As a Scholarship Coach, I talk to allot of students and parents. When they hear that I helped coach my own child (currently a first-year college student) to win over $75,000 in scholarships (so far) their first reaction is amazement. But it’s often their second reaction that perplexes and saddens me: They don’t think that they can win scholarships themselves. Some people find the process of applying for scholarships overwhelming. Others think they don’t have enough time. Still others think that they just aren’t “good enough” to ever win. If any of those thoughts sound familiar to you, read on and let me give you some hope and encouragement.

There are literally thousands of scholarships available every year. So, yes, finding the right ones for you can be overwhelming. However, there are many tools and people that can help you target your efforts so that you have the best chance of winning. Your high school guidance counselor is a fantastic resource for you. Your counselor knows you, your strengths and weaknesses, and knows about some of the best scholarships that give you greater odds of winning. Meet with your counselor and ask them to find scholarships for you.

Your favorite search engine is another excellent tool to help you narrow your search. Just type in “Scholarships for” and whatever attributes describe you. “Scholarships for high school juniors.” “Scholarships for choir singers.” “Scholarships for average students.” Anything that describes you is a perfect search term. You can take your search to the next level by having the search engine email you new results every day.

Maybe finding scholarships isn’t your concern. Instead, you think you don’t have a shot at winning. Let me give you two pieces of good news about that. First, since so many other people have that same thought, and therefore never bother applying, you have much less competition than you might imagine. Secondly, you don’t have to be a straight-A student or outstanding athlete to win scholarships. Many scholarships don’t even ask for your grades or SAT scores. Instead, they might ask for an essay, an art project, or even ask for information on your volunteerism. Again, it all comes down to finding the best scholarship matches for who you are.

Because so many people simply never try to win scholarships, that leaves more opportunity for you. Don’t waste it! Give the above suggestions a try. If you want to find out about a new scholarship opportunity every day then listen to my podcast. Or, for just a few dollars, check out my new e-book, “Debt-Free College: Proven Strategies for Winning Scholarships and Other Tools to Help you Avoid Student Loan Debt.” Don’t leave scholarship money on the table. Start applying today!