SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS BILK FAMILIES, STUDENTS OUT OF MILLIONS, WARNS UO OFFICIAL
August 4, 1999
Contact Maureen Shine (541) 687-1202, or Gaye Vandermyn (541) 346-3133
Source: Martha Pitts, admissions director, University of Oregon, (541) 346-1289; e-mail mpitts@oregon.uoregon.edu
Internet information resources on scholarships: http://www.finaid.org; http://www.fastweb.com; http://www.collegeboard.org; http://www.ossc.state.or.us; and http://www.CollegeIsPossible.org.
Resources on scholarship scams: http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/common.phtml.
EUGENE–Beware of programs pitching lucrative scholarships, for a price. They could be among a growing number of scholarship scams that are bilking parents and students out of more than $100 million each year, warns the University of Oregon’s admissions director.
"The time-tested warning rings true for academic scholarships: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," says UO Admissions Director Martha Pitts.
Scholarship scams operate in a variety of ways. Some require up-front fees to apply for the scholarship, while others are "prizes" that require payment of taxes up-front and others are services that "guarantee" to find a scholarship for a fee.
"The bottom line with these scams is that the families put up the money, but the scholarships never materialize and those are dollars that could have been invested in the student’s education," says Pitts. "It’s frustrating because these scams prey upon the fear and anxiety students and their families have about paying for college, many of whom are operating under misconceptions about the cost of higher education."
To avoid being scammed, Pitts offers these tips:
• Be wary when scholarship programs ask you to pay for services. If you have to pay money up-front to access information or to apply for a scholarship, it may be a scam.
• Be wary when programs tout very high success rates for competitive scholarships.
• Trust your instincts. If you are suspicious about an offer, it probably is for good reason. Put some time into investigating the program or service.
• Beware of claims that the group or individual has access to millions of dollars in unclaimed financial aid or scholarships.
• Invest your time instead of your money. You will find a number of ways to search free-of -charge for information about how to access the $60 billion in grants, scholarships and low-interest loans that are available to students each year and many sources of information about the real cost of college.
• Talk to a high school guidance counselor or college financial aid officer, or use the Internet.
Students or families who suspect they are victims of scholarship scams should save all the original information they received about the scholarship and take it to a high school guidance counselor or local college financial aid office for help in evaluating the legitimacy of the program. They also may contact the Better Business Bureau, their state bureau of consumer protection, their state attorney general’s office, or the National Fraud Information Center.
Pitts encourages families and students who are interested in applying for scholarships to begin investigating their options early.
"Now is a good time for high school juniors to begin their scholarship searches because the earlier they start, the longer they have to prepare the essays or applications that are the basis for scholarships awards," she says. "In addition, students are less likely to miss the scholarship deadlines if they start their planning now."
The UO offers a number of scholarships for students, including some full-tuition scholarships for Oregon residents such as the Presidential Scholarships. Students may use a single application to apply for Presidential, General University, U-Lane-O (based heavily on need), and the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program.
The Diversity Building Scholarship (partial to full tuition) recognizes the achievements of students who enhance the educational experience of all students by sharing diverse cultural experiences.
Dean’s Scholarships are awarded based on the materials submitted for admission and require no additional applications. Dean’s Scholarships are guaranteed to students with a 3.6 or higher grade-point average (GPA) who meet all admission requirements. Larger Dean’s Scholarships are available for students who took the most challenging courses and earned higher grades.
The UO offers an early notification scholarship program, which has a Nov. 1 application submission deadline. Students who apply by this deadline are notified of scholarship eligibility by Dec. 15. This program allows students to lock in their scholarship opportunities early in the process.
Students or families interested in more information about UO scholarships may call the Office of Admissions at 1-800-BEA-DUCK (1-800-232-3825) or locally at (541) 346-3201.
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