Friday, February 28, 2003

Three steps to scholarship success

One of the biggest burdens of parenting today is finding the money to pay for college. Since the cost of higher education is continuously spiraling upward, most moms and dads are left with no other choice than to seek scholarships and grants to finance their teen's schooling.

"The task of finding the money you need to pay for school often seems too difficult for most parents," explained Peter Verbansky, creator of "Directions to Excellence," a program that helps teens qualify for scholarships and grants. "In reality, winning the 'scholarship game' can be very easy if you follow some simple rules."

According to Verbansky, there are only three steps to getting all the money you need to pay for your teen's college education. "All you have to do is apply, quantify, and then qualify to become permanently free from the obscene cost of higher education," suggested Verbansky. "Although this may sound easier said than done, many parents and teens I've worked with have found thousands of dollars in free money by simply following this simple recipe for success."

Apply. Verbansky recommends that parents become very proactive when it comes to applying for scholarships, grants, and other free sources of money. "Believe it or not, most parents go deep into debt when paying for school because they never send in the necessary applications for their child's scholarships and grants," commented Verbansky. "You should not lose twenty-thousand dollars simply because you're too lazy to fill in a few forms!"

Quantify. In addition to applying for scholarships and grants, Verbansky also proposes that parents must, as he puts it, "paint with a broad brush" to secure their child's funding. "From experience, we know that we should never put all of our eggs in one basket," quipped Verbansky. "When it comes to scholarships, every parent must enthusiastically apply to any and all sources of free money that they can possibly find to pay for their child's schooling."

Qualify. According to Verbansky, the most important aspect of getting scholarships and grants is qualifying for the money. "Most parents feel that 'qualifying' is the hardest part about getting free money," said Verbansky. "The reality is that you simply need to make your child look worth it.

"Legally, hundreds of companies nationwide must offer scholarships and grants each year," continued Verbansky. "All you need to do is turn your child into a 'scholarship magnet' by making your child look and act in a manner that impresses the benefactor the most."

To learn more about turning your child into a 'scholarship magnet,' visit www.directionstoexcellence.com.