Finding College Scholarships

Finding college scholarships may take time and effort, but it’s a necessary process if you are serious about attending college and finding funding to do so.

A good site to start your search is at FinAid . This site contains information about scholarships for cancer patients, survivors, children of cancer patients or survivors, students who lost a parent to cancer and students pursuing careers in cancer treatment. Mark Kantrowitz, the publisher of FinAid, is himself a survivor of testicular cancer. This site gives you information about awards that are not limited to a single college or university.

Another good site is FastWeb Scholarship Database. Here you will need to complete a form with some basic information but nothing personal. This is a free service where you will receive free information on college financing and admissions, offers and promotions designed for and about students, job opportunities and more.

If you are college student who was diagnosed with cancer while in college, talk to your dean of students as well as the director of student financial aid at the college you are enrolled. Many colleges and universities have contingency funds just for your situation.

If you are a high school senior, you can talk with your college advisor. Another good area to find scholarships is to look in your local newspaper, public library or on the Internet. The important thing is to start early and keep looking for scholarship money for college.

Scholarships can help you through college: Take the first step in the scholarship process

When someone mentions “college scholarships,” many people immediately think of football, basketball or some other type of sports scholarship. You may also think of academic scholarships.

In both cases, you are right. College scholarships are awarded to students based on merit as well as need, and the money doesn’t have to be repaid.

Merit-based scholarships go to students who are superb academic or athletic performers. For example, the National Merit Scholarship is a competitive scholarship given to students on a merit basis. This scholarship can be subjective and sometimes the best-qualified student may not always win. The same goes for athletic merit scholarships.

Need-based scholarships go to students who cannot afford to attend a college where they have been accepted. You can receive this type of scholarship at many schools. The money can be quite large depending on the financial-aid resources of a particular college as well as your financial need.

There is another type of college scholarship called specialty scholarships. Most colleges have a special group of awards that are usually provided by graduates of the school. This type of college scholarship gives money to first year students according to unique considerations.

For example, church-affiliated colleges may have some specially endowed scholarships for young men and women who are members of that denomination. Other specialty awards might go to students from certain geographic areas. Be aware that these types of specialty scholarships may have a variety of requirements and restrictions.

The first step in the scholarship process is to gather as much information and knowledge as possible. Review the different types of scholarships available to you and then decide which scholarships are the best match for your specific needs. 

We're here to help you through this process! Stay tuned for more tips and information on our blog and please post comments so we make sure to cover all your questions. 

Yes, you can get financial help with college

You’ve endured cancer treatments and now you want to move on with your life. But, if you don’t have a college education, finding a good job and pursuing the career of your dreams may be difficult.

As a childhood cancer survivor, you now have options in finding financial aid for college. Not only does CCC help with $1,000 - $2,000 scholarship awards, but there are other organizations helping in this fight, as well.

The American Cancer Society, for example, is offering college scholarships for pediatric cancer survivors. There are some restrictions within the states served by this division, and there are several hundred scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 awarded each year. (Click here for more information.) 

Also, if you are first diagnosed with cancer while in college, talk with the dean of students and the director of student financial aid at your school. Many colleges and universities have contingency funds that can provide additional assistance and financial resources to you.

With so many options, the question is not how can you afford to go to college, but how can you afford to not to go to college. And who knows, maybe you’ll be the one to discover the cure for cancer!