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Web Site of Hard Knocks
One of the more ubiquitous scholarship sponsors on FastWeb is a company called Brickfish, which often asks students to compete for small grants ($500 or less) by making a video or blog post involving a consumer product that pays Brickfish to run a marketing campaign. "Scholarshiping sends a positive message, one of good will," says Brickfish CEO Brian Dunn. And though college costs are high, modest prizes are sufficient to get the reaction Brickfish wants. "Oddly enough, people react better to smaller amounts—they think they're more likely to win," Dunn says.
Donald Heller, director of the Center for the Study of Higher Education at Pennsylvania State University, says that applying for scholarships found on FastWeb and similar sites isn't worth the effort for most families. "The real action is in the dollars given by the institutions themselves," he says. (FastWeb's Boyce says he doesn't have statistics to prove it, but "anecdotally, we are helping students meet their goals.") As for my own family's strategy, I've filled out the usual government forms and ones offered by the college my son will attend; I will also keep an eye out for local programs that don't involve competing with FastWeb's 38 million registered users. And when the jackpot gets high, I play Mega Millions. At least with the lottery, you don't have to write an essay.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: jjtailor @ 05/16/2008 9:48:49 AM
Comment: http://school.newsweek.com/about/resources/myturn/myturn2009/personal_essay.php - here's the direct link to the Newsweek "scholarship"
Posted By: jjtailor @ 05/16/2008 9:47:59 AM
Comment: HAHA - Just looking around Newsweek a little -- it looks like they like to do the exact same thing that Levy bashes FastWeb for -- offer a "scholarship" that makes the user write an essay, but you have to submit your email address (and in the "regulations" section states that they may email you -- ie SPAM you -- with their advertisers!) -- Find the MyTurn Essay Contest in the "Education Program" link on the bottom of this page! Next time I would suggest you take a look at your own "marketing" methods of "fooling students" before you go off and bash another site! ources/myturn/myturn2009/personal_essay.phphttp://school.newsweek.com/about/resources/myturn/myturn2009/personal_essay.phphttp://school.newsweek.com/about/resources/myturn/myturn2009/index.phpjklfjksdljfkljlkjflkajskfjlkjjkljgfsdajgkljlfjlkjdsgsek.com/about/resources/myturn/myturn2009/index.php
Posted By: nickyluvsu @ 05/15/2008 9:28:54 PM
Comment: as a student myself i think that the variety of scholarship choices is phenomenal. Although some of the scholarships are useless it could really help someone with that interest out. i dontthink its fair to critise fastweb with such a scolking disapproval when you are only one person. i myself come from a family of three kids and i being the oldest set a precedent for my younger siblings. fast web helps me know what scholarship sponsors are looking for so i can maintain the gpa and activities that are the most benefitial. those of us who REALLY need the money are willing to do some pretty interesting things for a scholarship and it most definately beats working three jobs just to keep your head above water.
i am involved in the AVID program at my school which is intended to prepare first generation college students for the real world and help provide different paths for us to succeed i dont believe that by knocking fast web down a notch on the totem pole you are doing yourself anyfavors nor are you helping those of us truely wish to succeed in college dispite finacial issues. some of us cannot afford $60,000 a year for school at the college we dream about.
i respect your thoughts on the issue, but honestly i find it unbelivable that you can openly critque an organization that does so much good. The orginazation never did you any harm, it was simply trying to best match your childs interests with scholarships to give HER the most options, not you. after all you cant go away to college with her.
if someone offered me 200 dollars for an essay id write it, so if they are offering me a chance of a lifetime-a chance to go to college-i'd run with it.
i honestly find your critique a bit out of line im all for freedom of the press, but theres no need to slaughter them in the process.
i realize that you are just doing your job, and i respect your brutal honesty but there's a rebuttal to every argument and by not including the positves you make yourself seem nieve and unprepared. even if you dont like and appreciate the amenities of this site, some people do and will and because of your article you could have cause someone with a shot at making it their most protected dream.