There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone. Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another. And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free. It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you. While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier. This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week. Check out the below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier.

College is a time of many firsts for students. As former financial aid professionals, the college finance consultants at Bright Horizons College Coach have seen the mistakes some students make when managing money for the first time. Budgeting, spending wisely, and creating smart savings goals are skills that students need to learn. We are 100% in agreement with this organization who believes that “gaining the skills to manage your personal finance is critical to your long-term success in everything” that you do.

Scholarship: Active Life Scholarship for Financial Literacy

by Jennifer Simons, former admissions officer at Tufts University

The Seven Sisters, starting with the founding of Mt. Holyoke College in 1837, began as the female counterpart to elite colleges, which at the time were open only to men. The moniker was a reference to the Greek myth Pleiades. There is a constellation that bears this name as well.  Students reading this blog have likely never heard of the term Seven Sisters, but to their elders, the term was synonymous with the best, most desirable schools in which females could obtain an education. While they might be the first of the women’s colleges, the Sisters in no way encapsulate all that women’s education has to offer. And, while many women’s colleges have merged with other schools and/or have become co-educational, the ones that remain continue to prepare leaders for their place in the world. 

With the pandemic disrupting in-person classes and raising the question of whether or not students will be on campus this fall, some families are investigating distance learning. Join us to learn more about who might flourish in distance learning and what to look for in the options available. We’ll also go through what parents need to know about borrowing money to pay for college, and a College Coach educator will share his personal experience with a post-graduate year of study between high school and college.

by Shannon Vasconcelos, former financial aid officer at Tufts University

Parents are increasingly sacrificing their own retirements in favor of their children’s educations. As discussed in the Boston Globe, three-quarters of parents report a willingness to delay retirement in order to pay for college, and, in fact, by 2024 nearly a quarter of those over age 65 are anticipated to be either working or looking for work, almost twice as many as in 1984, the increase aided in no small part by ballooning college tuition rates.

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school!

School Spotlight: The College of Idaho 
Caldwell, ID

There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone. Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another. And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free. It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you. While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier. This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week. Check out the below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier.

For students who love to bowl, this opportunity is right up your alley! The Billy Welu Scholarship recognizes a student athlete who excels at the sport of bowling. Named after the late, two-time PBA Hall of Famer and sports commentator, recipients of this award are evaluated on their bowling skills and academic track record.

Scholarship: Billy Welu Scholarship

The University of California leaders had already been toying with the idea of going test optional when COVID caused them to hit the fast-forward button.

COVID-19 has disrupted many things in our world this year, including many high school students’ summer plans. We’ll be talking through how to adjust your activities with social distancing and cancellations in mind. For all those juniors who took the PSAT this past fall, we have information on how those scores will relate to scholarships available to students. Finally, if all the changes in admissions this year has you looking for assistance beyond our podcast, we have thoughts about how to evaluate your options.

by Kara Courtois, former admissions officer at Barnard College

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” —Dr. Seuss

This is the summer of reading—or at least, it could be your best literary summer yet. With the change in many summer plans due to COVID-19, my fellow college admissions counselors and I are regularly encouraging students to focus on what is in your control. Enter—READING!

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school!

School Spotlight: University of Missouri
Columbia, MO