Lower the cost of college --- AND get a better education!

Seeking college scholarships is all about getting the money, right?

Well, not really. I suspect that you, like me, are really about getting a quality education at an affordable price. If we were interested only in cost-savings, then going to the community college may be our best answer - higher education at an economical cost.

(The community college in our city offers courses at only $75 per credit hour. Compare this to the state university at $180 per credit hour. And private college costs? Down the road from our university, the private charges $600 per hour.)

So although going to the community college may be all you can afford, I suspect that you desire the better education provided by a four-year college, and maybe at a private college, am I right?

Hence, your pursuit of college scholarship money.

But there's more

In addition to winning scholarship money, the superior candidate often gets a better education, too. Many colleges offer admission to an honors program or access to distinctive curricula. At some schools admission to their enhanced program is automatically offered to exceptional students; others require a separate application apart from their scholarship offers.

Here are what some colleges offer their academically outstanding students:

Special campus housing

• room in the honors dorm, the newest and best on campus, located close to classroom buildings
• room with those in your honors program, to quickly associate with other motivated students
• room in a learning environment, with those in your field of study
• room in honors dorm; honors courses located in same building

Greater access to professors

• meet the faculty early
• small classes, even in freshman year (25 in a class)
• be assigned to mentoring professor for guidance and advice

Extraordinary educational opportunities

• take special freshman courses which are designed to provide life-changing experience above the typical freshman coursework
• take special symposiums with the best professors
• do a special research project with faculty oversight early in the college career (while other students are not able to even consider this until senior year)
• do a senior project with support and guidance of academic mentor
• pursue an individual learning experience - working for a semester in the field of choosing, guided by project advisor, finalized by giving a presentation on the experience; internship, service learning project, research project, or off-campus study program
• participate in undergraduate research opportunities (usually reserved for graduate level)
• enjoy a small liberal arts experience within the framework of the larger university

Additional campus opportunities

• be chosen to serve as a leader ormentor for other students
• get invited to special co-curricular activities, such as meeting guest speakers, attending community social events, and going on specialized trips

Preferential treatment

• receive priority registration for classes
• be a first choice of faculty looking to invite students for leadership positions within the college
• receive an honors degree
• receive financial support to attend a semester overseas
• be viewed as a leader and encouraged to develop leadership potential through special courses, relationships with professors, and invitations to specific leadership opportunities

Exciting opportunities, yes?

I encourage you to continue developing your student.

Not only are you steering your student to gain a better education during the high school years, but you are helping them gain access to the extraordinary opportunities offered only to superior students.

How exciting it is to receive that letter in the mail that says, "Congratulations! You have been admitted to our Honors Program, designed specifically to provide an outstanding and superior education to exceptional students. You will receive the following benefits, offered only to a select group of incoming freshmen…

Want help getting your student ready to win the scholarship money? We invite you to become a paid member of Scholarship Prep, where we guide parents through coaching their students to become excellent scholarship candidates. Our program includes 14 modules of instruction for parents, 11 workshops of hands-on preparation with your student, and - new spring of 2009 - access to the Big Figure Scholarships database, where you can find which colleges offer the big monies and what it takes to qualify. See more.