www.sampleresume.net |
|
|
Private Grants
|
Article on Private Grants
Private grants are usually referred to as private scholarships in the U.S., but that does not imply that they are only available to students who have excellent academic or non-academic achievement. There are thousands of private grants out there, and the criteria vary greatly.
Grants for Ethnic Minorities
Ethnic minorities, especially the women amongst them, should find it quite easy to access private grants. There are several groups, association and organizations that support the interests of specific minorities, by offering free college money. The Hispanic scholarship fund, and the United Negro College Fund are a couple of good examples.
Subject-Specific Grants
Minority students looking to get into subjects traditionally dominated by Caucasian males, such as law, will also find many private sources of grants. Apart from their own minority communities supporting entry into such subjects, colleges and even professional organizations of that stream (like the American Bar Association in law), will also support them with free college money. Even non-minority students can avail subject-specific grants from professional associations.
Grants for Non-Ethnic Minorities
Non-ethnic minorities, such as people with physical or learning disabilities, are also encouraged with several private student grants devoted to them. A classic example is the grant money given by the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Grants by Colleges and Corporations
Colleges and universities themselves offer student grants and scholarships, and not all of them are merit based. They may be need based, and may have biases towards women and various kinds of minorities. Information about these are available with the financial aid office of every college. Private corporations too have their own grants, which are offered as perks to retain employees. Microsoft and the Ford Motor Company are examples of big companies that offer substantial grants for college.
Grants by Religious Organizations
Religious organizations are also a significant source of private grants for college. Naturally, they extend help to members of their religious group, so if you are a member of such a group, the first place to find out about the grants on offer would be your own local group.
Other Private Grants
The sources mentioned above are not all. There are several other kinds of private grants and scholarships available, and a lot of them don’t have any specific bias, and are instead based on criteria such as essays written by students.
Thorough Research
To find the right grants, students should thoroughly explore all avenues, including their preferred colleges, minority groups, religious organizations, their town or city, their parents’ companies, social clubs or organizations that they or their family members belong to, non-profit organizations in the local area, organizations and groups devoted to extra-curricular activities.
While private grants are usually not substantial enough to offset the entire cost of college education, they will often cover a large amount. In any case, any relief from loan and debt is welcome to students, however big or small. After all, it costs nothing to get a grant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|