| How to Find Scholarships Posted: 10 Mar 2019 05:00 PM PDT One of the scariest and most challenging things about going to college can be figuring out how to pay for it – especially if you're going to college in the US. However, the process of finding scholarships is not as daunting as you may think. Schools, corporations, and nonprofit organizations give out millions of dollars in scholarships each year. Some are merit-based, meaning you need particular grades and test scores to qualify. You qualify for others based on your background or membership in particular groups.[1] EditSearching for Scholarship Opportunities - Make a list of your hobbies and interests. While many scholarships are merit-based, there are plenty of scholarships available specifically for students that have particular interests or participate in various activities. Even your obsession with a TV show or movie could land you a few hundred dollars in scholarship money.[2]
- Think of your strengths and talents as well. For example, if you're a good writer, you might include "writing" as an interest on your list. Go further and specify the types of writing you enjoy, such as short stories or poetry.
- Some hobbies and interests require you to provide samples when you apply for a scholarship. For example, if you apply for an art scholarship, you might need to submit a portfolio of your work.
- Write down your affiliations and characteristics. You may qualify for scholarships based on your religious, social, or political affiliations. Scholarship opportunities may also be available based on your gender identity, race, ethnicity, or sexuality.[3]
- Make a list of people you know who could possibly serve as references for you based on each particular affiliation. For example, if you want to look for religious-based scholarships, you might need a reference letter from the pastor of your church.
- Have your parents check with their employers about scholarships. If you have a part-time job while in school, your employer also may have scholarships available.
- Be honest with your affiliations. Claiming an affiliation you don't really have could get you in serious disciplinary trouble.
- Start researching during the summer before your senior year. Some scholarships have relatively early deadlines, particularly those that can be applied to your cost of attendance at any school. You'll find more opportunities if you start looking as soon as possible – ideally, during your junior year of high school.[4]
- The reference section of your public library is also a good place to look for scholarships. A research librarian can point you in the right direction and help you find scholarships you might qualify for.
- Talk to your high school guidance counselor. High school guidance counselors have training in locating scholarships for students. Your guidance counselor may be able to point you toward opportunities that would take you a lot of time and effort to find on your own.[5]
- Larger public high schools may have a single guidance counselor who works on nothing but college acceptances and financial aid. Smaller schools, however, may have fewer resources.
- Contact the financial aid offices of schools where you've been accepted. Many scholarships are offered directly by colleges and universities. If you've filled out financial aid forms, you may be entered for some of these scholarships automatically. However, you typically have to indicate interest and complete a separate application.[6]
- The financial aid office's page on the school's website often will have information on various scholarships that are available.
- Check scholarship opportunities at several schools before you decide where you want to go. Most outside scholarships can be used at any school, but school scholarships can only be applied to your cost of attendance at that school.
- Try free online search engines to find scholarships. There are many large scholarship databases provided by government agencies or independent organizations. You can search these for free using keywords based on your lists of interests and affiliations.[7]
- FastWeb, FinAid.org, and Scholarship.com have large online scholarship search engines. The U.S. Department of Labor also has a scholarship search tool available at https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/training/find-scholarships.aspx.
- FinAid.org includes some more unusual scholarships available for students with more obscure hobbies, interests, and affiliations.
- Ask about scholarships from religious or community organizations. If you are a member of a religious or community organization, you may be able to find a scholarship there. You can also ask any organization or group that you've volunteered with.[8]
- Even if your specific group or organization doesn't offer scholarships, they may be able to point you to scholarships offered at the regional or national level.
EditApplying for Scholarships - Check the requirements and qualifications. Each scholarship has its own specific application requirements. Many applications may be similar, but none will be exactly the same. Some may require you to write an essay, while others may need letters of recommendation.[9]
- It can help to group similar scholarships together so you can complete the applications at the same time. Since you'll be repeating a lot of the same information, doing them at the same time will be more efficient.
- Make notes about essays you need to write, letters of recommendation you need to get (with names), and other documents or information you need to gather before you can complete the application.
