The Scholarship Scouting Report

by Kaplan, Benjamin R.

• ISBN13: 9780060936549
• ISBN10: 0060936541
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publications

Summary

The first in-depth guide to the nation's best, most accessible scholarship opportunities!A true insider in the world of tuition financing, Ben Kaplan has helped tens of thousands of students attend colleges and universities they never thought they'd be able to afford. Now he takes his expertise one step further in this behind-the-scenes tour of America's top scholarship programs.Based on hundreds of exhaustive interviews with scholarship judges, administrators, and past winners, this easy-to-use scouting report highlights the essential scholarships you must know about and helps you better address each scholarship's "hidden" judging criteria in your application.If you think the college of your dreams is out of your financial reach-or that your scholarship search has to be an overwhelming and frustrating process-think again: Ben Kaplan wrote the guide that will help you focus your search, position your scholarship candidacy, and ultimately afford the college of your choice.Special Note: As a valued reader of this book, you also receive access to the Coach's Locker Room at Ben Kaplan's ScholarshipCoach.com website. The Coach's Locker Room provides a wealth of bonus material, updates to information contained in The Scholarship Scouting Report, question and answer postings, and other helpful resources.

Table of Contents

Key to Icons in This Book	xvi
Calling All Scholarship Seekers!	1	(17)
My Personal Scholarship Quest	3	(1)
The Birth of The Scholarship Scouting Report	4	(4)
Who Should Read This Book	8	(1)
How to Read the Scouting Reports	9	(2)
Getting the Most Out of This Book	11	(4)
The Winning Attitude	15	(3)
American Legion Oratorical Contest	18	(15)
A Closer Look	19	(2)
Coach's Analysis	21	(11)
Related Award Programs	32	(1)
Fleet Reserve Association Americanism Essay Contest
Angelfire Scholarship
America's Junior Miss	33	(15)
A Closer Look	34	(3)
Coach's Analysis	37	(9)
Related Award Programs	46	(2)
America's National Teenager
Miss Active Teen Across America
Pre-Teen America Scholarship and Recognition Program
Arts Recognition and Talent Search	48	(15)
A Closer Look	49	(7)
Coach's Analysis	56	(6)
Related Award Programs	62	(1)
BMI Student Composer Awards
Donna Reed Performing Arts
Scholarships
Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests	63	(12)
A Closer Look	64	(3)
Coach's Analysis	67	(7)
Related Award Programs	74	(1)
Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest
Signet Classic Student Scholarship Essay Contest
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program	75	(8)
A Closer Look	76	(2)
Coach's Analysis	78	(4)
Related Award Programs	82	(1)
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships
National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowships
Burger King/McLamore Scholarship	83	(7)
A Closer Look	84	(2)
Coach's Analysis	86	(3)
Related Award Program	89	(1)
McDonald's Arching Into Education Scholarships
Coca-Cola Scholars Program	90	(12)
A Closer Look	91	(3)
Coach's Analysis	94	(7)
Related Awards Programs	101	(1)
Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program
Gates Millennium Scholars
Collegiate Inventors Competition	102	(9)
A Closer Look	103	(2)
Coach's Analysis	105	(5)
Related Award Programs	110	(1)
Hertz Foundation Fellowships
First Robotics Competition
Discover Card Tribute Awards	111	(9)
A Closer Look	112	(1)
Coach's Analysis	113	(6)
Related Award Programs	119	(1)
Amateur Athletic Union Youth Excel Program
Horatio Alger Association Scholarships
DuPont Challenge	120	(10)
A Closer Look	121	(2)
Coach's Analysis	123	(6)
Related Award Programs	129	(1)
American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship Contest
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility Essay Contest
Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics	130	(9)
A Closer Look	131	(2)
Coach's Analysis	133	(4)
Related Award Programs	137	(2)
Olive W. Garvey Fellowship Program
Acton Institute Essay Competition
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
Elks Most Valuable Student Competition	139	(9)
A Closer Look	140	(2)
Coach's Analysis	142	(5)
Related Award Programs	147	(1)
Elks Americanism Essay Contest
Jaycees Scholarships
Olin L. Livesey Scholarship Fund
Felix Morley Journalism Competition	148	(8)
A Closer Look	149	(2)
Coach's Analysis	151	(4)
Related Award Programs	155	(1)
Hearst Journalism Awards Program
Humane Studies Fellowships
Glamour's Top Ten College Women	156	(8)
A Closer Look	157	(1)
Coach's Analysis	158	(5)
Related Award Programs	163	(1)
Calgon ``Take Me Away to College'' Scholarship
Soroptimist Programs
Talbots Women's Scholarship Fund
