"Consider this advice when developing a strategy to win college scholarships. … Scholarships, however, are usually awarded on the basis of merit, whether it’s for academics, athletic ability or a specific talent. While some private scholarships award based on whether a student is from a low-income family, such as the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program, there’s usually a merit component. Private scholarships are typically awarded by private foundations, nonprofits, for-profit corporations or philanthropists, to name a few sources.
Students should start their search with local scholarships, since these awards are often less competitive, experts say. But it’s still important to sign up with a few national scholarship database websites." …