Search Engines

Berks County Community Foundation (check this site often due to scholarships being added often) 

www.bccf.org

www.fastweb.com

http://goo.gl/xqoaGX

http://www.aie.org/Scholarships/index.cfm

College Board’s Scholarship Search

http://apps.collegeboard.org/cbsearch_ss/welcome.jsp

http://collegetoolkit.com/

http://www.collegenet.com/mach25/app

http://www.degreeadvantage.com/

www.finaid.org

http://www.findtuition.com/scholarships/

Good Call Scholarship

https://www.goodcall.com/scholarships/

Map Your Future .ORG

http://mappingyourfuture.org/paying/scholarshipresources.htm

http://www.meritaid.com/

http://www.nationalmerit.org/

https://www1.salliemae.com/before_college/students_plan/free_money/scholarship-search.htm

http://www.scholarships.com/

http://scholarshipdb.net/

Scholarship Experts

http://www.scholarshipexperts.com/

http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/

Scholarship Hunter

http://www.scholarshiphunter.com/

https://www.fes.org/scholarquest/s_login.asp

The Fund for Veteran Education

Trade Scholarships 

2017 Technicians in Residential Plumbing, HVAC or Electrical Scholarship & 2017 Troops to Trades Training Grants and Scholarships

2017 Skilled Labor Shortage Scholarship

Women in Skilled Trades Scholarship Program

National Housing Endowment Student Scholarships

World Plumbing Council Scholarship Program

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers Scholarships

United States Department of Education, Office of Post Secondary Education

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/index.html?src=mr 

• Most scholarships are gift aid, which does not need to be repaid. However, some scholarships come with requirements that, if not met, convert the award to a loan. Make sure you understand all terms and conditions before accepting any award. 
• Scholarships may be awarded based on a variety of things, including academic merit, athletic ability, field of study, ethnic background, religious affiliation, and special interests.
• Many scholarship organizations require applicants to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  www.fafsa.ed.gov/   

Scholarship Search Tips

1.     Begin your search early and conduct as much research as you can.  Apply for every scholarship for which you are eligible. 

2.     Meet all deadlines.

3.     Follow directions.  Provide everything that is requested, but no more than is required. 

4.     List all activities and honors, highlighting those that are relevant to the scholarship. 

5.     Neatness counts.  Type your application. 

6.     Make a photocopy of the application before you begin. If you make a mistake, you can start fresh with a clean copy.  Also make a copy of the completed application so you can resent it if the original is lost. 

7.     Ask for help if you need it.  Don’t hesitate to call the funding organization.

8.     Write an essay that makes a strong impression. Tell a story and use personal examples.

9.     Choose references that know you well and give them plenty of time to write a recommendation.

 10.  Give your application (and/or essay) a once over.  Ask a friend, teacher, or parent to proofread it. 

·        Read the fine print and make sure you understand all terms and conditions before accepting any award.

·        Be wary of companies that “guarantee” you will receive a scholarship, especially if their offer was unsolicited and/or they are requiring that you pay money for their services.

·        Never provide any confidential or personal identification information to an unfamiliar person of organization.

·        Remember that there are many free scholarship searches available where you can get all the information you need at no charge. 

·        Contact the financial aid office at your college with any questions or concerns. 

·        Learn more about financial aid scams at the Federal Trade Commission’s Scholarship Scams Website: www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams

·        Call the Federal Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-800-MISUSED (647-8733) to report suspected identity theft or fraud.  A MISUSED online resource is also available.

Scams Warning Signs

·        You have to pay a fee or “taxes”

·        Money-back offers or guarantees

·        Credit card or bank account information required

·        Provides “exclusive” information

“Phishing”

·        Unsolicited emails that bear the logo of your bank or credit card 

·        Appear legitimate but are traps tolure you into giving out your personal or account information

·        NEVER give out Social Security, credit card, or bank account numbers to unsolicited emails or calls

“Pharming”

·        Unsolicited emails that encourage you to visit a website or click on suspicious link

·        Make sure your inbox spam filters are up to date

·        BE CAREFUL about giving out your contact information or email address

Report Scams

·        National FRAUD Information Center (NFIC)File an online complaint at www.fraud.org

·        Federal Trade Commission (FTC) File online complaint at www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams , call 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357), or write to 

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Consumer Response Center

600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20580

·        State Attorney General’s Office

File your complaint with Consumer Protection Division in your state.  Visitwww.naag.org to find your state Attorney General’s Office

·        US Postal Inspection Services (USPIS)

File an online complaint involving mail fraud at www.postalinspectors.uspis.gov, call the Crime Hotline at 877-876-2455 or write t

Inspection Service Support Group

222S. Riverside Plaza, Ste. 1250

Chicago, IL 60606-6100

 File an online complaint about a business at www.bbb.org or call 703-276-0100

Some of this information was adapted from www.mapyourfuture.org