Guideposts' Young Writers Contest	164	(7)
A Closer Look	165	(1)
Coach's Analysis	165	(5)
Related Award Programs	170	(1)
Amy Writing Awards
Baker's Plays
Holocaust Remembrance Project	171	(9)
A Closer Look	172	(1)
Coach's Analysis	173	(6)
Related Award Programs	179	(1)
Jay Shalmoni Memorial Holocaust Art & Writing Contest
National Foundation for Jewish Culture Awards
Intel Science Talent Search	180	(13)
A Closer Look	181	(3)
Coach's Analysis	184	(7)
Related Award Programs	191	(2)
Intel Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
Junior Science Humanities Symposium
Siemens Westinghouse Science & Technology Competition
Morris K. Udall Scholarship	193	(9)
A Closer Look	194	(2)
Coach's Analysis	196	(5)
Related Award Programs	201	(1)
Morris K. Udall Ph.D. Fellowships
Backpacker Magazine's Outdoor Scholarship Program
National Alliance for Excellence Scholarships	202	(12)
A Closer Look	203	(4)
Coach's Analysis	207	(6)
Related Award Programs	213	(1)
Lucent Global Science Scholars Program
Robert C. Byrd Scholarships
Mensa Scholarships
National Honor Society Scholarship	214	(7)
A Closer Look	215	(1)
Coach's Analysis	216	(4)
Related Award Programs	220	(1)
Golden Key Scholar Awards
Junior Achievement Scholarship Program
National Beta Club Scholarship Program
National Peace Essay Contest	221	(8)
A Closer Look	221	(2)
Coach's Analysis	223	(5)
Related Award Programs	228	(1)
United States Institute of Peace Fellowship Program
U.S. Department of State Fulbright Program
Soros Fellowships For New Americans
Optimist International Essay and Oratorical Contests	229	(9)
A Closer Look	230	(3)
Coach's Analysis	233	(4)
Related Award Programs	237	(1)
Optimist International CCDHH Scholarships
Liberty Round Table Essay Contest
Principal's Leadership Award	238	(6)
A Closer Look	239	(1)
Coach's Analysis	240	(3)
Related Award Programs	243	(1)
Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Awards
Boy Scouts Young American Award
NACA Regional Council Student Leader Scholarship
Profile in Courage Essay Contest	244	(8)
A Closer Look	245	(1)
Coach's Analysis	246	(5)
Related Award Programs	251	(1)
National History Day
ACLU Youth Activist Scholarship Award
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards	252	(9)
A Closer Look	253	(1)
Coach's Analysis	254	(6)
Related Award Programs	260	(1)
Angels in Action Awards
Youth in Action Awards
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards	261	(10)
A Closer Look	262	(2)
Coach's Analysis	264	(6)
Related Award Programs	270	(1)
Imation Computer Arts Scholarship Program
Young American Patriotic Art Awards
L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future
Sons of the American Revolution Scholarships	271	(10)
A Closer Look	272	(1)
Coach's Analysis	273	(7)
Related Award Programs	280	(1)
Americanism Educational League Private Enterprise Essay Contest
Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens Award
Target All-Around Scholarship	281	(7)
A Closer Look	282	(1)
Coach's Analysis	283	(4)
Related Award Programs	287	(1)
Yoshiyama Award for Exemplary Service to the Community
Sam Walton Community Scholarship
Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision	288	(10)
A Closer Look	289	(2)
Coach's Analysis	291	(6)
Related Award Programs	297	(1)
Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program
Discovery Young Scientist Challenge
Truman Scholarship	298	(10)
A Closer Look	299	(3)
Coach's Analysis	302	(5)
Related Award Programs	307	(1)
Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships in Humanistic Studies
Beinecke Scholarship Program
Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program
U.S. Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest	308	(7)
A Closer Look	309	(2)
Coach's Analysis	311	(3)
Related Award Programs	314	(1)
UNA-USA National High School Essay Contest
Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarships
USA Today All-USA Academic Teams	315	(11)
A Closer Look	316	(4)
Coach's Analysis	320	(5)
Related Award Programs	325	(1)
Josephine De Karman Fellowship Trust
Toyota Community Scholars Program
Voice of Democracy	326	(10)
A Closer Look	327	(2)
Coach's Analysis	329	(6)
Related Award Programs	335	(1)
VFW Youth Essay Competition
Radio and Television News Directors Association Scholarships
And Now . . . A Word from Our Planet
Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarships	336	(7)
A Closer Look	337	(2)
Coach's Analysis	339	(3)
Related Award Programs	342	(1)
U.S. Senate Youth Program
James Madison Fellowships
Public Employees Roundtable Public Service Scholarships
Young Naturalist Awards	343	(10)
A Closer Look	344	(1)
Coach's Analysis	345	(7)
Related Award Programs	352	(1)
Canon Envirothon
Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program
Appendix: Scholarship Award Index and Keyword Master List	353