- Mark deadlines on your calendar. If you miss a deadline, you may be disqualified from a scholarship that you otherwise would have been awarded. Make an estimate of how long it will take you to complete an application so you can work on it a little at a time.[10]
- Schedule intermediate steps towards completing the application so you're not trying to do everything at the last minute. For example, if you need a letter of recommendation, schedule a day to request that letter and give the person a deadline several weeks before the scholarship's deadline.
- Get letters of recommendation from teachers and community leaders. When asking for a letter of recommendation, approach the person as soon as possible so they have plenty of time to work on it. Give them a deadline for their letter, but also let them know your final deadline to apply for the scholarship.[11]
- People who write your letters of recommendation should be people who know you well. A recommendation from a well-known or highly successful person won't help you win a scholarship if they aren't personally familiar with your background and accomplishments.
- If you're applying for a scholarship related to a particular affiliation or interest, make sure the person who writes your letter knows about you and your accomplishments in that context. For example, if you're applying for a religious scholarship, you might ask for a letter of recommendation from your youth group leader or the pastor of your church.
- Write your scholarship application essays. Many scholarship applications require you to write an essay describing your background and interests and why you think you deserve to win the scholarship. Be honest in your essays, and avoid exaggerating any experiences or accomplishments.[12]
- Creating an outline will ensure that your essay is organized and cohesive.
- Have a teacher or other trusted adult read over your essay before you submit it – and listen to their advice. Be prepared to go through several drafts to reach your best work.
- Submit your application before the deadline. To make sure you're not late, have your applications ready to go at least 2 weeks before the final deadline. That way you'll have time to polish and make any final changes before you send it off.[13]
- If you need to mail in a paper application, use certified mail with return receipt requested so you'll know when your application was received.
- Even if you can submit your application electronically, don't wait until the last minute. Unexpected internet or computer problems could cause you to miss the deadline.
- Continue to apply for scholarships while in college. Keep in contact with your school's financial aid department and let them know that you're interested in new opportunities. There are many scholarships that are only available for continuing students, or students in certain years.[14]
- For example, there are some scholarships and grants that are only available to students who will be graduating within a year. These opportunities are typically designed to help cover graduation costs.
- Some scholarships are only available to students with a certain major. Typically you need to be at least a sophomore before you can declare a major, so those scholarships wouldn't be available to you until then.
EditAvoiding Scholarship Scams - Be suspicious of guarantees or "easy money" claims. Nobody just gives money away for people to go to college. No matter how well-qualified you are, no scholarship is ever guaranteed. There will always be others who are just as qualified as you are. If a business or organization claims it can guarantee you a certain amount of scholarship money, it's likely a scam.[15]
- A scam is especially likely if the business or organization makes a guarantee without seeing any information about you. Absent access to your grades and standardized test scores, no one can even make a prediction about how much scholarship money you could get – much less a guarantee.
- Many scammers will use simple, one-page applications to target students who've grown weary of long, complicated scholarship applications, or who feel intimidated by the thought of having to write essays or gather substantial information and documents. These minimal applications will seldom yield much, if any, scholarship money.
- Ignore high-pressure sales tactics. Legitimate companies that want to help you find scholarships have no reason to pressure you into signing up with them. If you see phrases such as "hurry up and call today" or "limited space available," the company may be trying to scam you.[16]
- You may also get a phone call or email stating that you've already won a scholarship, but you have to attend a seminar or pay a fee first.
- Review communications for spelling and grammatical errors. Any communication from a legitimate scholarship assistance firm or foundation offering scholarships would be professionally proofread. Obvious errors are a sure sign that the offer is a scam.[17]
- Strange or messy formatting can also be a sign that an email is coming from a scammer rather than a legitimate source.
- Double-check credentials before providing personal information. Sometimes a scammer will impersonate a legitimate scholarship and send you an email asking for additional information before processing your application. Don't click any links in the email – go directly to the legitimate scholarship site instead.[18]
- These emails are used as an attempt to gain personal information from you, such as your birthday and Social Security number, that the scammer can use to steal your identity.
- Refuse to provide credit card or bank account numbers. While some perfectly legitimate businesses charge a fee to help you organize your scholarship search, you can get the same assistance for free. If a service requires you to provide a credit card number or banking information before you sign up, it's usually a scam.[19]
- Even legitimate commercial advice services may cost more than $1,000, and they typically won't give you any more information than you could find yourself for free.
