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One of the best ways to subsidize your college education is by obtaining a scholarship. As such, you should keep in mind the criteria that selection committees use in awarding scholarships.

There are two types of scholarships available — need-based and merit-based. Need-based scholarships are awarded based on financial need. Merit-based scholarships, by contrast, are awarded to students who have distinguished themselves in one or more of the following areas.

Academics

Almost every scholarship involves some degree of academic achievement. Scholarship committees want to make sure applicants can cope with the rigors of college. As such, they will look at a combination of indicators (usually GPAs and test scores) and eliminate applicants that fall beneath a certain cutoff point. That being said, while a high GPA is important, most committees will also take into account your class schedule and reward you for taking challenging courses.

Leadership

Leadership means that an individual has the motivation, independence, and ability to complete projects and lead others. And while leadership can be shown in a variety of ways, scholarship committees typically focus on extracurricular activities or work experience. Committees tend to look for applicants that can work well with a variety of people, including teachers, administrators, co-workers, employers, and even various government and civic organizations.

Creativity

Scholarship committees value applicants with personality and creativity. Creativity can be shown through an applicant’s ability to play a musical instrument, sing, or draw. Applicants can also illustrate their creativity through less conventional means such as graphic design, auto repair, and computer programming. The important thing is to demonstrate that you are well-rounded and unique.

Physical Fitness

While colleges and universities do award scholarships solely on the basis of physical fitness — usually to exceptional student-athletes — many scholarships have some kind of physical-fitness component. As with creativity, committees are looking for applicants who are well-rounded — and that includes physical fitness. This does not mean you need to be star varsity athlete; it just means you need to demonstrate a commitment to health and fitness, perhaps by jogging regularly, by participating in some kind of intramural sport, or even by riding your bike to work.

Service

Scholarship committees like applicants who take an active interest in others and in the community. That being said, service should not be forced or faked. Committees need to be convinced that service is part of your life, not just a mechanism for getting a scholarship. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you have to join the Peace Corps; you can show meaningful service simply by volunteering at a retirement center or school fundraiser. The important thing is be sincere and consistent.

Courage & Determination

In addition to successes — academic, creative, physical, or otherwise — committees also value applicants who have demonstrated courage and determination in the face of difficult obstacles. These obstacles can range from physical, mental, or social handicaps to financial problems. The important thing is to explain to scholarship committees what these obstacles were, how you overcame them in order to achieve your goals, and, most importantly, what you learned about yourself in the process.

Finally, while each of these criteria is important, bear in mind that many scholarships will typically focus only one or two areas, so don’t be discouraged if you are weak in one or more of these areas. Simply identify your strengths and then find the scholarships that favor those strengths. With the number of scholarships available — and they are legion — chances are you will find a scholarship that is perfect for you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kari Whitaker is a technical as well as creative writer. In addition to articles on education and careers, she also enjoys writing short stories, essays, and poetry.

Sure, you have bulldogs, panthers, knights, and hawks. But not every school chooses a conventional mascot. In fact, some schools select rather unconventional ones and often for rather strange and unorthodox reasons. Here are ten of the strangest, in no particular order — except for the last one.

Boll Weevils. At six millimeters longs, not many schools boast a mascot smaller than that of the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Still, despite its diminutive size, the boll weevil is a formidable opponent — after all, it is the most destructive cotton pest in the United States. With that in mind, it is curious why men’s athletics at Monticello are represented by the Boll Weevils whereas the women are known as the “Lady Blossoms.”

Anteaters. Is it any wonder that the 1960s, a decade famous for political unrest and protest, would also see the rise of University of California-Irvine Anteaters? Inspired by Johnny Hart’s comic strip, “B.C.,” Zot the Anteater was introduced at the school’s first athletic event, a water-polo game, in which cheerleaders led the crowd in the now-infamous chant, “Give ‘em tongue!”

Banana Slugs. While famous for its marijuana culture as well as the infamous “Porter Run,” in which students streak en masse through campus one night of the year, the University of California-Santa Cruz is also known for its distinctive mascot. The idea for the mascot grew out of the students’ disapproval of the fierce athletic competition fostered at other universities — hence, they chose the peaceable slug.

Fighting Okra. There are several legends as to how the Delta State “Statesmen” actually became known as the “Fighting Okra.” One version involves a group of athletes who decided to adopt a mascot that was more intimidating. Okra was suggested because it was green (the school color), Southern, and ugly. The name stuck.

