Congratulations on your decision to pursue higher education. You have already made a significant step toward your education by beginning your scholarship search. Reading this article says something else about your potential success: You have recognized that finding college funding begins with defining who you are as well as who you want to be. This article will describe some of the resources available to a single African-American woman and suggest additional ways to view yourself that may earn you college scholarship money.
"Single"
The majority of college students are single, and, in general, being single is not a particular advantage in looking for scholarship funds. Being a single parent adds a dimension to your search that can be addressed in several ways. Your first step for all scholarship searching should be the financial-aid office of the college you want to attend. Some four-year and two-year colleges have funds of their own for child care. Colleges that offer education degrees often maintain their own child-care facilities for children of students and staff. Both student-teachers and other students benefit greatly from such a facility, and fees are usually based on ability to pay. You should also contact child-care councils at the local, county or state level and your department of social services to determine whether you qualify for child-care scholarships. Scholarships that help your family help you, too.
"African-American"
A growing number of scholarship funds focus on minority students. Black Excel, the United Negro College Fund, and the Millenium Scholars program, for example, all reach out to men and women of color and offer scholarships based on merit, previous scholastic performance, financial need and potential. Programs often recognize that some high schools, especially in poor states or in crowded cities, do not provide the kind of preparation for college that lets students show their full potential. Industries as well as private foundations offer strong support to students preparing for professions in which minorities are historically underrepresented: mathematics, the sciences, information technology, and health-care fields.
Search out foundations and community organizations that place a priority on advancing educational opportunities for black students. Funds exist to enable you to attend historically black colleges. African-American national sorority and fraternity organizations raise money for students, as do professional organizations in engineering, accounting and medicine. If you are a member of a predominantly black religious denomination, begin a search with your local church and move up. The same strategy applies to other African-American philanthropic organizations: search locally, but think nationally.
Organizations do not have to be predominantly African-American in membership to value your education. The Masons, Rotary, Kiwanis, Eastern Star, the Elks and International Order of King's Daughters and Sons have long records of support for local students seeking higher education.
"Woman"
Scholarships for female students have many bases. Many colleges have funds reserved for women by female donors. The American Association of University Women and the PEO (Philanthropic and Educational Organization) are examples of national women's organizations who choose to support women of all cultural backgrounds. So do the Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist churches and organizations of women professionals, such as the American Business Women's Association. Corporations that serve women, such as Avon, Revlon, Clairol and Johnson & Johnson, recognize the importance of their customers and employees through college scholarships.
Who You Are and Who You Want to Be
To widen your scholarship search, spend time expanding your list of personal attributes and abilities. Athletes intending to play all college sports may qualify for NCAA support. Hospital volunteers may be eligible for funds from hospital corporations; VA hospital volunteers should explore special funding for their education. School and community-organization volunteers may also find funding available. Talents in art and music can qualify students for scholarships. You are a single African-American woman and much more. Look at all your abilities and search for organizations that share your interests as well as your heritage.
Also remember the benefits of your family's community participation. Federal employees, union workers and members of many occupations qualify you for assistance -- your churchgoing, postal-worker, brotherhood-member Dad becomes a whole new person in the light of a scholarship search!
Warning
Looking for college scholarships is hard work. Fortunately, the college-counseling office at your school and your public library can point you toward free search resources that will help lighten your research load. Beware, however, of search companies that "guarantee" you scholarships for a fee. Reputable organizations do not need your money, and disreputable ones may or may not find anything you cannot locate on your own. "Guarantees" are truly shaky -- a company that charges you $250 for a search, then delivers news of a $150 scholarship, does you positive harm. Remember, you are already a successful single African-American woman who can make intelligent choices that will lead to college success.
A Final Consideration
As you have learned, finding the money for college is work. The suggestions in this article are just a beginning. Available funds and sources are as affected by the national economy as much as the price of a loaf of bread. You will have some successes and some failures in your specific search. Do not give up easily; scholarship professionals note that every year, some scholarship funds go unused because students have not sought them out. Therefore, you may wish to look at your scholarship search as your first official college experience -- the research, examination of your abilities and interests, networking with others and challenges related to asserting yourself are all skills you will use as your education progresses. Even when the search is confusing and frustrating, you're already on your way. Have a great time at college.
Tags: scholarship search, African-American woman, scholarship funds, single African-American, single African-American woman