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| How to Style Short Straight Hair Posted: 10 Mar 2019 09:00 AM PDT Short, straight hair can easily be styled to look cute, edgy, sophisticated, or neat with a little practice. There are plenty of different ways to style a pixie cut, including tucking it back, blow drying it forward, or creating a fauxhawk. Similarly, you can tie back or add curls to a bob to create a variety of different looks. Accessories and products are all part of the fun of styling your hair, so play around with hairspray, dye, or headbands to find a look you love! EditExperimenting with Different Pixie Cut Looks - Blow dry your pixie cut forward for a fun, messy style. Start with freshly washed hair that's still damp. Place a dollop of volumizing mousse onto your fingertips and run it back through your hair. Blow dry your hair forward so that it brushes your forehead. Use your fingertips to ruffle the hair on your crown to create a bit of volume.[1]
- Alternatively, use a spray bottle to make your hair damp.
- Sweep your pixie cut back for a sleek look. Start with damp hair and create a side parting to the right or left side of your head. Comb your hair out from the parting and use a blow dryer to sweep your hair back from your forehead. Add small amount of a styling paste or gel to your roots to give your hair a light lift.[2]
- Avoid adding too much product, as this can weigh your hair down and create a slicked back look. Aim for a light, tufty look.[3]
- Create a small fauxhawk for a fun, edgy style. Begin with damp hair and run through a dollop of volumizing mousse to give it a lift. Draw your fingers through the hair on your crown so that it sticks up slightly. Use a blowdryer to sweep your hair up and off your head.[4]
- Keep the hair on the sides of your head neatly combed down.
- Add a small flower or a headband to your fauxhawk to help it stand out even more.[5]
- Try a shorter pixie cut for a retro look. Get your pixie cut trimmed so that it doesn't go past your ears. Ask for a few subtle layers to give it volume and texture. Keep this look trimmed regularly, as it will grow out fast![6]
- Very short, retro pixie cuts look great with large hoop earrings.
- Tuck your pixie cut behind your ear to keep it out of your face. Create a side parting and sweep the longer side of your hair behind your ear. This look is for longer or overgrown pixie cuts and it's both practical and cute!
- If your hair won't stay in place, use a bobby pin to help it stay tucked in.[7]
EditTrying out Bob Hairstyles - Get a classic bob for a sophisticated, short hairstyle. Trim your bob regularly to keep it angular and the length between your earlobes and shoulders. Use a side parting and comb your hair away from this to create a sleek look. Tuck each side behind your ears.[8]
- Choose a half up half down style for a relaxed look. Part your hair from ear to ear and gather the top half of your hair on the crown of your head. Tie an elastic around it to create a quick ponytail. Alternatively, twist the top half of your hair into a bun and use an elastic to keep it secure.[9]
- Either leave the bottom half of your hair natural or brush through it with a round brush while it's damp to keep it tidy.[10]
- Tie your bob up in a low ponytail for a neat, casual look. Gather your hair close to the base of your head, around earlobe-height. Run your fingers through it to get rid of any tangles or kinks. Remove 3-4 small sections of hair from the top of your forehead and let these loosely hang to frame your face. Wrap an elastic around the ponytail to keep it secure.[11]
- This is a great hairstyle for when you are short on time, as it only takes around 10 seconds.
- Add light curls to your bob for a messy, carefree style. Mist your hair with a heat protectant product to help prevent heat damage. Then, use a curling iron or wrap small sections of hair around a straightener to add some volume. Frame each side of your face with soft curls and work your way around your hair, adding a few light curls to each side.[12]
- Try an asymmetrical bob for an edgy look. The sharp angles help to frame your face and define your features. Keep the length between your earlobes and chin. Asymmetrical bobs go well with bold, dark hair tones.[13]
- To soften the look, try adding a small curl to end of the longer section which frames your face. This makes the bob more relaxed.[14]
EditUsing Products and Accessories - Use hairspray to flatten flyaways. Short hairstyles look best with little to no frizz. Apply it to your wet hair and then style it with a comb. Use plenty, as the alcohol in hairspray makes it evaporate fast.[15]
- Alternatively, use a spray gel. You can find these at hair product stores or online. Both hairspray and spray gels are great for reducing frizz, however, spray gels don't have the same crunchy feeling that hairsprays do.
- Shape your hairstyle with pomade to give it texture and shine. Spread a dime-sized dollop of pomade over your fingertips. Run it through your hair from the back to the front to prevent build up at your hairline.[16]
- Comb your hair to style it after adding the pomade.
- Wear simple or statement earrings with your short, straight hair. Show off your favorite earrings with your short and sleek hairstyle. Try small studs for a simple, cute look or bold, extravagant drop earrings for a look that stands out.[17]
- Wear a headband to keep your pixie cut in place. Pixie cuts are great hairstyles but can easily get messy throughout the day. Use a floral or jeweled elastic headband to tame your pixie cut and keep your bangs in place.[18]
- Choose a bold color for a fun, edgy look. Short, straight hair looks great in bold, bright tones. Try blue ombre or blonde highlights for a cropped or pixie style.[19]
- If you have bangs with your short hairstyle, adding a few bright blue or red highlights will also look good.[20]
- Get your hair trimmed regularly to keep it short and looking neat.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Keep Raccoons Out of the Garden Posted: 10 Mar 2019 12:00 AM PST Raccoons are intelligent and agile animals that live throughout North America. They are active at night and are attracted to virtually any food source – including your garden. There are some natural repellents that might work, although they require constant vigilance. The only ways to truly keep raccoons out of your garden are to trap them and release them far away, or to build an electric fence around your garden.[1] EditTrying Natural Repellents - Scatter blood meal or wood ash around your plants. Sprinkling blood meal or wood ash may repel raccoons as well as other nuisance animals, such as groundhogs and skunks. Blood meal is often used as fertilizer and can be found at any farm or garden store. Reapply frequently to maintain the deterrent effect.[2]
- Any wood ash will work, such as the ashes from your fireplace. You may not necessarily be able to buy a quantity of wood ash, but you can save ashes from a fire.
- These deterrents work best if you only have 1 or 2 raccoons passing through the area. Resident raccoons will quickly adapt, or wait for it to rain and wash away the deterrent.
- Spread a mix of garlic and chili powder around your garden. Raccoons have been known to avoid garlic and chili powder. To make this mix, use equal parts of fresh-ground garlic and chili powder. As with blood meal and wood ash, the mix has to be reapplied frequently to work.[3]
- Sprinkle the mix evenly around crops raccoons are attracted to, such as corn. Use enough that you can smell it in the air around the plants.
- If it's recently rained, this mixture may not work. The powder would simply be soaked up by the soil and lose its deterrent effect. Wait until the top layer of the soil is dry before you spread your mixture.
- Plant squash around your corn and other plants. Squash vines are prickly, and raccoons don't like walking on them. If you plant them around the perimeter of your garden, they may be enough to deter raccoons from going further.[4]
- As with other natural repellants, this works better with raccoons that are just passing through the area. Raccoons who live nearby will adapt and learn how to jump over the squash or enter the garden in some other way.
- Use bright lanterns to light up your garden. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, and don't care for lights. If you light up your garden at night, raccoons will likely avoid it. This remedy may not be feasible if you have neighbors close by who would be bothered by the lights, or if your garden is close to your own house.[5]
- Solar-powered lanterns will charge during the day and come on automatically at dusk, so you don't have to worry about a power source.
- Play the radio in your garden at night. Raccoons avoid noise, particularly human voices. A talk radio program or rock music with vocals typically works best. The radio needs to be fairly loud, so this method wouldn't work if the noise would disturb you or your neighbors.[6]
- Playing the radio works best in combination with lights. If the raccoons see lights and hear people talking, they will assume that people are there and stay away.
- Other signs of humanity, such as human hair or clothes that smell of human perspiration, may also work.
