SEARCHING for scholarships can be easy. Most scholarships have specific requirements that one must have. Some requirements may be:

* Excellent CSEC/CAPE passes

* Financial need

* Involvement in extra-curriculum activities

* A good plan for the future

Scholarships are a big help to individuals, financially, who wish to excel. Here are some tips on how to find scholarships that suits you:

* The Internet: The Internet is one of the best ways to find scholarships in abundance that suits you and your qualifications. Websites that have a list of scholarships include youthjamaica.com, lmis.gov.jm and moe.gov.jm.

* Ask your school for assistance in searching for a scholarship that can assist you financially. This is a great idea because a school does not operate on its own, it is linked with other companies and organisations that may be willing to help students further their education.

* Visit organisations to find out if they have any scholarships available for students. Also, if you are a part of any credit unions or banks it would be wise to make a visit to them and find out if they offer scholarships.

If you are still in high school and wish to apply for scholarships to tertiary institutions, the best thing to do before doing so is to focus on doing well in school and to attain the general criteria for scholarships.

Become involved in extra-curricular activities that attract your interest. This is important because this will impress scholarship judges telling them that you are an active individual.

Ensure that you are well behaved and punctual for school. Some scholarships require school recommendations and no one wants a recommendation that speaks negatively about them.

Last, but not least, strive for excellence. Scholarship judges want persons who are used to hard work and will not waste their money if given the opportunity.

— Siccourney Jackson