spell-everything-right/