EditSetting Cage Traps - Check state and local laws regarding humane cage traps. Fish and wildlife agencies have rules regarding the trapping and taking of wildlife from your area. You will likely need a hunting permit if you want to kill the raccoons, even on your own private property. You typically don't need a license to use humane cage traps, but you may need a permit to release the animals you trap.[7]
- Some areas do not allow people to release animals they've trapped themselves. Rather, you must contact animal services to have a professional remove the animal for you. This is more common if you live within the city limits.[8]
- Even when using humane traps, you are still required to follow state laws and local ordinances regarding the trapping of wildlife.
- Acquire a humane live trap. Some state or local animal services agencies have traps that you can rent to trap raccoons on your property. You may also be able to borrow a trap from an agricultural extension nearby.[9]
- If you have frequent or repeated problems with raccoons in your garden, it may be worth the investment to go ahead and buy your own traps so you can use them repeatedly. You can purchase humane live traps online, or at hunting or farming stores.
- Place food bait at the back of the trap behind the trip plate. Use food bait to lure the raccoon into the trap. When the raccoon goes after the food, it crosses the trip plate. The weight of its paw on the plate causes the door to shut behind the animal.[10]
- Raccoons are omnivores and will eat nearly anything. If the raccoon you're trying to trap is going after something in particular, such as your corn, you might try using that as bait.
- Report the trapped animal for removal. In many areas, once you've trapped a raccoon on your property, you must contact animal services to have a professional remove the animal. Check with your local animal services office to find out when an officer is available to come and pick up the animal.[11]
- Typically, you'll need to leave the trap in an area where the animal services officer can easily get it. You may not be home when the officer arrives.
- If the raccoon will be in the cage for several hours, provide the animal with some food or water.
- Hire wildlife removal specialists to trap the creatures. If you live close to a city or urban area, there may be numerous private companies that specialize in the humane trapping and removal of pest species, such as raccoons, from your property. While these specialists will be more expensive than doing it yourself, you can be assured that the job is done correctly.[12]
- If the option is available, you may want to contact 2 or 3 companies and explain your problem. Find out their plan for removing the animals and a basic time frame for when they can get the job done. Then you can compare several estimates.
- Research the reputation of any company thoroughly before you hire them. You can look up reviews from customers online. If the company is regulated by a government agency, find out if their license is current or if they've had any complaints.
EditFencing Your Garden - Have your fencing in place before you plant your garden. To be truly effective, your garden should be fenced before you even plant your seeds or transplant seedlings. Once raccoons have identified a food source, they'll return to it.[13]
- Raccoons can figure out how to get over or through a fence fairly easily. They are more likely to be deterred by a fence if they don't know there is good food beyond it.
- Stake an electric fence with 2 wires around your garden. A single wire electric fence may be sufficient, but a double-wire fence is best for keeping out raccoons. Set the first wire about off the ground, and the second about off the ground. Attach the wires to vertical stakes about apart, to keep the wires from sagging too much.[14]
- Make sure the fence stakes are far enough into the ground that they won't fall over easily, particularly if it rains. A depth of should be sufficient, depending on the density of your soil.
- Use a solar-powered charger to power your wires. You don't want the wires to carry enough voltage to kill or seriously injure the raccoons, just deter them. You can buy a solar or battery-powered electric fence charger online or at a farm supply store.[15]
- Don't hook the electric fence up to your home current – it's much stronger than you need and will turn your electric fence into a serious danger.[16]
- Post warning signs around your fence. Even though your electric fence won't be very high-powered, it's still a good idea to warn people that it exists. In some areas, local ordinances require specific warning signs for electric fences, even on private property.[17]
- Put up at least one sign for every of fencing. Make sure the signs are clearly visible from several angles.
- Turn the power off during the day. Since raccoons are only active at night, leaving an electric fence on all day would be a waste. Instead, turn the fence on at dusk, then turn it back off in the morning. This also makes accidents less likely to occur.[18]
- Some charging systems allow you to place your fence on an automatic timer. That way, you won't have to worry about going out to your garden to turn the fence on and off every day.
- If you grow corn, try tall varieties, such as "Silver Queen" or "Lancelot." They bear ears higher, so raccoons will have a hard time reaching them.[19]
- Use trash cans with locking lids and eliminate any other food sources from the area, including pet food or bird seed. These will attract raccoons, which will eventually discover your garden.[20]
EditSources and Citations
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