By Paula Steers Brown, August 2007

• Introduction
• Meet your match
• What do they have to offer you and what can you offer them?
• Standardized test savvy
• The application: narrow the focus
• Your essay: extract the unique
• Show your passion
• Finding funding
• Download the full article as a

Finding funding

Most guidance departments keep a notebook on all available scholarships. The path to many scholarships requires that you are the only nominee from your school, so you need to make it clear early on (in September) to your guidance counselor or scholarship liaison that you are on the prowl for funding. It cannot be a private pursuit if you wish to be considered for as many financial supplements as possible. The Internet can also be a very valuable tool. Fastweb.com allows any student to set up a profile and will send you notices about applying for scholarships that fit your profile.

©2007 by Paula Brown. Paula Brown teaches honors and college-bound English at Douglas Freeman High School in Richmond, Va. where she also has a college-counseling business.