Get Free Cash for College: Secrets to Winning Scholarships fourtheenth Edition

Kelly Tanabe won more than $100,000 in scholarships to graduate from Harvard debt-free. She is the award-winning co-author of 14 books including The Ultimate Scholarship Book, How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay and 1001 Ways to Pay for College and has been an expert source for publications including The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report and USA Today.

Did you know that Walt Disney is cryogenically frozen and awaiting the day medical science can revive him? Or, you do know to be careful when walking the city at night since there are gangs of organ thieves who will knock you unconscious and steal your kidneys, right? We have all heard urban legends like these, and on the subject of scholarships there are no shortages of such stories.

You may have heard myths like these: You need to have near zero dinero in order to qualify for a scholarship, or you have to be the record holder for three-point shots to win a full-ride award. To help you sort the truth from the tall tale, here are some common scholarship myths and the truth behind them:

Myth #1: You need to be financially destitute to be eligible to apply for scholarships.

The Truth: While it is true that financial need is a consideration for some scholarships, the definition of “need” varies considerably. Given the cost of a college education, many families who consider themselves to be “middle class” actually qualify for need-based scholarships. Plus, there are many scholarships where financial need is not even a factor. These “merit-based” scholarships are based on achievements, skills, career goals, family background and a host of other considerations that have nothing to do with a family’s financial situation. You really could be the son or daughter of Donald Trump and still win a scholarship.

Myth #2: You can only win scholarships as a high school senior.

The Truth: It is never too early or too late to apply for scholarships. There are awards for students as young as seventh grade. (If you win these awards, the money may be paid to you directly or put into a trust account until you head off to college.) Also, many students stop applying for scholarships after they graduate from high school. Big mistake. There are many awards for college students. Once you are in college you should continue to apply for scholarships, especially those geared toward specific majors and careers.

More Truth: Most scholarships are aimed at students who are getting their first degree, regardless of age. If you’re 92 and working toward your bachelor’s degree, you are just as eligible for scholarships as the 17-year-old high school student. In fact, today more than 20 percent of all students on campus are over the age of 35, so it’s easy to understand why the rules for many scholarships have been modified to no longer limit an applicant based on age.

Myth #3: Only star athletes get scholarships, especially full-tuition scholarships.

The Truth: While full-tuition scholarships for star running backs often make the news, the majority of scholarships awarded by colleges are not for athletics. As you will start to see from the Scholarships (Almost) Anyone Can Win in the Directory, there are literally thousands of scholarships for those of us who don’t know the difference between a touchdown and a touchback.

If you are an athlete, you might also be surprised to know that many colleges give scholarships to student athletes even if they are not the next Michael Jordan. Depending on the level of the school’s athletic team, you may find that while at one college your soccer skill wouldn’t earn you a place on the team as a bench warmer, at another school you would not only be a starter but also could earn a half-tuition scholarship.