More Than a Test Score

Congratulations to our latest Double Your Money Winner Hector Medina! Hector successfully applied for and won the Hispanic College Fund – STEM Major Scholarship for $6,000, and because he found and applied for this scholarship on Zinch, we are staying true to our word and matching it. We asked Hector a couple questions about himself and his award, and this is what he had to share.

What is your strategy behind applying for scholarships?

Apply to a wide variety of scholarships. Take your time when applying. Also be persistent and check in with your scholarship websites very often. I almost did not get this scholarship ($6000 from HCF + $6000 from Zinch) because my transcript was not sent. Also do not be scared to apply. Honestly it’s the worst thing you could do to yourself. Lets think of it like this, worst case scenario, you apply and do not get it. You only confirmed what you thought might have been true and you move on, best case you have $$$$.

What career path do you see yourself taking after school?

I would love to work in the Engineering industry for a little bit, and then either go into teaching (university/college) or going into something political.

If you were allowed to only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Pepperoni PIZZA!

How are you more than a test score?

Honestly my grades/test scores aren’t bad, but numbers can only mean so much. Its the letters of recommendation that I think mean the most. If you are ever doubting yourself because of a grade or test score, put that fear behind you and apply :)

Do you want to have your scholarship matched by Zinch? Check out our scholarship search where we have nearly $2 billion worth of financial aid posted online. Because let’s be honest, getting into college is hard enough, paying for it shouldn’t be!

As many students find themselves transitioning out of high school, whether on a pathway towards higher education or to the workforce, email will become a more and more prominent tool of communication.

Unlike Facebook, Twitter, or text messaging, email is usually reserved for more professional matters. Whether it’s coordinating projects with classmates, reaching out to professors, or even sending your resume to potential employers, email will be your primary means of contact, and by extension, will often be the first impression people have of you. In order to keep from being passed by for a job or having others question your writing proficiency, here are some best practice
tips for keeping your emails organized, concise, and professional:

-Have an Appropriate Address: You could get away with “pizzamonkey25″ when you were a kid, but as you get older having a silly email address will make others wonder how serious you take yourself and your work. Instead, keep it simple by using your first initial and last name as your email address, such as “jsmith@gmail.com.”

-Title Your Emails: Nobody wants to click on an email titled “No Subject;” similarly, typing “Hey” as an email’s subject line is far from appropriate. Make sure when you title your emails you choose something that is brief and to the point. If need be, include phrases such as “Please Review” or “Urgent” to emphasize the needed action from the recipient.

-Greet Those You Meet: In the same way you wouldn’t just go up to a stranger and start talking to them, you should never jump directly into an email message without some sort of greeting or introduction of yourself. It shouldn’t be drawn out, but simply saying “Hello” and “My name is…” is a much better way to begin communicating with somebody than thrusting them into the thick of your message.

-Keep It Clean: We’re not talking about avoiding inappropriate language or subject matter (though you should be already)—we’re talking about avoiding texting lingo and abbreviations. Email isn’t limited to 140 characters and should be fully utilized; there’s no need to use LOL or OMG in an email, and typing sentences like, “wut r u up 2″ will only reflect poorly upon your writing abilities.

-Create a Signature: Instead of simply ending all your emails with your name, create an automated signature with additional contact information. Do you have a blog? Leave a link with the URL. Active on Twitter? Include your username so people can find you. Have a Zinch profile? Add it on there too! This is a great way to share a little bit more about yourself and expand your network.

By keeping these points in mind you’ll be prepared for any online correspondence. Remember, email is a valuable tool and should be considered part of your online identity. So be sure to follow these tips and check your inbox on a regular basis…you never know who you’ll hear from next.

Congratulations to Simone Davis, our latest Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship winner!

Everybody could use a little guidance in life, so we asked what was the best piece advice of you’ve received and how it affected your life. Simone’s response showed us that in the face adversity, sometimes you have to let the pieces fall where they may.

Here is her winning essay:
My teacher told me that those who have more questions than answers must master accepting uncertainty. It made me feel less alone and pushed me to ask in-depth and conceptual questions without definite answers, leading me to think inside, outside, and around the “box”.

Here is a bit more about our winner:
I am a student in the theatre strand of the Visual and Performing Arts Academy. Much of my time is spent doing lighting designs for theatre and dance shows. I used to play junior varsity basketball and I’m the president and co-founder of our school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. I’m always interested in progress, internal exploration, and social change.

What’s the best piece of advice we have to share? Apply for our Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship of course! We post a new prompt every Monday, so you have a chance to win $1,000 every week. How cool is that?!

Congratulations to our latest Double Your Money winner, Katelyn Gordon! Katelyn won the Past Presidents’ Heritage Scholarship for $500, and because she found and applied for it through Zinch, we’re matching that award on every penny. Katelyn was kind enough to answer a few questions about her scholarship and goals, so let’s see what’s on her mind!

What is your strategy behind applying for scholarships?

As far as strategy goes, I try to pick scholarships that relate to me. It’s hard to write an essay or respond to a question that I have no interest in, because if it does not stand out to me, it will not stand out to the judges who pick the scholarship winners.

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

After I finish college, I would love to work for the State Department or a US Embassy. That way I can be more involved in world affairs and have some influence, even if it may be small, on the success of our country’s relations with the world. But my career goals don’t stop there. After I have worked for a good amount of time dealing with international affairs, I want to teach high school and be that one teacher who has done everything and knows everything, and inspires students to go as far as they can in life. But no matter where I end up, I want to be sure that I leave my mark somehow in this world.

If you could choose any public figure to speak at your graduation, who’d it be?

I would have Condoleezza Rice speak at my graduation. She was a speaker at a school forum, and she is one of the most inspiring persons I have ever listened to. Her family came from humble beginnings, but she has still grown to be a phenomenal woman. She has had so much impact on today’s world, and now is a professor, sharing her knowledge with others. Dr. Rice gave a piece of advice that helps me remember to not be discouraged. “You might not be able to control your circumstances, but you can control your response to your circumstances. If you can keep that in mind, you will not give way to aggrievement and entitlement, both of which rob you of your ability to control your own life.”

How are you more than a test score?

I make myself more than a test score by getting acquainted with my professors. They really do care for your education and want you to succeed as well, as long as you put in the effort.

Don’t forget about our scholarship search where you’ll find nearly $2 billion worth of financial aid posted online. Remember to invite your friends to Zinch 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 Courtney Deemer, our latest Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship winner!

It’s important to give back to your community, both on a local and grand scale. So we wanted to know if you had the chance to start your own non-profit group, what would be the organization’s mission? Courtney’s answer really hit home for us, and showed it’s never too early to start thinking about your future.

Here is her winning essay:
I will focus on helping teenagers start their own college funds. They will create “bank accounts” and will be given part time jobs to learn how to save money for college. My parents never taught me [the importance of this] and it’s something that every college bound student should know.

Here is a bit more about our winner:
Writing and taking photos are my passions, and I plan to put them to good use as a photojournalist. I love doing volunteer work, and hopefully I will be able to do nonprofit organization work in the future. I love all kinds of music, and am willing to try anything once! I consider myself very forgiving and I constantly try to help people with their problems. Everyone has a story, mine is still in the rough draft stages.

Courtney’s hard work landed her a $1,000, and you could be next! Apply for our Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship for your shot at a cool grand.