One of my friends told me some scholarships are scams. How do I avoid those?
Answers
There is a government web site to help you avoid these. First, look at the following scholarships agencies and MAKE SURE TO AVOID THEM! They have scammed 175,000 people for 22 million dollars!
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/scholarship/cases.shtm
Also don't buy into it if they say that it costs you money to apply for the scholarship or that "you can't get this scholarship info anywhere else". Be really wary of those!
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/scholarship/cases.shtm
Also don't buy into it if they say that it costs you money to apply for the scholarship or that "you can't get this scholarship info anywhere else". Be really wary of those!
Basically, be really careful about paying for any one who asks you for credit card or billing information. Scholarships are supposed to be "free money" - no one should be charging you to find scholarships. Also, there's no such thing as a "guaranteed scholarship" because that doesn't exist!
Also, use this site: http://www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams as it can help you avoid some of these shady people!
Also, use this site: http://www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams as it can help you avoid some of these shady people!
The government website listed above is a great resource. Other rules of thumb:
1. NEVER sign up for a "scholarship finding service". These people charge, promise nothing, and frequently just run away with your money. They will do nothing for you that you can't already do yourself.
2. Stay away from services that promise to help you write essays or resumes. Again, these are often scammers and here identity theft is also an issue. If you want help with your essays or other scholarship application materials, talk to a parent, teacher, guidance counselor , or even your PrepMe tutor!
3. If you're in need of scholarships, talk to your guidance counselor, assistant principle, or religious leader. All of these people will be well-connected to various community organizations and national programs - AND then you know who to go to when you need letter of recommendation.
4. If you've been accepted to a certain college, or are fairly certain you want to attend a certain college, you can also always contact an admissions officer. These people see thousands of scholarships every day, and can also clue you in to scholarships that are exclusive to that school.
5. And, of course, NEVER PAY AN APPLICATION FEE FOR A SCHOLARSHIP. Doesn't matter if it's five dollars or five hundred dollars. NO legitimate scholarship will ever make you buy a product, pay a fee, or require a credit card or bank account.
1. NEVER sign up for a "scholarship finding service". These people charge, promise nothing, and frequently just run away with your money. They will do nothing for you that you can't already do yourself.
2. Stay away from services that promise to help you write essays or resumes. Again, these are often scammers and here identity theft is also an issue. If you want help with your essays or other scholarship application materials, talk to a parent, teacher, guidance counselor , or even your PrepMe tutor!
3. If you're in need of scholarships, talk to your guidance counselor, assistant principle, or religious leader. All of these people will be well-connected to various community organizations and national programs - AND then you know who to go to when you need letter of recommendation.
4. If you've been accepted to a certain college, or are fairly certain you want to attend a certain college, you can also always contact an admissions officer. These people see thousands of scholarships every day, and can also clue you in to scholarships that are exclusive to that school.
5. And, of course, NEVER PAY AN APPLICATION FEE FOR A SCHOLARSHIP. Doesn't matter if it's five dollars or five hundred dollars. NO legitimate scholarship will ever make you buy a product, pay a fee, or require a credit card or bank account.
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