By Sabina Charyyeva

Education can make one’s future bright and successful. Around the world, the percentage of students studying increases every year due to many specific possibilities such as scholarships, financial abilities, exchange and research programs, employment opportunities, and many more.

But there is only one thing. Studying abroad is never cheap. And since the United States has a higher education system, it is considered as one of the most expensive countries for getting an education.

Guess what? Here I am to help you with some necessary information on wonderful scholarship opportunities which might help you save and reduce your costs!

#1. Whether it's a family financial problem or your strong desire to be a merit student, always look and ask for scholarship opportunities when applying for college!

#2. Look at your hobbies in a new way. You may not think of your hobbies and interests as a way to help pay for school, but you should. There are various college scholarships out there for everyone: all-star athletes, crafters, gamers, vegans, green thumbs, Trekkies — you name it. Scholarships aren’t just for straight-A students!

#3. Register for Scholarship Search. The free Google Scholarship Search tool gives you access to 5 million scholarships worth up to $24 billion. It helps you find scholarships that match your skills, activities, and interests. You can even set up customized alerts to notify you when a new scholarship that matches your profile becomes available!

#4. Meet with your school counselor and others. Discuss your plan to pay for college with your school counselor, and ask about scholarship opportunities that might be right for you. Also, keep your eyes and ears open in your community. You might hear of college scholarship opportunities through your government, your job, or other educational programs, such as EducationUSA!

#5. Apply for scholarships early and often! Some scholarship deadlines are as early as a year before you start college. You don’t need to wait until you’ve made your final decision about your school to apply.

#6. As you get ready to apply for college scholarships, keep in mind that different scholarships have their own qualifying criteria and require certain documents. Be careful, thorough, honest, proactive, diligent and on time!

If it sounds too easy, that's because it actually is easy to apply for scholarships. Some may require that you put in some time, but once you've completed an application or two, you might find it will get easier and take less time with each additional scholarship application. Don't psych yourself out or let yourself get overwhelmed by all you need to do before you graduate high school.

Your hard work and dedication will pay off, literally! And remember: you're not alone. Many students feel unprepared when they're starting the process, but with a little research, preparation and help from scholarships.com, you could be on your way to an impressive financial aid package. You got this!

Sabina Charyyeva from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, is studying international studies at Lane Community College. She is Interested in pursuing a career in the peace & conflict resolution field and is willing to work for the United Nations in the future. Sabina loves Lane Community College because of the wonderful friendly environment and the international programs! Her hobby is music, and she also loves American fast food!