ONLINE EDUCATION | EDUCATION | CAREER ADVICE

With fall approaching and many students (and their parents) worrying about college tuition, it’s time for the annual public service announcement on scholarship scams. In short, beware.

A recent article on MSNBC.com detailed the woes of several college hopefuls who had fallen victim to one particular scholarship scam. This scam involved a company — College Money Matters — which promised to help students obtain money for college in exchange for a large fee — about $1,000. But promises weren’t kept, and students who tried to obtain refunds were often met with resistance and even harassment.

College Money Matters is just one example of scholarship-service scams out there. In fact, scholarship-service scams have become so egregious as to attract the attention of the Better Business Bureau. To help consumers avoid potential pitfalls and make educated decisions about financial aid, the Better Business Bureau issued a statement in 2003 entitled “Scholarship Services: Are They All Scams?” in which they warned students to be suspicious if a scholarship service makes one or more of the following claims:

"The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back." In reality no one can guarantee that they will get you a grant or scholarship. And the refund guarantees that are offered usually have so many conditions or strings attached that it is almost impossible for consumers to get their money back.

"You can not get this information anywhere else." Actually, scholarship information is widely available in books, from libraries and financial aid offices and on the Internet, if you are willing to search for it.

"We will do all the work." In reality, only parents and students can determine and provide the financial information needed to complete the forms. Actually, to apply for scholarships, students must complete the application themselves.

"You have been selected by a national foundation to receive a scholarship." If you have not entered a competition sponsored by the foundation, this claim is highly unlikely.

"May I have your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship?" This is never a requirement for a legitimate scholarship offer.

"The scholarship will cost some money." Legitimate scholarship offers never require payment of any kind. Free money is free money, unless it is a loan. But if it is not a loan, any fees that may be charged, such as the origination and guarantee fees, are taken out of the disbursement check.

While scholarship scams are relatively new, it should be noted that they share the usual characteristics of old-fashioned confidence schemes: (1) unfounded guarantees; (2) claims to privileged information; (3) promises of a “sure thing” — no risk; and finally, the hallmark of all scams, (4) all money is paid up front.

The last of these traits is typically the litmus test of legitimacy: if a representative of any service wants money up front (despite their assurances and guarantees), then beware. Chances are you are being presented with a scam. College is expensive, and financing a college education can be frustrating even without the shysters.

That being said, money is available — there are thousands of legitimate scholarships out there. But scholarships belong in the category of things that, ultimately, prospective students have to do alone. The important thing to remember is that scholarships are selective by their very nature, and part of that selection process involves weeding-out large applicant pools to find a handful of select individuals. More often than not, the recipients of these awards are careful and persistent seekers who approach financial aid as a serious and time-consuming process and not those swayed by the flattery and false promises of scholarship scams.

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.

For many potential college students, starting school can be intimidating. Some have anxieties about leaving home. Others fret about the cost. Most worry they won’t do well in school. Below are ten tips that will not only help you survive your first year — or any year — but thrive.

1. Go to all orientations. Yes, that’s right — it really is necessary to attend all the school orientations. The more familiar you are with the school as well as its rules and expectations, the better you’ll do. Armed with a thorough understanding of all aspects of campus life — or, at least, those aspects you can glean from orientation — you will feel more at ease when issues arise, as they always do.

2. Get organized. In high school, teachers tend to shepherd students through homework and due dates. In college, by contrast, professors post the assignments and expect you to be prepared. They don’t have much patience for excuses like “I didn’t know when it was due.” So do what you have to do — buy an electronic organizer, a planner, or a big wall calendar — but get organized.

3. Study regularly. Kind of a no-brainer, but this is an essential part of success. In addition to studying regularly, you should find an ideal place for you to study, whether at the library or a quiet place in your dorm, whatever works best for you. Like with most things, when it comes to study time, quality is better than quantity.

4. Be on time to class. What happens when you’re late or don’t show up to class? You get behind, miss out on assignments and lecture notes, and often project an “I don’t care” attitude to the professor. Often it is tempting to sleep through early morning class or skip it altogether — resist temptation. Make it a priority to attend all of your classes on time. Your grades will thank you later.

5. Meet with your professors when appropriate. Not only should you meet with professors to ask questions about assignments but also to get to know them. Remember there are upsides to having a personal relationship with your professor, especially if you run into snags late in the semester. Professors schedule office hours for the sole purpose of meeting with students — take advantage of that time.

6. Get to know your academic adviser. The job of the academic adviser is to help you make informed decisions about majors and minors, resolve course conflicts, and add or drop classes. In short, your academic adviser is your life preserver in college — make sure you use them. If your assigned adviser doesn’t have time for you, or if the two of you don’t click, don’t be afraid of requesting another one.

7. Maintain a balance. College offers students the chance to expand their education, to meet friends, and to develop talents. But concentrating on one area too much can be dangerous. Without proper attention to school, grades will fall. But without a social life, college can become a burden. Be sure to maintain a balance — study hard and play hard.

8. Get involved. Many new college students struggle with homesickness and feelings of not belonging. A good way to overcome these feelings is to join various student organizations, clubs, sororities or fraternities, or sports teams. You’ll make new friends, learn new skills, and feel more connected to your school.

9. Don’t feel pressured to make crucial decisions too soon. Sometimes students feel like they need to choose a major and begin preparing for a specific career during their first semester. Not true. Remember that part of the college experience is getting to know others and yourself. It is not a race. Feel free to explore your options, talents, likes and dislikes. Make an educated decision — not a hasty one.

10. Make time for yourself. Finally — and most importantly — remember that you should take time out of each week for yourself. Whether spent exercising, watching a favorite movie or television show, or spending time outdoors, personal time is essential to mental, emotional, and physical wellness, which has a profound effect your college performance. Thus, one of the most important lessons you should learn in college is how to relax. That being said, be careful of taking too much time for yourself. Remember you’re at school to work. While these ten tips are especially relevant for college students, it should be observed that many can be applied elsewhere. College is a microcosm of life; as such, your ability to excel in college is often a good predictor of how you will fare in other situations, such as the workplace. Thus, these skills are not only tips on how to survive college but also how to survive life.

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.