Degree design interior online program

A SCHOLARSHIP Designed for YOU

Applying to college or technical school can be an intimidating process, and paying the bill can be even scarier. But help is available. Using your talent and determination to get a scholarship can make it a lot more affordable.

Ask yourself questions about what interests you have and where your strengths lie. Your talents and interests may be in the design area. Check out the "Hot Jobs in Design" article on page 28 to find out about careers in architecture, or graphic, industrial, interior, fashion, or Web page design.

Although there are thousands of scholarships available in design, they will not land in your lap without some work. It's your job to go out and find them. One good resource is your school guidance counselor. Ask where you can find scholarship information. He or she may even know about a local art or design competition that offers scholarship money as a prize.

Another resource is a teacher or other adult who is involved in the area you are interested in. He or she might know about scholarships and contests in that area. For example, if you are thinking about an industrial design scholarship, talk to your shop teacher. Also, some scholarship applications require letters of reference, so it is a good idea to have a friendly relationship with someone in your field of interest.

There might be local organizations in your town that offer scholarships as well. Call architecture firms, museums, Web companies, or other design-related organizations. Find out if any of these organizations have contests or take-applications for scholarships. Sometimes local scholarships are your best bet because these probably would be less competitive than national awards.

Several Web sites offer personalized scholarship searches. All you have to do is fill out a form with information about yourself, and indicate that you are interested in design, and a search engine will find scholarships tailored to your interests. Try these sites: www.scholarships.com or www.absolutelyscholarships.com.

Some design scholarships require putting together a portfolio that displays your strongest skills. Find out if you will need a portfolio and what kind of work you should include for each scholarship. For example, a fashion design scholarship might require original sketches, but an interior design scholarship might require photographs of projects you have completed. It's a good idea to get a portfolio of your work together ahead of time. That way, when it comes time to send in the applications, you won't have to scramble to get everything in order.

Another smart move is to get involved in projects in your area of interest. If you are interested in Web design, find out if your school has a Web site and see if you can work on it. If you are interested in fashion design, take a sewing class at your school or local park district. Activities like this will look good on your application and give you a head start on the competition.

Scholarship

Here are just a few of the many design scholarships that are offered. Check out the Web and your local library too.

Imation Computer Arts

Imation Computer Arts Scholarship Program

Number of Awards: 25

Award Amount: $1,000

Deadline: December 14, 2001

Open to any student enrolled in a high school--public or private. The student has to be nominated by his or her school, and all artwork must be designed on a computer. For application forms, see www.imation.com.

The American Institute of Architects and the American Architectural Foundation

Minority/Disadvantaged Scholarship

Number of Awards: 60

Award Amount: $500-$3,000

Deadline: December 7,2001

Open to high school seniors who are planning to study architecture at a university accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. This scholarship is designed to aid students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to study architecture. A recommendation from a teacher or employer is needed.

Flexographic Technical Association Fund Flexography Scholarship

Number of Awards: 19

Award Amount: $2,000

Deadline: February 11, 2002

Open to all high school seniors who are interested in pursuing a degree in flexography--a kind of industrial design used to print labels and packaging. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and show academic excellence, particularly in the graphic design area. Applications can be downloaded at www.flexography.org/online/education/scholarship_info.cfm.