Scholarships are forms of aid that help students pay for their education. Like grants, they do not have to be repaid. Hundreds of thousands of scholarships from several thousand sponsors are awarded each year.

Typically, scholarships are awarded for students with special qualifications, such as academic, athletic or artistic talent. Awards are also available for students who are interested in particular fields of study, who are members of underrepresented groups, who live in certain areas of the country, or who demonstrate financial need.

Generally, there are three different categories of scholarships:

• Institutional: Scholarships funded through the college or university.
• Private: Scholarships funded through private businesses, civic organizations, labor unions, and other groups.
• Governmental: Scholarships offered by federal and state governmental agencies.

MCC Scholarships: MCC offers a variety of scholarship opportunities to assist new and continuing students in financing their education. All scholarship applicants must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for any award. For a complete listing of MCC Scholarships and how to apply, click here.

Governmental Scholarships: Below are some resources about governmental scholarships.

• www.usagovernmentgrants.org
• www.students.gov
• Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC)

Private Scholarships: Again, these are scholarships funded by private businesses & corporations (Wegmans, ESPN, Bausch & Lomb), civic organizations (Lions Club, Rotary Club, American Legion), and other groups. Students normally research and apply for these scholarships on their own. The best places to find scholarship information would be:

• Places of employment for Parents and/or student.
• Local Libraries.
• High Schools.
• Internet.
  • www.fastweb.com
  • www.collegenet.com
  • www.scholarship-page.com/
  • www.collegeboard.com/paying
  • www.scholarshipsforhispanics.org

Scholarship Guide Books are available for student use in the MCC Career Center Library and the Reference Sections of the MCC LeRoy V. Good Library and the Damon City Campus Library.

Scholarship Scams: Each year, thousands of families are defrauded by scholarship scams. These individuals prey on students and parent's confusion and anxiety regarding financial aid, offering services that are generally provided for free by the financial aid community.

A few hints in identifying a scholarship scam:

• Legitimate companies never guarantee or promise scholarships or grants.
• Avoid companies that want you to pay, or need your credit card number to "hold" a scholarship.
• If unsure of a company, check with the better business bureau.

For more tips on how to identify scholarship scams check out The Smart Guide To Financial Aid. http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml