More Than a Test Score

We wanted to see something special this summer, and you guys delivered! The Zinch My Summer Photo Contest has been one of the most exciting scholarship contests we’ve ever held, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the photos you’ve sent in.

While we thought there were some amazing pictures submitted, we wanted to hear from you on which were your favorites. After thousands of entries, hundreds of votes, and countless smiles, here are the top 10 finalists in the Zinch My Summer Photo Contest. Make sure to check back on Friday when we’ll announce the winner of our $1,500 grand prize!

Congratulations to our latest Double Your Money Winner, Nicole Frey! Nicole was awarded the Alfred G. and Elma M. Millotte Scholarship for $5,000, and because she found and applied for it through Zinch, we’re doubling it dollar for dollar. We took some time to chat with Nicole on her award and ambitions, and here’s what she had to share.

What is your strategy behind applying for scholarships?

I typically apply for scholarships that apply to my major or to my personal interests and hobbies. This allows me to share my insights, positions, and visions in more depth. For example, I have applied for scholarships focusing on business topics, art, poverty reduction, etc. I found that it is a lot more fun to apply for something that I am personally invested in.

After school, what kind of career path would you like to follow?

Once I completed school, I would like to join a company that conducts its business on an international scale and has close business relationships with Europe – my home base. The ultimate goal, however, would be finding employment with the World Bank and joining its efforts for poverty reduction.

What is your favorite comfort food you couldn’t live without?

Food is a life style! My family and I love a variety of dishes from different parts of the world. I have a passion for Mediterranean food – olives, grilled veggies, seafood, chicken, and cheese. Most of all, I love chocolate.

How are you more than a test score?

I was born and raised in Eastern Germany. I experienced the German reunion, then the European Union, and finally, the American life. All these changes and cultures have helped me become a well rounded and determined person.

Head to our scholarship search where you’ll find nearly $2 billion worth of financial aid posted online. Remember to invite your friends too, cause with our Win Your Friend’s Scholarship feature, any scholarship they win will earn you a check for the same amount!

Congratulations to Zubair Amin, our latest Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship winner!

Almost everyone is using social media in one form or another, so we asked how you thought social media could be adopted for the classroom. Zubair’s answer stood out to us for finding a creative way to integrate technology and the power of collective learning.

Here is his winning essay:
With the advent of Wikipedia, its core software Media Wiki is becoming popular as well. A classroom can easily set up a privately hosted Wiki which encourages open collaboration between students. For instance, an Earth Science class can create a compendium for rock findings.

Here is a bit more about our winner:
An aspiring philanthropist. I am a philomath, I love to read and absorb knowledge. My interests lie in the sciences (particularly the humanities and medicine.) I aspire to become a physician, one in the field of trauma and surgery. I dedicate my time to school, volunteering, and in the pursuit of understanding. On my free time I design and program websites as well as advertisements.

Free money for college sounds pretty awesome, right? Then apply for our Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship and you’ll be entered to win $1,000 towards your education. We post a new prompt every Monday, so make sure to apply each week!

Summer’s come to an end, but the new school year is just starting! Angelina Modica, Zinch’s Student Ambassador at SUNY Fredonia, shares a few tips on making the most of move-in week.

I know the feeling all too well; you’re packing up your room, leaving your summer job, and saying your goodbyes. As you get in the car and venture into the world of higher education, one question keeps reeling in your head–what actually happens when I get there? Here are some things to watch out for when you arrive on campus that will make moving and settling in at your new school a whole lot easier!

Move-in Crews: Sometimes it’s upperclassmen volunteering to get a good workout or maybe it’s the football team lending a helping hand; but whomever it may be, most colleges provide some kind of aid to help you move in your room. It’s going to be hot and there are going to be hundreds of people moving in at the same time, so take advantage of this and be very thankful for their help!

Free Food: There is nothing better than those two words. Most colleges have picnics or barbecues move-in weekend, so instead of venturing off campus with your family it may be beneficial to stick around and socialize!

Hall Meetings: Soon after moving into the dorms the RAs (Residential Advisors) will most likely have hall meetings to go over the building rules and to make everyone feel comfortable. Don’t be shy in icebreaker games and try and get to know your neighbors!

Activities: It seems that many schools have a carnival, “Welcome Week,” or some sort of celebratory event to kick off the new year. Bingo nights, movie screenings, comedians, musicians, community service opportunities, and even bouncy houses can be found on college campuses during the first week of school. Find out what your school offers and don’t be shy!

Clubs: Find out how your school initiates clubs for the school year. There is often an “Activities Night” in which you can meet people from all of the different clubs on campus and sign up to be on the email list to hear about upcoming meetings. Don’t miss out on this night because extracurricular activities are a huge part of college life!

These are just some of the opportunities colleges provide within the first few weeks of classes. Try and talk to someone from your college (like a Zinch Student Ambassador) that has already completed their first year and can tell you what to expect the first few weeks. And remember, while moving in and meeting people can be a lot of fun, don’t forget to focus on your studying! Enjoy your first semester and best of luck!

Congratulations to Rachel Stevenson, our latest Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship winner!

Mobile apps are the talk of town these days, so we asked if you could design your own educational app, what would it do? Your responses ranged from a homework reminder to a bus stop locator to even an app that would teach you how to make breakfast, but ultimately Rachel’s concept was the one we felt all students could benefit from.

Here is her winning essay:
An ingenious app for editing English grammar and all you do is type a sentence into the “Editing Box.” The app would use complex algorithms to find any type of grammatical errors in the sentence. Term papers would never have another comma error or sentence fragment again!

Here is a bit more about our winner:
It’s me! All of me…which at the moment isn’t such a big deal, but one day it just might be amazing to know me! I’m a senior in high school, and am determined beyond belief to achieve my goals.

Rachel’s cool idea landed her $1,000, but so could yours! Apply for our Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship for your chance a cool grand towards your college tuition.