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Scholarships Help Cancer Survivors Fund College Dreams

By U.S. News & World Report

Students dealing with cancer — either battling the disease themselves or helping a family member cope with it — often face devastating financial consequences because of the significant expense of treatment. Couple that with the high cost of college, and higher education can become nearly unattainable.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. A number of organizations provide scholarships for students touched by cancer. Here are some college scholarship opportunities for students affected by the disease.

[Explore resources and tips on finding college scholarships.]

The Environmental Litigation Group PC awards three scholarships totaling $10,000 to students who have experienced a parent, sibling or other family member battle cancer. Since establishing the scholarship fund more than 50 years ago, the law firm has awarded more than 160 scholarships — to the tune of more than $2.5 million.

Applicants must be enrolled full time in an accredited two- or four-year university or community college or in a graduate degree program and must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. They also must write a 500- to 1,500-word essay on what it takes to fight cancer. The gold winner receives a $5,000 scholarship; silver and bronze winners receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively. The deadline for to enter this year has past, but check the website for updates on the 2018 cycle.

The National Children’s Cancer Society also is a lucrative source of help. Its Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Program annually awards 40 scholarships, at $3,500 each, to childhood cancer survivors, and each award is renewable for up to four years.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, younger than age 25, have been diagnosed with cancer or a high grade or anaplastic brain tumor before age 18 and have been accepted to a postsecondary school for the upcoming fall academic semester. Other application materials include an essay, a physician’s written documentation of their diagnosis, two letters of recommendation and a summary of their community service.

Award recipients must meet specific requirements during their academic year, including 15 hours of volunteer service as an ambassador of the NCCS. The 2017-18 application period has closed. The next scholarship round will open in January.

[Don’t let cancer stop you from earning a college education.]

Cancer for College, a charitable foundation, grants numerous scholarships each yearin amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. The nonprofit awarded 42 scholarships in 2017.

Applicants must be cancer survivors and U.S. residents enrolled at an accredited university or community college. California applicants and those attending Southern California colleges are given first consideration for renewable scholarships, and some awards have state residency requirements.

Applicants must submit federal tax information, academic transcripts, a letter of good standing from the student’s university, two letters of recommendation from nonfamily members and the total cost of attendance. Scholarship recipients must also maintain full-time enrollment. Applications for the 2018 awards will be available Nov. 1 and must be submitted by Jan. 31.

Since 2002, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation has been awarding $500 scholarships to students who have overcome brain cancer. Applicants must have been diagnosed with a brain tumor before age 19 and must now be high school seniors, high school graduates starting college or current undergraduates. They must also be planning to attend or currently enrolled at an accredited U.S. instituion.

In addition to the online application, students must submit a medical release form with their physician’s signature, school transcripts and a letter of recommendation. The next application period will open in January and close in May.

The Orange County Community Foundation awards the Michael A. Hunter Memorial Scholarship, ranging from $2,000 to $3,000, to students who have leukemia or lymphoma or had a parent who did not survive the disease.

[Learn about scholarships that help students who have lost a parent.]

The national scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors or students at community college or four-year universities. Applicants must include an essay on the effects of the disease, provide certification from a physician, have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need.

The award period for this year has closed. Applications for next year will be due mid-March.

The Ulman Cancer Foundation awards a number of $2,500 scholarships — disbursed over two academic semesters — to young adults affected by either their own cancer diagnosis or that of a family member. The diagnosis must have occurred while the applicant was between 15 and 39 years old.

Applicants only need to submit one application to be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible. Some of the scholarships also have residency requirements. Each winner is required to organize and run a bone marrow registry drive. Applications for 2017-18 have closed, but 2018-19 applications will be available in October.

A scholarship doesn’t wipe away the hurt and grief that cancer causes, but the financial impact of the disease shouldn’t destroy your college dreams. These and other scholarships can help you fund your education.

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Scholarships Help Cancer Survivors Fund College Dreams originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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