College can seem formidable because of high costs, selectivity and competition,  but with the help of scholarships, some financial stress can be eased.

Scholarships are a good way to finance education because scholarships do not need to be repaid. While such financial aid is available to many, many scholarships have specific requirements.

To find applicable scholarships, serious research is required by students.

College counselor Mr. Fong said, “There is a lot of free money out there, students just need to look for it. Some scholarships are competitive but others may offer more money because they have fewer applicants.”

Helpful web sites provide an abundance of information about scholarships that fit student needs.

For example, the company Zinch allows students to connect with 5,000 colleges and boasts over $1 billion in college scholarships, study abroad programs and graduate school aid. Through its web site, students can receive weekly scholarship information with specific requirements that fit certain people. Teens can also search for scholarships with or without essays.

Though teens often believe that scholarships are only for the poor or the most successful academics, scholarships for others exist as well. Scholarships based on names, race, residence and more exist.

The Zolp Scholarships, for example, offers grants to students who have the last name of Zolp.

Scholarships are available for those who complete lots of community service, who are interested in specific fields of study, who are of certain ethnic backgrounds and even who have certain talents or interests.

Students in search of scholarships should also utilize the available resources at school. Teachers, college counselors and even other students often have knowledge of desirable scholarships.

Searching for scholarships that relate to clubs or personal interests also provides other options.

Teens should search and apply widely and freely in regards to scholarships. Because the numbers of applicants or the “preferred student” is never known, who knows who will be named the recipient. By increasing the number of applications to scholarships, the odds of receiving more aid are bettered.

Although scholarships can be the salvation for many, it should be remembered that not everyone will receive such financial aid. Scholarships are always in demand and are limited in quantity.

Thus, competition for scholarships can be fierce. Although scholarship applicants should be hopeful, the acquisition of sufficient funds is uncertain.

Acquiring enough scholarship monies to pay for college is often difficult and sometimes unsuccessful, but students should continue to apply.