With the rising cost of a college education and limited athletic scholarhips, it's essential that paretns and student athletes places themselves in the best position to secure any type of scholarship or college funding.

One of the most important things you can do to improve your chances of earning a scholarship is to do well in school. Having a noteworthy grade point average is often a deciding factor and is something that, through hard work, is in your control.  Institutions look for individuals that that are active in their community and who are known as leaders on their teams. Being a well rounded person will also help your standing. Engaging in activities in addition to sports will make you better able to fill out a comprehensive scholarship application.

What do scholarship applications require?
Different scholarships are going to have different requirements, but there are a few items that are commonly required. 

• Letters of Recommendation: These letters can be very influential in your case for a scholarship.  It's important that you choose people who can effectively translate their thoughts about you into writing.
• Personal Essay: Sometimes you may be asked to write an essay on a specific topic such as why you feel you deserve this scholarship. No matter what the topic, it is critically important that you follow the guidelines closely. Make sure to pay attention to items such as page limit and font. Neglecting to carefully read the directions can quickly eliminate you from a scholarship opportunity.
• Transcript and Test Scores

Where to look for scholarships
One of the best places to loo for scholarship is the internet. There are websites dedicated to providing perspective students with information on scholarships. Colleges and universities also supply information on student aid programs.  Most high schools have accumulated resources to help students with their college career. High school counselors and librarians are happy to help point students in the right direction; all you have to do is ask. 

Make sure to carefully read your scholarship applications, as an incomplete submission is a surefire way to disqualify yourself. A sparkling application can also be dismissed because of grammatical and spelling errors. Make sure that you spend time editing your application materials.

Apply the same hard work and diligence to securing a college scholarship as you do to athletics, and you will have no problem offsetting the high costs of universities for you and your family.