Chokers. Although this rather unfortunate name is also slang for athletes who “choke” in the final minute and fritter away an easy victory, the Grays Harbor Chokers actually refer to an archaic logging term. Traditionally, “chokers” were men who wrapped logs with ropes prior to moving them to the lumberyard.

Vulcans. Given the volcanic activity in Hawaii, it is certainly appropriate that a local school would invoke the Roman God of Fire. That being said, upon hearing of the mascot of the University of Hawaii-Hilo, don’t most of us actually think of another prominent Vulcan as its representative? (Hint: Live long and prosper.)

Battling Bishops. Prior to 1925, the Ohio Wesleyan teams were known as the “The Red and Black” or as simply “The Methodists.” But given that there were a dozen Methodist colleges in the area, Ohio Wesleyan decided to have a contest and select a new name to distinguish itself. “Battling Bishops” was the winner.

Artichokes. Coming on the heels of protest-mascots such as the Anteaters and the Banana Slugs, the Artichokes was chosen by the students of Scottsdale Community College in the early 1970s as a protest against the school administration’s practice of using scholarships intended for Native Americans to attract out-of-state athletes.

Poets. Named for a prominent poet and leader in the abolitionist movement, John Greenleaf Whittier, the Whittier College Poets are not quite as intimidating as the Fighting Okra nor even as peace-loving as the docile banana slugs. Then again, the Poets are also not as ridiculous as at least one mascot …

Fighting Pickles. Apparently, the Fighting Pickles was first suggested as a joke in 1972 when the North Carolina School of the Arts decided to have a contest to create a mascot. As with many mascot-choosing contests — when will school administrators learn? — the unlikely vegetable won, giving it not only the honor of becoming the school’s official mascot but probably the most ridiculous mascot of all time. Then again, what’s your school’s mascot …
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.

Every boss can’t be loved by every employee. But that doesn’t mean that every boss needs to be Michael Scott from NBC’s The Office. Thus, in order to minimize resentment, a good boss should understand some of more common reasons why employers hate their bosses so they can respond swiftly and effectively.

1. Employees need respect. One of greatest complaints that nearly every employee has about their boss is a perceived lack of respect. Most employees feel their bosses don’t respect their privacy, their ability, and their personal lives (yes, employees have a life outside of work). As such, employers should go out of their way to show respect to each employee in the organization. Remember that respect tends to be reciprocated; as such, showing respect to employees is one of the most effective ways to win their respect and loyalty.

2. Employees dislike micromanagers and under-managers. A bad boss is like an overbearing parent. A good boss, by contrast, treats employees like adults — that means giving employees plenty of space and freedom to accomplish their work. Bosses should never spy and should strive to maintain privacy. In short: if your employees are good workers, don’t micromanage. Just step back and let them do their thing.

However, be careful to avoid the opposite of micromanagement — under-management. Under-managed employees receive little or no support (material, emotional, financial) from their bosses. While the lesser of two evils, inadequate support also leads to resentment as well as apathy on the part of employees. After all, if the boss doesn’t care, why should I?

3. Employees, like bosses, don’t think they’re getting paid enough. Rare indeed are the organizations in which employees feel they’re well paid. (It’s probably human nature to feel under-appreciated.) Still, a good boss can help placate disgruntled workers by making the pay philosophy of the company clear and by finding other ways to compensate workers.

4. Employees tend to dislike meetings as a rule. Meetings are a necessary evil. That being said, employers can make them less annoying and less intrusive by planning meetings carefully, imposing strict time limits, making goals and action items clear, and by creating an environment where employees can voice their opinions openly without fear of retribution. It might even be helpful on occasions to seek feedback from employees as to how meetings could be made more effective.

5. Employees need to feel appreciated. When creativity or hard work is unappreciated, unacknowledged, or unrewarded, employees — just like everyone else — tend to feel resentment. In turn, resentment can lead to apathy. This is why it is crucial for bosses and managers to show they both see and appreciate the work being done. A little acknowledgement goes a long way — in fact, verbal affirmation can often be as rewarding for employees as a raise or a promotion. Well, almost.

To conclude, let me observe that most of the reasons that employees hate their bosses are not related to background, personality quirks, or other things beyond a boss’s control. Rather, most — if not all — of these concerns could be assuaged if the boss would simply be aware of them and take steps to reduce their occurrence. Of course, that’s easier said than done, mostly because there are a myriad of ways that employees annoy their bosses — but that’s the subject for another day.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Kari Whitaker is a technical as well as creative writer. In addition to articles on education and careers, she also enjoys writing short stories, essays, and poetry.

Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.