Rusty Tweed is interested in helping students find
scholarship opportunities. Scholarships can be a crucial aspect of access to
higher education, and students should look at all possible avenues to receive
these funds. Students should apply for as many scholarships as possible, using
this funding to defray college costs and to reduce the number of student loans
they will need to incur.
Social media can be a valuable place to search for scholarship information. Most students use social
media daily, so it is not difficult to divert some of this time to a
scholarship search.
Methods for Finding a Scholarship
The simplest way to find a scholarship is to enter your field of
study and “scholarship” into the social media search bar. You may be able to
find scholarship listings, news stories, and press releases this way. It is
smart to go beyond your field of study and to enter any pertinent categories
you may fall into. For example, choosing women’s scholarships or baseball
scholarships may get results.
Searching on Facebook
Facebook can be a gold mine for scholarship opportunities.
There are many user groups with the purpose of collecting scholarship
opportunities and posting them publicly or for their members.
It is also wise to search for the institution you want to
attend and see whether they have any scholarships targeted for you. You can
also look up the admissions and financial aid offices on Facebook and ask
whether they know of any useful scholarship information.
You should also consider asking your friends or your
parents’ friends whether they know of any scholarships that are available in
your local area. Friends’ parents can be an important untapped source of
information since they frequently have established professional careers.
LinkedIn Connections
Students should not overlook LinkedIn when looking for
scholarships. It is a good idea for students to make themselves a LinkedIn
profile, assembling an academic and professional resume early in their careers.
Your contact network may be able to tell you about scholarship opportunities.
Some companies offer their own scholarships, and LinkedIn is
a good place to look for these corporate opportunities. They may be intended
for future employees, or they may be targeted toward certain interests.
Searching on Twitter
Twitter specializes in sharing and resharing information. It
is also an interesting, informal way to get to know people online. Directly tagging a scholarship provider or college
financial aid office on Twitter may get you quick responses to your inquiry.
Building your Twitter network is a good use of your time, especially as you go
toward applications for college and graduate school.
You should also follow accounts that collect and list
scholarship opportunities. As always, watch these opportunities for red flags
to make sure you are not giving away too much personal information in an
insecure fashion.
Scholarships are Competitive
You may not always be able to expect your peers to pass
along scholarship opportunities, since these can be rather competitive.
Especially if your friends are in similar courses of study, they may be looking
at the same scholarships you want. Consider talking to people in different
areas of study and different classes to see which scholarships they have
applied for in the past.
Optimizing the Search Process
When you are creative with your text searches, you will have
an easier time finding scholarships. Look for opportunities that are targeted
to your educational level, a field of study, hobbies, home state, and hometown.
When you take all of your options into account, you will be likely to find an
appropriate scholarship. Remember to apply for as many as possible,
understanding that each scholarship usually has only one recipient.
Making Sure Your Scholarship Opportunity is Legitimate
While the overwhelming majority of scholarship providers are
legitimate, here are some red flags you should look out for. The first
caveat is to watch out for scholarships with application fees. Legitimate
scholarships are almost always free for application.
Another problem you should look out for is if the
scholarship asks for too much personal information. If you have to give your
Social Security number, birth date, and/or credit card information before
applying, this is likely to be a financial scam.
Legitimate scholarships may need your personal information
if you are the lucky recipient so that tax records can be fully filled-out.
Be Open-Minded
No matter how you search for a scholarship, make sure to
visit your high school or college counselor’s office to see whether they have
any recommendations for you. Most counseling offices and career centers keep
information regarding scholarships that can be useful for your studies.
Rusty Tweed and other professionals offer their own endowed scholarships, and it is wise to take advantage of these openings. Rusty Tweed’s scholarship is one of many that you should have on your radar.
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