Hitting the scholarship jackpot: many students become discouraged when looking for ways to finance college - Special report: recruitment & retention

Black Issues in Higher Education, Oct 24, 2002 by Gabrielle Finley

WASHINGTON

Jessica Johnson, 20, was on the hunt for scholarships from the ninth grade. She was involved in various community services, created a local radio talk show, started a weekly column in a local newspaper and formed an African dance troupe at the local Boys and Girls Club. Johnson says all of these activities contributed to being selected as a journalist for "Oxygen Media," a nationally syndicated television show, and earning scholarships. This strategy--which Johnson calls "resume building"--is what helped her to find scholarships, she says.

With college-tuitions increasing across the nation, many prospective college students and their parents are becoming discouraged when looking for ways to finance their education.

Johnson, CEO of the Minority Scholarship Quest Program, says people automatically assume there is no money out there.

A sophomore public relations student at Howard University, Johnson says that starting early when looking for scholarships is the key, which is exactly how she came to amass $100,000 in scholarships.

"It was always understood that I was going to college," Johnson says. "My father is a professor at Jackson State Community College. And my mom told me that if I didn't get any scholarships, then I would `have to go to work with my Dad.' That visualization was enough for me."

A native of Jackson, Tenn., Johnson says that when she told people how much she received in scholarship money, the word spread fast--and far.

"They all wanted to know how I got it. I was helping friends, family and people at church. I was even calling people giving personal consultations over the phone," Johnson says. "It got to be an everyday thing ... so I said wait a minute, `there's a necessity for this.'"

Johnson's big break came as she was seeking to work with larger groups and turn her consultation services into a business.

"I was doing personal consultations until July of last year. A friend of the family invited me to come down to consult his church youth group in Dallas and it just grew from there," Johnson says.

The primary focus of the Minority Scholarship Quest Program is to motivate students to adopt a more proactive approach when securing funds for college. Johnson says she's constantly amazed that many students either know very little about how to obtain scholarships or are misled on what is needed to obtain them.

"They think if you don't have a 4.0 GPA, they won't get a scholarship. But leadership and community service are also factors," Johnson says.

Being a part of a scholarship committee herself at one time, Johnson says that it's important to represent yourself as a well-rounded person.

And what do students find to be the most difficult part of applying for scholarships? Definitely the essay writing, Johnson says.

"The essay is the maker or breaker in obtaining scholarships," Johnson says. "The hardest thing is to get young people to be creative in their writing."

Tips to Obtaining Scholarships

* Start early.

* Build up your resume: Join organizations related to your field and interests. Take on leadership roles in organizations.

* Don't be afraid to ask around. Ask your guidance counselors, parents, etc. about scholarships.

* Sit down and develop a scholarship search method: Start small and be specific. Shoot for local scholarships and then build up to nationally recognized scholarships.

* Start writing essays on leadership, community service and career goals. These essays will serve as your main essays to turn in for scholarships.