Pursuing a career in the musical arts is challenging to say the least. Talent, hard work and inspiration are the cornerstones of a degree in music. Of course, financing can be a bit problematic for some students. The unfortunate truth is that tertiary education is expensive, and not every student can afford all the costs associated with pursuing their musical dreams at the college level. Every highly talented individual, however, does have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship of their choice — a means of easing the financial burden.

Glenn Miller Scholarship

Every year, the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society offers scholarships of $1000, $2000 and $4000 to a few talented instrumentalists. There are also vocalist scholarships for the same values. The application process for these scholarships is fairly simple. In order for an applicant to be considered for the financial grant, an audition CD and application form need to be submitted before the cut-off date.

www.glennmiller.org/scholarships.html

Berklee Celebrity Scholarship

Berklee College of Music offers a grand total of 16 scholarships to its online students every term. This college partners with an impressive list of celebrities who have a passion for the arts so that it can provide hopeful young “musos” with the additional funding they need. Bill Cosby, Paul Simon and Patty Larkin are three of the generous celebrities in this partnership program.

The lucky 16 students will receive $1400 towards their online courses. In order to be eligible for this scholarship, students need to have earned a GPA of at least 3.7, completed their first online course, be enrolled in a certificate program and be recommended by one of their instructors.

www.online.berklee.edu/scholarships

The Davidson Fellowship

The Davidson Institute for Talent Development offers scholarships to the amounts of $10 000, $25 000 and $50 000. In order to be considered eligible, applicants must create what the college refers to as a “significant piece of work”. This can either be a musical composition or an exemplary performance, based on the student’s proposed field of study. Although there is no minimum age for eligibility, the institute does mention that novices will not be considered. All applicants must display knowledge and skill that ranks in at college level.

Hopeful composers must submit three scores of their own composition with three MDI recordings. Instrumentalists need to provide a high quality audio file in audition format as well as a video recording of a recent public performance. Two essays and a video describing the applicant’s work must also be submitted along with two nomination forms from people who are familiar who are familiar with, and support, the applicant’s performances.

www.davidsongifted.org/

The Williams Chorale Bacardi Fallon Scholarship

The Williams Chorale Bacardi Fallon Scholarship offers awards to the value of $12 000 annually. $8500 goes to the top four talented high school students in the competition while all applicants chosen to compete will receive consolation prizes of $300. Any high school students who wish to pursue a career in instrumental or vocal studies are eligible to apply. Along with the application form, applicants must provide a recording of a performance that lasts for at least five minutes and includes two changes in playing or singing style.

www.thewilliamschorale.org/scholarship

Is it Worth it to Apply?

There are many opportunities for financial aid available to talented young musicians. Pursuing a career in the Arts is never easy, and the occasional rejection is a part of the process. Applying for as many scholarships as possible may be the smart way to go about it. The old adage is true: you never know what you can do until you try.

About The Author:

Today’s guest article comes from Ryan Ayers. He is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he offers scholarship tips to music students and aims to encourage further study with a KSU Online Masters in Music Education.

Back-to-school time has come and gone, but it’s not too late to secure funds for the upcoming academic year. Budgeting for college isn’t easy. Take advantage of the resources available to you — outside of ramen noodles and your roommate’s day-old pizza. If you’re a high school student or already enrolled in college, check out these five scholarships that will get you started no matter what your major.

1. Edison Scholars Program

If you haven’t yet started college, the Edison Scholars Program is a bright way to begin your future. This scholarship is open to high school seniors pursuing STEM courses (sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Up to 30 recipients will be granted $10,000 for their undergraduate degree program. Scholarship renewals are available to those who continue to qualify.

If you’re not yet enrolled in college, you’re likely still pulling together funds for your education. The Edison Scholars Program may ensure that your last-minute budget holes are filled before your first day.

2. Google Lime Scholarship Program

If you’re a current college student with a disability (visible or invisible), the Google Lime Scholarship Program is a unique way to receive the funds you need for a degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. According to the Lime Connect scholarship website, “[…] candidates with all disabilities are encouraged to apply.” The program includes up to $10,000 in funds for those attending school in the US.

The Google Scholars Retreat at the Googleplex in Mountain View, California is also an exciting reward. You can set yourself up to be the king of your own local satellite internet company or you can dream bigger and develop your future in programing with one of the most important tech companies of the century.

