Dont Be a Google N00b 5 Tips to Narrow Down Your Search Results

You’ve probably heard that there’s no such thing as a stupid question. However, these days this expression might need a bit of an update – there are no stupid questions, but there are clumsy Google searches. Search engines are the go-to tool for finding answers to almost anything in no time flat. But, sometimes, getting those answers can require some skill. So, we’ve rounded up some top hacks to help you optimize your search efficiency. 1. Be a Smooth Operator Using specific search terms in your query is a good start, but adding some Google operators can really help you narrow down your results. Here are a few of the most powerful operators: † â€Å" Performs an exact phrase search instead of searching for each separate word in your query site: Restricts your search to the pages of a particular site – Excludes a word from your search ~ Includes related words in the search So, if you want to search for Washington Post articles about college test scores, but you don’t want articles about the SAT, you could formulate a query like this: site:washingtonpost.com â€Å"test scores† ~college -SAT 2. Play the Wildcard The asterisk operator can be your secret weapon, if you know when and where to deploy it. This wildcard acts as a placeholder that Google fills in later. It’s perfect if you’re trying to track down a song lyric or quote, and you only know a few of the words. Test this one out and see how Google fills in the blanks in its search suggestions: Where there’s a *, there’s a * 3. Speak Like a Website This is a big one. Most people perform Google searches using the same language they use when they’re speaking. While search engines have gotten better at figuring out these natural-language queries, you’ll often get more accurate results if you use the kind of words that websites use. For example, instead of entering this: You’ll have better luck with this: Refrigerator repair Boston 4. Be a Scholar When you have to cite studies and reports in an article, sometimes you need credible, academic sources. Some of these come up in regular Google searches, but you’ll need to filter through a lot of not-so-scholarly material to find them. Enter Google Scholar: a search engine that focuses on content from academic publishers, peer-reviewed journals, court opinions and universities. You still search the same way you would on Google or other search engines, but you’re more likely to find the research and statistics you’re looking for. 5. Don’t Sweat the Spelling Google is pretty forgiving about spelling and can usually recognize what you’re trying to search for. Type this phrase into Google and see what happens: â€Å"Nvr gona giv yu up.† See? Google’s never gonna let you down, never gonna tell a lie and hurt you. This flexibility in spelling is especially helpful when you’re using an obscure word or name in your search. Google is also easygoing about grammar and capitalization. Cutting Through the Clutter Search engines are powerful tools, but with so much information out there, it can be hard to find exactly what you need. Hopefully these tips can help you expand or narrow your searches, so you can track down the right information for your content.

