Please contact College Counseling Office for further information 954-262-4410

Protecting Yourself From Scholarship Scams

  • If you must pay money to get money, it might be a scam
  • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
  • Spend the time, not the money
  • Never invest more than one postage stamp to get information about scholarships
  • Nobody can guarantee that you will win a scholarship
  • Legitimate scholarship foundations do not charge scholarship fees
  • If you’re suspicious of an offer, it is usually with good reason

Warning Signs of a Scholarship Scam

Certain signs can help you identify scholarship scams

  • Application Fees: Be wary of any “scholarship” that requests an application fee, even a fee as low as $2.
  • Loan Fees: Be wary if you have to pay a fee in advance of obtaining an educational loan. Legitimate loans never require an up-front fee when you submit the application
  • Guaranteed Winnings: No legitimate scholarship sponsor will guarantee that you’ll win an award. No scholarship matching services can guarantee that you will win an award either
  • Everybody is Eligible: NO scholarship sponsor hands out money to students simply for breathing; all scholarship sponsors are looking for candidates who best match certain criteria
  • The unclaimed aid myth: You may be told that millions of dollars of scholarships go unused each year because students don’t know where to apply. This is not true.  There are no unclaimed scholarships
  • We Apply on Your Behalf: To win a scholarship, you must submit your own application.
  • Claims of Influence with Scholarship Sponsors: Scholarship matching services do not have any control the awarding of scholarships by third parties
  • High Success Rates: Overstated claims of success are a tip-off to a scam. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
  • Excessive Hype: If a brochure uses a lot of hyperbole (“free money”, “guaranteed”, “first-come, first-served”) be careful, Also be wary of terms such as: “invitation number”, “immediate confirmation”.
  • NO Telephone Number: Most legitimate scholarship programs include a telephone number for inquiries with their application materials
  • Masquerading as a Federal Agency: If you receive an offer from an organization with an official sounding name, check whether there really is a federal agency with that name.
  • Time Pressure: If you must respond quickly and won’t hear results for several months, it may be a scam
  • Notification by the phone: If you win a scholarship, you will receive written notification, not by phone
  • A Florida or California address: Many scams seem to originate in California or Florida

Practical Tips for Students on Avoiding Scams

  • Be cautious if fees are involved
  • Ask your college counselor if your are unsure
  • Never give out personal information to strangers
  • Ask the organization how it got your name
  • Ignore offers that involve time pressure

FastWeb

  • Conducts financial aid searches with a database of over 180,000 private scholarships

Florida Realtors Scholarship

  • Students compete for $6000 awards
  • Students must write a 500 word or less essay on the topic: “How does a Realtor Professional Benefit the Community?”
  • All essays must be postmarked no later that Feb. 9th, 2009.
  • Please visit: http://media.floridarealtors.org for more information

National Council of Jewish Women Jewish Leader of Tomorrow Grant Application

  • Winners will be awarded $1000
  • Applicants must be in 11th or 12th grades in the fall of 2008
  • Applicants must submit an essay indicating why they feel that they can become a Jewish leader tomorrow
  • Applicants who have also overcome significant obstacles are welcome to apply
  • Criteria: Community Service; Social Activism; Leadership; Obstacles Overcome; GPA
  • Deadline: Feb 19th, 2009
  • Please direct inquiries to: janetsol@aol.com

Horatio Alger Association Scholarship Program

  • Provides financial assistance to students who demonstrate financial need, integrity, and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity
  • Scholarships range in value from $2500--$20,000
  • Please visit: www.horatioalger.com/scholarships

Best Buy @ 15 Scholarship Program

  • Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2009
  • 1000 $1500 scholarships each will be awarded
  • Students grades 9-12 are eligible to apply
  • Students need solid grades and must be involved with community service
  • Visit: www.bestbuy.com/scholarships or www.at15.com for further information

Boston University

Trustee Scholarship

  • Based upon academic excellence, provides full tuition.
  • Students should be in the top 10% of the class, with an average SAT score of 1510
  • Please refer to: www.bu.edu/admissions/trustee

Alexander Graham Bell Scholarship

  • For students with math and science backgrounds
  • Students should be in the top 10% of the class, with an average SAT score of 1530

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship

  • Provides four-year, full tuition scholarships for students with proven leadership abilities and a strong commitment to social justice and community involvement
  • Students should be in the top 5% of the class, with a GPA of 3.7 and SATs of 1350.

For all other Boston University Scholarship Opportunities, please refer to: www.bu.edu/admissions/apply/scholarship.html

Broward County Gator Club

  • Scholarship for students who will attend UF next year.
  • Go to http://www.bcgc.net or contact College Counseling for further details.

The Ron Brown Scholar Program

  • Awards academically talented African American students
  • Awards scholarships up to $10,000 per year for four years
  • Deadline: November 1st
  • Please visit: www.ronbrown,org for more information and an application

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Inc.

