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Debate, Speak Up for College Scholarships

By U.S. News & World Report

Ever had your parents tell you that you could talk you way into — and out of — anything? They might not have appreciated that skill at the time. But you might be able to turn your way with words into winning college scholarships.

Of course, there’s more to it than just talking. Public speaking and debating skills hinge not on the number of words or how loudly you speak them but rather on the ideas behind your words. How you formulate and express your argument or thoughts determines how effective you are as a speaker.

You can use your strong debate and speaking skills to win money to pay for college. Here are several organizations that award these talents.

[Learn how to use your hobbies to pay for college.]

The International Public Policy Forum contest, administered by the Brewer Foundation and New York University, is both grueling and lucrative. The contest gives high school students around the world a chance to debate public policy issues in written essays and spoken debate.

Interested students should form a team with at least three other students and register by Oct. 13. Then by Oct. 17, teams must submit one essay up to 2,800 words that argues for or against the provided topic.

Judges narrow the entries to the top 64 teams, who then continue in written debates. Teams are trimmed then to 32, 16 and then eight teams.

The final eight teams receive all-expenses-paid trips to New York City for the oral debate finals in late April 2018. The winning team takes home $10,000, half of which is for individual scholarships and the other half for the sponsoring school’s debate program. Runners-up win between $750 at the quarter-final level and $3,500 for second place.

[Read advice on paying for college.]

The Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Voice of Democracy audio-essay program isn’t strictly a debate, but it does hinge on a student’s ability to speak well. Entrants must record a three- to five-minute essay on a patriotic topic, with a national winner receiving a $30,000 college scholarship and runners-up receiving between $1,000 to $16,000. First-place state-level winners receive at least $1,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Applicants in grades nine-12 who attend a U.S. high school, including home-schoolers, are eligible. This year’s theme is “American History: Our Hope for the Future.” The application deadline is Oct. 31.

The Optimist International Foundations annually host the Optimist International Oratorical Contest, where students under age 18 as of Oct. 1 compete at the club level. Winners may then compete at zone levels before the world championships.

Applicants must submit a speech on the provided topic that is given within four to five minutes. Other rules apply to the speech.

Scholarships are awarded to winners at the district and regional levels, ranging in value from $1,000 to $5,000. First-, second- and third-place winners at the world competition receive $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 scholarships, respectively, to St. Louis University in Missouri.

Districts must submit winners by May 15, 2018. Contact a local Optimist Club for additional information or to apply.

[Discover ways parents and counselors can help students earn scholarships.]

The National Speakers Association awards six $5,000 NSA Student Scholarships annually. Applicants must be full-time undergraduates entering their junior or senior year or full-time graduate students. Some undergraduate sophomores, transfer students or students in accelerated learning programs may be eligible if they are entering the second half of their studies by Sept. 15.

The application includes a 500-word essay, a letter of recommendation from a faculty member and transcripts. Check the site for the 2018 application deadline.

The Sons of the American Revolution awards a $5,000 scholarship annually to the winner of its J oseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest, which is held annually in June. Second- and third-place winners receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively.

The contest is open to all high school students, who must compose a five- to six-minute speech related to the Revolutionary War. As with similar competitions, applicants compete at the local level. Contact a local chapter for deadlines.

In addition to these national competitions , many colleges and universities offer debate scholarships. The National Speech and Debate Association curates a scholarship list , but if you have an interest in speech and debate, contact universities you’re interested in to learn about scholarship opportunities.

They say talk is cheap — but if you land one of these scholarships, you’ll be able to show that this isn’t always the case. Your gift of gab could help you get money for college.

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Debate, Speak Up for College Scholarships originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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