<p>I am just wondering whether anyone here has ever studied any scholarship related books available at Amazon site?
If so, could you please share your opinion/experience here? </p>
<p>I read Confessions of a Scholarship Winner; I did not learn anything new from it but a student might find it helpful. Also, I checked it out from the library and the other books may be available at a library near you, as well.</p>
<p>Generally, your best scholarship opportunities will come from your local community, high school guidance office, and the specific college you will be attending.</p>
<p>I read the first one. If you know absolutely nothing about scholarships then it might be useful. I do not recall it addressing what to me is of major important - how do outside scholarships affect financial and merit aid that comes from the college?</p>
<p>Definitely check your library, I can get any college-related book I want from there and many are only worth a brief read or look-over. I skimmed that Tanabe one.</p>
<p>Thank you both, @Madison85 and @OHMomof2.
Does either of you try to apply for any merit based scholarships listed in the books? Any luck?
My D and I have read several books but we have not started to apply any, yet.</p>
<p>We’ll definitely try to apply some scholarships from our local community. But the amount of money is small compared to the tuition. So I am thinking about to try those books. The problem is that each book lists tens of thousands of organizations that offer some kind scholarships. I feel a little helpless in the so called “data mining” process.</p>
<p>I don’t recall that the ‘Confessions’ book included a list of scholarships to apply for. It was more tips and advice for applying, for example, if XYZ organization is giving out a scholarship - go to the XYZ website to read about the goals and mission of that organization and then try to use a few of those buzzwords and phrases in any required essay for that scholarship so you appear to be in tune with what that organization considers to be important. </p>
<p>@mom2collegekid I totally agree. The VAST majority of aid comes from the schools directly. If you are one of the lucky ones who does get a scholarship froman outside organization that is great…but like you said that’s just a one time deal, and the amounts are not that great. OP: focus on schools where your stats put in at or above the 75% mark and you should get a dececent FA package.</p>
<p>I found the Peterson’s from a couple of years ago to be very poorly organized. Too many of the listed scholarships do not clearly state that students must meet certain financial need criteria, or can only be used at a certain college or set of colleges or for certain majors. It takes a lot of poking on other websites to learn that many of them are not really available to general students. Mom2collegekid is right – the more likely money is from colleges directly. </p>
<p>My D is doing well at school and she is aiming at Ivies which don’t offer any merit based scholarships at all. And we are not qualified for any need based aid, either. that’s why I am thinking to apply some kind of scholarships from outsiders. I just found it’s so hard to do the data-mining.</p>
<p>That being said, I don’t mean my D is definitely admitted into Ivies. But it’s probable, I think.</p>
<p>You are going to find it very hard because many/most of what you are looking for doesnt exist for highish income people. </p>
<p>Many outside awards that will help you with each year of college will have a need component.</p>
<p>From what you wrote, it appears that you are looking for an outside scholarship or two to knock down some of the annual costs for an ivy. those almost do no exist for people without need and for four years. </p>
<p>I suggest that you tell your D how much you can spend each year. If (for instance) that is $45k, then fine, tell her that (or whatever). If that were the case, then if she only finds a merit award for $2k and it is a one-time only award, then </p>
<p>there just arent very many outside entities that are motivated to give money to affluent students. The outside entities that award scholarships use “need” for their down-selection. </p>