(written by Val, College Outreach Specialist for the Center for College Planning)

Seniors: are you starting to think about how you are going to manage the cost of college?  College students: are you trying to find more ways to help subsidize the cost of your education?  I hope you answered yes because it is important to begin thinking about how to fund college now, not in July; and free money to pay for school is always better than money you have to contribute.  But where can you find these free money, or scholarship, opportunities?  Well hopefully you are searching through some of your local resources maintained by your high school’s Guidance Office as well as websites such as www.nh93.com and www.nhcf.org  but I wanted to let you know about a national opportunity that I stumbled upon.

MTV and the College Board Advocacy & Policy Center have teamed up to sponsor the “Get Schooled College Affordability Challenge” in the hopes of increasing financial aid awareness.  Recent studies have shown that nearly two million students do not apply for available financial aid each year and one of the main reasons students fail to graduate college is due to financial difficulty.  MTV and College Board wanted to do something about that (along with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which is underwriting the contest) and have developed this challenge.

So how can you apply for the chance to win $10,000 (as an individual or the amount will be split amongst all team members)?  Simply propose innovative digital tools that will help simplify the financial aid process.  All proposals must be submitted by December 17th and winners will be announced in early 2011.  For more information, click here .

Remember, apply for all possible scholarships.  Winning $10,000 is wonderful, but so is being awarded $500.  Every little bit can help defray the cost and potential need to borrow money.  Scholarship searching is time well-spent, so start searching today!

Best of luck,
Val