  • Awards 250scholarships. 50 awards are for $20,000 and 200 are for $10,000
  • Offers scholarships to students who demonstrate leadership, commitment to community, and academic achievement
  • Apply online at: www.coca-colascholars.org before October 31st

Columba Bush’s Arts for Life! Scholarship

  • Awards a $1000 cash scholarship to 25 high school seniors in dance, music, theater, or visual art.
  • Recipients will attend a professional development workshop led by Romero Britto
  • Please visit: www.ExcelinEd.org or email Lisa Kammel Raguso at: Lisa@ExcelinEd.org for further information

Commerce Bank American Dream Scholarships

The Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation High School Internet Challenge

  • Online tournament-style academic quiz competition
  • Scholarships are awarded to top scoring 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grade students
  • All Broward County high school students are eligible
  • Award amounts of: $100-$500
  • Please visit: www.ckfs.org for more information

Florida State University Service Scholar Program

  • 10-15 incoming freshmen will receive annual scholarships of $2400 for demonstrating excellence in service and leadership in planning and promoting service among their peers.
  • Online applications are now available at: www.serve2learn.fsu.edu

Mahatma Rice Scholarship

  • Students must reside in Dade or Broward Counties
  • $2000 cash awards
  • Students must write an essay: “How will your college education help to achieve your lifetime goals?”
  • Deadline: Feb. 16
  • Please visit: www.mahatmarice.com/scholarship for further information

Mahatma Rice/Univision Radio Scholarship

  • Offers college-bound high school seniors from the Dad, Broward, and Monroe Counties $2000 cash awards
  • Students must complete an essay
  • Please visit: www.mahatmarice.com/scholarship for further information

McKelvey Foundation Entrepreneurial Scholarship Award

  • Offers up to $10,000 per academic year for 4 years to any US college or university
  • Available to all high school seniors who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit by owning and operating their own businesses while in high school
  • Please apply online at: mckelveyfoundation.org

Middleton Lawn & Pest Control 2008 “What’s Bugging You?” Youth Achievement Award

  • 6 graduating high school seniors will each receive a $2000 award
  • 22 graduating high school seniors will each receive a $500 award
  • Students must tell “what’s bugging you” in life or society by writing an essay, painting, or drawing a picture, or creating a computer illustration.
  • Please visit: www.middletonpest.com for further details.

My Future in Cotton Scholarship

  • Deltapine Cotton is awarding 9 $1000 scholarships to students whose essays best express, “My Future in Cotton”
  • Deadline: Dec. 7
  • Please visit: Myfutureincotton.com for further information

The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), Inc.

  • The Northwest Broward Section seeks to identify two women in Broward County who have the qualities to become our Jewish leaders of tomorrow
  • Applicants must be enrolled in 11th or 12th grade
  • Applicants must reside in Broward County
  • One winner will be awarded $1000 towards tuition
  • Please contact the College Counseling Office for more information, or email: Janetsol@aol.com

Oglethorpe Scholarship Weekend

  • James Edward Oglethorpe Scholarship
  • Georgia Shakespeare Scholarship
  • Civic Engagement Scholarship
  • Please call 800-428-4484 for further information

The Ronald A. Hammond Scholarship

  • Four year, full tuition scholarship awarded to Florida students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds
  • Minimum requirements include an SAT score of: 1150; ACT of 26; and a strong B+ average
  • Recipients typically come from single family homes, promote diversity, are from an underrepresented minority, will be the first member of the family to graduate from college; demonstrate achievement and determination in the face of personal challenges
  • Please visit: www.miami.edu/hammond for further information

Scripps College New Generation Scholarship

  • Completely merit-based
  • Provides for four years of full tuition, room, board, three round-trip airfares home during academic year
  • Funding for one summer research stipend
  • Students should have a GPA of above 4.0 and a minimum 1400 SAT

The University of Miami George W. Jenkins Scholarship

  • Four year scholarship awarded to students based on academic merit, financial need, and an essay that demonstrates overcoming adversity
  • Minimum GPA of 3.75
  • Deadline: Dec. 1
  • Please stop by the College Counseling Office for more information

University of North Florida Guaranteed Presidential Scholarship

  • All students who meet the recalculated GPA of 3.75 and a 1260 SAT or 28 ACT and who submit their application by Nov. 1st will automatically be offered this $10,000 scholarship.
  • Please visit: www.unf.edu/finaid/scholarships for further information

Sam Walton (Wal-Mart) Community Scholarship 2008

  • This is a $1000 non-renewable scholarship for the first year of undergraduate study
  • Please visit: www.walmartfoundation.org for further details

YoungARTS Scholarships (National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts)

  • Open to high school seniors who are artists in the performing, literary, or visual arts
  • Final Registration Deadline: Oct. 1, 2007

Ronald A. Hammond Scholarship

  • Applicants must have a B+ average with a 1250 SAT
  • Applicants must be the first member of the family to graduate from a college
  • Must belong to an underrepresented background
  • Must reside in a single parent home
  • Please see your college counselor for an application