The Google Lime Scholarship also helps students plan for their future. The program offers the opportunity to gain work experience early on in your educational career. Several students are traditionally selected to participate in Google sponsored internships.

3. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program

If you’ll be a college freshman in the 2014 fall semester and you’re an accomplished athlete, consider the Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program. Applicants must have a competitive GPA and involvement in high school, intramural or competitive community sports to qualify. Funds are distributed to 20 winners in the amount of $20,000 each. Note, the funds are spread throughout the student’s four years of enrollment.

Students involved in extracurricular athletic activities often need additional funds to make up for the time that they would otherwise be dedicating to a campus job. So this scholarship can help to tie up loose ends when it comes to paying for college.

4. Gates Millennium Scholars Program

The prestigious Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMSP) is open to students with varying degree plans, including education. Funds are awarded to 1000 students based on financial need. The award is provided mainly to eligible US minority applicants. Unlike most scholarships, the GMSP applies funds toward graduate school as well.

Graduate school is a challenging academic pursuit. Extreme course loads and even student teaching can make it difficult to hold down a full-time job. The GMSP may help you budget more discretionary money for graduate school so you can spend less time working and more time studying.

5.  Odenza Marketing Group Spring Scholarship

Students interested in a marketing degree should consider the Odenza Marketing Group Scholarship, however, any student (regardless of area of study) who meets the additional requirements may apply. The funds are available to a range of applicants from ages 16-25. In order to qualify students must answer the essay questions provided on the Odenza website. The essay includes a creative non-fiction option that allows students to visualize what city they would wish to live in and how living there will benefit them with their future endeavors.

Although the award value is small ($500), the amount could be applied toward school books or other educational expenses. Additional supplies are often the last thing you may consider calculating in your budget. Apply early to secure funds for these expenses.

College is an exciting time for most. Being out on your own presents new experiences that sometimes come with challenges. Crunching the numbers when you should be cramming for your latest test is like Christmas Tree-ing your final exam. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Plan ahead or supplement funds you have already secured. Apply for a college scholarship.

Aside from scholarships, in what ways do you plan to help cover tuition costs during your college years? Renting an apartment versus living in a dorm, buying a hotplate instead of takeout, or shopping at thrift stores instead of the retail clothing outlets are all ways to save money for education expenses. Feel free to share your plans for your tuition in the comments below.

College is a time of great excitement and anticipation. It brings many new opportunities in education, as well as in activities, and in social situations. There are many new freedoms to explore and choices to be made. Unfortunately, all of the anticipation and excitement can be stifled and damped by financial worries about college. The cost of attending a college or university in America has skyrocketed over the past decade. Unfortunately, this cost is only expected to continue on an upward trend, making it harder and harder for more families to send their children to school and further their careers.

Options to Pay for School

In the face of this financial obstacle, many students are turning to grants, loans, and scholarships in order to foot their education bill and enter their career field. There are several different types of scholarships available depending on the school you or your child wants to go to. However, athletic scholarships are available at nearly any American college that has athletic teams. From tennis to wresting and cheerleading to swimming, there is an athletic scholarship for almost any sport.

The Myth Surrounding Athletic Scholarships

A widely circulated myth regarding athletic scholarships is that the applicant must excel like a professional athlete in their sport and be the next Missy Franklin or Tiger Woods in order to be granted one. Although you or your child should have excellent athletic abilities in their sport, they do not have to be the best in order to be awarded a scholarship. What the applicants really need to focus on is getting noticed by the right people.

Get Discovered

If you or your child wants an athletic scholarship, do not wait to be discovered. Emails should be sent to your choice schools, introducing yourself or your child to the school. The email should include the position played, current coach contacts and personal sports statistics. In the past, many scholarship applicants send a DVD showing their performance. These DVDs risked the fate of being lost on an important coach’s desk. Instead, it is recommended that student athletes post their video of athletic abilities to YouTube and send the link to it in their introductory email.

The Basics

If you are among the select few to be awarded an athletic scholarship, you will likely see around $10k or less. The average athletic scholarship is around $10k or $11k. It covers only academic expenses, not books or living expenses. It is also important to note that having superb athletic abilities will not make up for extremely poor grades. Many high school guidance counselors recommend that students focus more on their grades, and less on athletics, in the hopes of being granted any scholarship at all.

