It's a Scholarship Trap! Watch Out . . .

By Quetzal Mama • January 3, 2017

Copyright Roxanne Ocampo 2017

January 1 kicked off the annual scholarship marathon.  This is the time students ask me, “Where can I find scholarships?”  To help them weed through the maze of scholarships and avoid bogus scholarship traps, I share these 3 time-saving and stress-reducing tips.

Tip 1: Run from the Clearinghouses. “Clearinghouses” are websites or apps that boast thousands of scholarship listings, and millions, if not billions of dollars in scholarships.  Just register with their service and they’ll “match” you up with scholarships just right for you! These clearinghouses don’t cater to a specific student demographic – they market to the masses.  How can you spot a clearinghouse?

Clue #1 – Their website name is typically generic, unaffiliated with any educational or philanthropic organization.

Clue #2 – They often advertise an enticing contest or sweepstakes, compelling you to register.  For example, a “No Essay Scholarship” or a $10,000 sweepstakes.

Clue #3 – The vetting process is minimal or non-existent.  They don’t require academic or merit based criteria.  Instead, you simply register and submit your “entry.” #Sketchy

Clue #4 –You must register. You’ll be blocked from viewing scholarships until you’ve created a “user account,” or “profile.” #NothingForFree

Clue #5 –They lure you with enticing college-related articles. Beware! Once you click on the article, you’ll be directed to another page where vendors will aggressively market products including student loans, college exam preparation programs, or other services. #SlickMarketing

I’ve coached thousands of students across the U.S. for seven years, and have NEVER known one student who won a scholarship from these clearinghouses.  #TooGoodToBeTrue

Tip 2: Never Divulge Confidential Data.  Never submit personal or confidential information about yourself and/or your family on scholarship sites.  With few exceptions, most sites will never ask you for this information.  Examples of legitimate organizations that require this type of information are the Hispanic Scholarship Fund or the Ronald McDonald House Charities. #BeLegit

Tip 3: Don’t Pay for a Scholarship Service.  Some sites ask students to pay a fee to get access to their scholarship database, or to “match” students with great scholarships. Never pay or subscribe to a scholarship service (#RipOff).  Instead, invest time in learning how to write winning scholarship essays!

Now that you know the 3 rules, what other things can you do to avoid scholarship traps?

First, always type in the URL for the desired scholarship website, versus following links that may take you to a scam site.  Second, look for red flags.  Once at the scholarship site, do you see lots of advertisements?  If so, it is not a charitable organization whose mission is to provide scholarship funding for deserving students. Instead, this is a for-profit business whose revenue is generated through sources such as paid advertisements.  They advertise a large volume of scholarships in hopes that they may lure many “customers” (you). #SuckerPunch

Don’t get stuck in the scholarship trap. Quetzal Mama provides a FREE listing of 600+ scholarships, leadership programs, internships, and research opportunities for Latinx students.  #NoScams

If you’d like more tips on scholarship strategies, see my 2017 article 5 Tips to Win Scholarships.  Learn how to write effective scholarship essays with my book,Nailed It!  Quetzal Mama'sToolkit for Extraordinary Essays.

Good luck, and go win those scholarships!

–Quetzal Mama