Excerpts

The Scholarship Scouting Report
An Insider's Guide to America's Best Scholarships

If you think you know what type of person wins college scholarships, think again.Did you realize that someone with a GPA barely high enough to graduate high school ended up winning tens of thousands of dollars in college cash?Did you know that even an individual serving a prison sentence won an extremely competitive scholarship essay contest?Would you expect that a student diagnosed with dyslexia -- someone who reads at the 18th percentile level -- could claim one of the nation's most prestigious scholarships and be well on her way to a Ph.D. in astrophysics? All of these people are real scholarship winners. All of them won scholarships profiled in this book.

Quite simply, The Scholarship Scouting Report is designed to assist any student in search of scholarship money for higher education. The scholarship programs included in this book cover a full spectrum of scholarship awards -- including scholarships for high school and college students, graduate students, nontraditional students, and even kids under 14. Whether you're a 6th grader just starting to dream about college, a high school senior in the midst of college applications, an undergraduate junior struggling with paying current tuition bills and raising funds for future grad school costs, or perhaps a 62-year-old grandma heading back to school (you go, girl!), this book will prove useful to you.

The programs described in these pages provide college cash for use at community colleges, trade and technical schools, public and private four-year colleges and universities, and graduate institutions. None of the awards are restricted for use at a particular school -- thereby enabling school choice. Students with all sorts of backgrounds, achievements, and interests will find scholarships in this book that are appropriate for them.

Because parents can play hugely important roles in the scholarship game -- as researchers, sounding boards, organizers, motivators, and proofreaders, for example -- the research collected in this volume will prove to be an invaluable parental guide. Likewise, guidance counselors will find each scouting report to be a very useful reference tool for instructing students on how to improve drafts of their scholarship application submissions.

If you're looking for a gripping tale of suspense and drama, try John Grisham. But if you want to get other people to help pay for your tuition, then you've come to the right place.

The Scholarship Scouting Report
An Insider's Guide to America's Best Scholarships. Copyright © by Ben Kaplan. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.

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Excerpted from The Scholarship Scouting Report: An Insider's Guide to America's Best Scholarships by Ben Kaplan
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.