Points to Remember

There are several key aspects regarding college athletic scholarships you will need to remember. The first is that an athletic scholarship is not guaranteed for four years. They are each good for one year, and can be renewed at the end of each year. They can be canceled or decreased for any reason, including poor academic performance. The standards can vary by school for maintaining a scholarship, and can also include sports performance and abilities, including injuries. Another important aspect of an athletic scholarship is that the amount of aid one student can receive can be restricted by student and by team. Accepting an athletic scholarship can also reduce the amount of aid you can accept from other sources.

No matter your career choice, paying for an education can be difficult. Athletic scholarships can sometimes be a viable option for paying for your tuition. It is important to speak with your high school guidance counselor, coaches, and potential colleges to find out more about athletic scholarships you may qualify for and what you need to know.

About the Author:

Today’s guest article comes from Ryan Ayers. He is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he describes a few of the benefits of receiving an athletic scholarship and aims to encourage further study with an athletic administration degree from Ohio University Online.

When it comes to ensuring stable employment opportunities immediately following your college years, the area of Human Resources Management is one career path that is sure to pay off in dividends time and time again. The simple fact is that people (humans) are going to play a critical role within any company, organization, and/or corporation whether it is founded in the private or public sector. And, at the end of the day, someone has to manage all of the human capital that will help to make that business be successful. If you have an interest in attracting, selecting, training, reviewing,and rewarding employees for a company while also juggling labor law requirement and the challenges presented within organizational structures, Human Resources Management is definitely in the cards for you. If you need additional reasoning to help you justify this career path, Forbes recently released the results of their Top Ten Best and Worst Jobs – Human Resources Management came in at number three on the best jobs side of the column.

If you are early in your college career, you may be pondering what degree makes the most sense to catapult you into greatness in the field of Human Resources Management. Some schools offer very dedicated degree programs in this area of study while other schools provide opportunities to obtain Human Resources Certificates that supplement another degree that a student may be obtaining. Complimenting degrees that are commonly found in the world of HR professionals are Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, and Business. Regardless of the approach you are wanting to take, it is important that upon graduation you are equipped with the right tools that will allow you to be successful in your occupational endeavors.

At CheapScholar.org, we are always focused on helping to make college affordable for the families and students that visit our site. Keeping true to this mission, we would like to offer up the following scholarship opportunities that can help a Human Resources Management student cover some of their college expenses.

Society For Human Resources Management (SHRM)

The SHRM Foundation provides $50,000 in scholarships each year to SHRM student members.

The following scholarships are available:

In order to be eligible, students do have to be an active member of SHRM at the time they submit their scholarship application. Membership fees are $35 and you can join online.

Colorado Healthcare Association for Human Resources Management

This organization provides two $1000 awards each year for students that are pursuing a degree in Human Resources Management. Scholarship applications can be found here.

International Public Management Association for Human Resources

IPMA provides $1,000 scholarships for undergraduate students seeking degrees in Human Resources Management or Public Administration. In addition, IPMA offers support in the form of $2,000 fellowships for graduate students. You can visit IPMA’s site for more information on these scholarships opportunities.

Drew Young Scholarship

This $2,000 scholarship is to encourage undergraduate and graduate students preparing for work in the field of Human Resource management. This scholarship is available to upper-class (Junior/Senior) undergraduate students or full-time graduate students. More information about this scholarship program is available here.

In 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that employment opportunities for workers in the area of Human Resources Management are going to experience a 22 percent growth rate in their field over the course of the next ten years. Given these statistics, it is only natural that college bound students will be gravitating toward this profession if securing a job upon graduation is a top priority.

It should be no surprise that there are more and more women earning college degrees now-a-days. According to a study by the U.S. Department of Education, “more women have graduated with bachelor’s degrees in every year since 1982, and the same is true for all college degrees (associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctor’s degrees)”. Wow—this reality could mean there is an increased need for more scholarships for women.

