Driving to the beach. Visiting the park for an enjoyable picnic. Seeing a baseball game. Calling on the local fishing hole. These are great summertime activities. Other pursuits include painting, cutting the grass and washing and waxing the car. We look forward to all of them with great anticipation. When the weather gets warm (no doubt about it), thoughts and actions turn to outdoor events.

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One activity that gets forgotten by many college-bound students and their families is the inside expedition of hunting for college scholarships, searching for huge scholarship dollars, initiating the quest for money that will significantly reduce or eliminate college debt. This happens for four reasons. First, it is easy to forget because summer is now and scholarships are in the future, the distant future. Second, my child is not smart enough to win a scholarship. So, why bother thinking about it now or ever. A third possibility: our student has no desire to go to college. Fourth, our family income is too high. These are all relevant ideas. But, they are all bogus. Here’s why. Summer is the best time to begin scholarship activities because there is no rush to get the job done. One can take time to do everything leisurely and thoroughly. Rushing creates anxiety and anxiety creates mistakes. The old maxim "slow and sure wins the race" also applies to going after scholarships.

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Some students are slow in developing. The first two years produce mediocre outcomes, while the junior and senior years produce above average results. And, know this, scholarship committees often regard the last two years as more important than the first two!

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Got a seventeen year old that has no intention of getting a post-high school education? Attention, attention, attention: a high percentage of these change their minds. Have you made up your mind to use this summer in a profitable way, a way that could eliminate the need for future minimum wage summer jobs? There was a commercial on television a few years back. The slogan went like this: "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later. The choice is up to you." By starting right now, this summer, you can cut your college educational bill by $10,000, $20,000 or even $50,000. Use your computer to investigate and sign up for college scholarship information.

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Everything in life is a decision, make the right ones today for your college scholarship success.