With tuition costs rising every year, the thought of paying for college can be daunting. Fortunately, there are millions of free scholarship dollars out there to help you. They come in all sizes, from full tuition to just enough to cover the cost of textbooks. And scholarships are not just for star athletes or A students. No matter what your interests or unique abilities, there is a scholarship out there just waiting for your application. And, unlike the school loan, you don't need to pay them back.
Instructions
Getting Wacky Scholarships
1. Take a good look at yourself. Being a little out of the ordinary can pay big when it comes to scholarships. If you stand head and shoulders above your peers (at least 5'10" for women, at least 6'2" for men), look into scholarships offered by Tall Clubs International (TCI). To apply for these scholarship, you must be sponsored by a local TCI member club. The Billy Barty Foundation and Little People of America (LPA) know that good students often come in small packages. Both offer scholarships to people with medically diagnosed forms of dwarfism. The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for overweight people, offers a scholarship. Applicants must write a 700 to 1,000 word essay on one of several weight-related topics.
2. Think about the things you love to do. Your unique skills and hobbies can help you pay your way through college. Has skateboarding had a positive impact on your life? If so, writing an essay about it could land you a scholarship. The Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship awards money to skateboard-loving high school seniors. How are you at water fowl imitations? The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest awards scholarship money to the high school student with the best duck call. Contestants have 90 seconds to impress the judges with four calls--hail, feed, comeback, and mating. Would-be quackers must register through the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce in Stuttgart, Arkansas. Is fashion your passion? The Duck Brand Duct Tape "Stuck At Prom ®" Contest challenges applicants to design prom-wear out of duct tape. Students are judged on workmanship, originality, use of colors, accessories and quantity of duct tape used. The winning couple receives money toward college. And, just to prove there's a scholarship for everyone, the Western Sunbathing Association Scholarship is awarded to students who enjoy social nudism and maintain a GPA of at least 2.5.
3. Try a profession-specific scholarship to help you obtain your goal. Check with trade organizations associated with your area of interest. The American Association of Candy Technologists (AACT) awards a scholarship to sophomore, junior and senior students who have shown an interest in confectionery technology, through research projects, work experience or formal study. Applicants must earn a 3.0 grade point average and be majoring in food science, chemical science, biological science or a related field. The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (the sciences of wine making and grape growing) offers several scholarships to students majoring in studies that highlight the science of the wine and grape industry. The American Welding Society Foundation offers numerous scholarships to students interested in welding-related education or training programs. The American Board of Funeral Service Education awards scholarships to students enrolled in funeral service or mortuary science programs. The Annual Eileen J. Garrett Scholarship assists students studying the science of parapsychology.
4. Look for school-specific wacky scholarships. If you have your heart set on a particular college or university, find out what scholarships are offered directly through that school. Ball State University in Indiana offers a scholarship sponsored by its famous graduate, David Letterman. Applicants are asked to submit a creative telecommunications-related project. Juniata College, a small liberal arts school in Huntington Pennsylvania, offers a scholarship to studious south paws; the Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship--named for two left-handed alumni--is awarded to needy, left-handed undergrads. At Vassar College, students who are willing to change their middle name to Huntington in honor of one of the university’s benefactors, Calvin Huntington, can earn a full scholarship. The school also offers a scholarship to any Baptist minister’s daughter who attends the Poughkeepsie New York institution.
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