Here are 10 scholarships you will want to check out:

• Zinch, Inc. If answering a weekly question in 2-3 sentences and potentially winning $1,000 sounds like your kind of scholarship, check out this “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship.
• Marian F. Abrams Scholarship.  Are you a high school senior at Celina High School who is good with numbers and planning on a career in accounting, math, or business? Then applying for this scholarship could be a smart move for you.
• Women in Marketing Scholarship. If marketing is more your style and you meet necessary qualifications like being a woman, earning your marketing or advertising degree, and are attending school in either Illinois or Wisconsin, you should try to earn this $1,000 scholarship.
• Association for Women In Communications Scholarship – Springfield, IL Chapter. Are you passionate about communications and dedicated to a future career in the field? This $1,000 scholarship opportunity may be the way to go[v].
• Women’s Re-entry Scholarship. Are you returning to college after a 3-year hiatus and have financial need? Fill out an application if you meet the qualifications.
• Oshkosh Chapter Spirit of Flight Scholarship. Maybe you’re working on your pilot certificate. You should apply for this scholarship that averages around $500 per award.
• SR Education Group. If you are a woman who is enrolled in college and earning her degree, you may apply for this scholarship and try to win earn $2,000.
• Emerge Scholarships, Inc. If you are a nontraditional woman who would like a career change, apply for this approximate $2,000-$5,000 scholarship towards education.
• Women Chefs and restaurateurs. If you enjoy cooking up a storm or are employed in a culinary industry, then you should definitely probably apply for this scholarship.
• Automotive Women’s Alliance Scholarship. Do you have a strong drive for the automotive industry? If so, you could win earn a $2,500—on average—scholarship.

As a woman, earning a scholarship might be a great way to help make college more affordable and ease the strain on your finances. Odds are, there is a scholarship that you may qualify for. It is probably just a matter of finding it and applying—by the required deadline.

About the Author:

Today’s guest article comes from Mandy Fricke. She is a student at Brooklyn College and works for Elearners.com; where she helps manage their online community for masters programs. In her free time she enjoys biking, traveling, and reading in coffee shops.

In the past, PSAT simply stood for Practice SAT, indicating that this test was merely a way to sample the questions and atmosphere of the all-important SAT exam. Thanks to a partnership with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the PSAT is now much more important. Today’s PSAT/NMSQT exam has a major impact on students’ future college education.

The PSAT and National Merit Scholarship Partnership

PSAT no longer stands for Practice SAT. The test became the Preliminary SAT when the National Merit Scholarship Program decided to use it as a qualifier for its program. Now, the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship QT (PSAT/NMSQT) exam has a new level of importance for high school students.

Those who score in the top two percent on this test will become semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship program. Students may choose to opt out of this program. However, those who gain the standing of National Merit Scholars have many life-changing opportunities in the way of college finances.

What the PSAT Says About You

The PSAT is a reliable predictor of how a student will fare on the SAT exam. The two tests are nearly identical except for the essay, which is not included in the PSAT exam. Both tests have verbal, math, and writing sections. Scoring for each test is on a scale of 20 to 80, giving the entire exam a maximum possible score of 240.

PSAT scores give a clear picture of a student’s strengths and weaknesses academically. The test is typically given in October of the student’s junior year. Some students can also take the test in their sophomore year. Sophomore test takers aren’t eligible for National Merit Scholarship consideration unless they plan to graduate early. However, taking the test early can offer some insight into how to prepare for the following year when the scores do count for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

The National Merit Scholarship Competition

Students who score in the top two percent on the PSAT/NMSQT exams receive notification in September of the following year. These students become semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. There are usually about 60,000 semifinalists each year.

Semifinalists must send more information for consideration. This includes an essay, high school transcript, and recommendation letter. The student’s SAT score counts at this point as well. Approximately 90 percent of National Merit Scholarship semifinalists go on to become finalists based on this information. These finalists have many exciting options for college financial assistance in the way of scholarships.

The Rewards for National Merit Scholars

The program awards National Merit Scholarships of $2,500 on a state-by-state basis to select finalists. Finalists may also receive corporate-sponsored scholarships and college-sponsored scholarships. Corporate-sponsored scholarship programs typically look for students related to employees, living in a certain community where the company is present, or planning to pursue a career in that corporation’s field. Colleges award their scholarships to finalists who have chosen them as their first choice school.

Not all colleges and universities offer scholarships based on the National Merit Scholarship program. For example, the Ivy League schools have chosen not to use PSAT scores as an indicator of a student’s future success. If you’re pursuing scholarship funds through this program, it’s important to make sure your first choice school participates.

Some other national scholarship programs use PSAT/NMSQT scores as the basis for their decision-making as well. The National Achievement Scholarship for African Americans and National Hispanic Recognition programs award scholarships based on this exam.

How to Make the Most of Your PSAT/NMSQT Exam

Students had the luxury of taking the PSAT lightly before this exam became the deciding factor for so many scholarship programs. Now that these scores are given such importance, students have good reason to treat this exam more seriously. Proper preparation will help students get a higher score and increase their chances of becoming a semifinalist.

Since the PSAT/NMSQT exam is a preliminary version of the SAT, any SAT prep program will help students get ready for this test. Preparation materials that focus exclusively on the PSAT are available as well. Some sites offer practice PSAT tests online.

Since semifinalists must send their high school transcripts, it’s wise for students to focus on their academic career early on in high school. Those with good grades in a variety of challenging courses will have the best chance at becoming finalists in this program.

Students who win scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship Program often find that these funds help them pursue an education they couldn’t have otherwise paid for. That’s great news for students willing to put the work in.

Financing a college education is a formidable challenge but determined students will always find a way to make it happen. They can, for instance, look into the various scholarships awarded by a number of institutions. These often cater to applicants of a certain background and field of study. Prospective engineers have plenty of options to choose from, most of which will be listed at their school’s admissions office. Below are just a few of the most promising opportunities for engineering students:

Wayne V. Black Memorial Scholarship

Amount of Aid: $5,000

Eligibility Criteria: Open to current undergraduates in the US or Canada, of good academic standing, who are taking up courses in Engineering/ Engineering Technology, Telecommunications/Information Technology, Computer Science/MIS, Pre-law, or Political Science. The students must already be enrolled and studying full-time to be considered.

Application Process: Students must submit a one-page biography, an essay, and an application form, which is available on their site. The finalists may be asked to provide a copy of their transcript of record. The deadline of submission is usually in the month of January prior to the school year for which the aid is being sought. The winner will receive notification by March.

Additional Information: This scholarship is given out by the Energy Telecommunications & Electrical Association (ENTELEC), which is based in Irving, Texas. Mr. Black was ENTELEC’s General Counsel.

TELACU Undergraduate Scholarship

Amount of Aid: up to $5,000, renewable for up to 4 years

Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be a first-generation college student from a low-income family with a GPA of at least 2.5. They must be enrolled on a full-time basis for the next succeeding academic year. Incoming freshmen may apply. TELACU prefers applicants that come from underserved communities around California, Texas, and Illinois. Successful candidates may be required to attend weekend seminars throughout the academic year if they are studying at local colleges. Priority is given to business, science, technology, engineering, and math majors, especially those attending schools, which provide matching funds in Southern California.

Application Process: Application forms must be submitted before the March deadline. Those that show the most potential will be invited for an interview with the selection committee. The panel will evaluate the applicants based on extracurricular involvement, academic achievement, financial need, leadership qualities. TELACU is interested in developing not just intellectuals but also community leaders.

Additional Information: TELACU also provides scholarships for outstanding graduate students through the David C. Lizárraga Graduate Fellowship. They also have another undergraduate scholarship program for business and engineering students which is partly funded by Toyota.

Winston Churchill Scholarship

Amount of Aid: $45,000 to $50,000

Eligibility: The applicant must be a US citizen, between 19 and 26, who is a college senior or a graduate of a participating university. This scholarship is for those who wish to pursue graduate studies in the sciences, engineering, or mathematics. Exceptional academic achievement must be demonstrated through course grades, creative work, and letters of recommendation. Those who have extensive laboratory experience and internships are preferred. Involvement in extracurricular activities is a plus. The selection does not discriminate based on marital or parental status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Application Process: The deadline of the submission of application falls on the second Tuesday of November. This should include a personal statement, a proposed program of study, letters of recommendation, and the application form.

Additional Information: Successful applicants will get the chance to study at the prestigious Cambridge University as a full scholar for 9 to 12 months with living allowance and opportunities to travel around Europe.

Author Bio

Today’s guest article comes from Ryan Ayers. He is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he describes a few engineering scholarships and aims to encourage further study with a OU Masters in Electrical Engineering Online.