Easy Scholarships to Win How to Find and Apply

Easy Scholarships to Win How to Find and Apply SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Applying for scholarships can be stressful and time-consuming, especially if you’re looking at really competitive awards. Wouldn’t it be nice to apply for scholarships thatyou knew you had a really good shot at winning? If you want to get your hands on some easy scholarship money, you’re in the right place. First, I’ll talk a little bit about what it means to be an easy-to-win scholarship. Then, I’ll get to the good stuff by directing you to the places you should look for these awards - you might be surprised at where you can find them - and how to put together a successful application. What Makes a Scholarship Easy to Win? With many of the popular national scholarships (like the Gates Millennium orCoca-Colaawards), you’re competing with several thousands of applicants forvery large sums of money.Even if you’re a great student, and you meet all the qualifications, your chances of winning the scholarship will be pretty slim just due to the sheer number of students applying. When we talk about easy scholarships to win, we’re talking about scholarships where you have a much better chance of walking away with some money (even if the amount is relativelysmall). There are very few scholarships where an award is guaranteed as long as you meetall award criteria (although they do exist - I’ll get to them later).Ultimately, you can’t count 100% on winning mostscholarships, but you can look for scholarships where your chances of winning are at least higher than average. A Small Note: Easy to Win Vs.Easy to Apply There are a ton of scholarships out there with very short, simple, easy applications.Although it’s smart to apply to scholarships like these - it’s not like you’re wasting much time or energy on the application -an easy application is not the same as an easy win. These super simple apps likely attract a ton of applicants. It’s like playing the lottery (except for free) - it doesn’t hurt, but it’s not like you can count on the winnings. Finally, if you come across a scholarship application that's too good to be true, it probably is.If a scholarship organization purports to guarantee winnings to applicants - especially if the application asks you to submit sensitive information (like your SSN) or even payment - it's probably a scam. Be careful about giving out sensitive information - make sure that your applications are going to legitimate organizations As you may have realized by now, there is no short list of easy scholarships to win for all students. In order to find such scholarships, you'll have to do a bit of legwork. These next three steps will walk you through everything you need to know about finding (and winning) easy awards. Step #1: Apply for Niche Awards One of the best ways to find easy scholarships to win is to look for awards with small, niche applicant pools. The smaller the group of potential applicants, the less competition you have to deal with. Scholarships that are primarily looking for students with impressive grades and leadership potential are not what we’re talking about here (although that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply to those scholarships). You might have to spend some time thinking about what your â€Å"niche† might be, but trust me - this time will be well spent. You can start by thinking about unique interests/skills, backgrounds, and club/group affiliations you have. You’ll find many niche scholarships targeted towards students who meet these more specific criteria. For example, the College Board’s scholarship search begins with a survey based on many of the criteria listed below - if you identify with any of the items listed below, you may find better and more specific niche scholarship matches. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it covers the most important bases. You can either use these search terms in scholarship-specific search tools or in Google to find award matches. Here’s your preliminary brainstorming list for niche awards: Special Interests or Skills Arts: music, dance, other visual arts Community service Debate Civil rights or social justice activities Writing/Journalism Special Background Ethnic or racial background Religious background LGBTQ Physical or learning disability Health conditions Personal/family veteran status Specific Club or Group Affiliation There are way too many to list, but a few examples on the College Board scholarship search include: Society of Women Engineers Native Daughters of the Golden West NAACP Eagle Scouts Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Step #2: Apply for Local Scholarships Local scholarships are niche by definition - they’re only really meant for students living in your particular area. They’re often smaller and less competitive than the big national awards, which means your chances ofwalking away with winnings are much better. Narrowing your geographic focus also means narrowing your competition You can search for local awards in a few different ways: Online scholarship search tools (coming soon) - This is the easiest way to get instant access to massive amounts of data. Enter geographic info into scholarship-specific search tools, andGoogleâ€Å"[your hometown/county/state] scholarship† to find the most popular results. Your guidance or college counselor - They tend to be plugged into local scholarship programs, and they may even serve as a reference or letter-writer for recommendations. Local community or cultural centers - These are hubs of local activity that may have info on local scholarship programs. They may even offer scholarships themselves! Want more detailed information? We have a whole guide to finding and winning local awards. Step #3: Check Out "Guaranteed" Scholarships Guaranteed scholarships are awards that you’ll win no matter what, as long as you meet all of the eligibility requirements. Many of these requirements includestrict academic criteria (e.g. minimum standardized test scores, GPA). There are quite a few colleges and universities that give out these guaranteed merit awards if you’re 1) accepted to the school, and 2) have those minimum test scores or GPA.Often, your college app is considered your scholarship app - you’ll be automatically considered for awardswhen you apply to the school.Sometimes, you’ll have to check out schools’ merit awards on your own and submit separate applications. To get more information, you’ll needto have a specific school in mind. Here are the steps you should take to look up possible merit awards at a particular school: Google â€Å"[school name] merit scholarships† - most schools have a separate page designated just for these sorts of scholarship awards. Make sure the scholarships you find are designated for â€Å"entering freshman† - some awards may be meant only for upperclassmen or grad students. Check to see if the school makes a designation between in-state and out-of-state applicants (many public colleges and universities do). Some state schools will give bigger scholarships to non-resident applicants if out-of-state tuition is higher.There may also be differences in award requirements. Finally, check to see if there is a separate application (separate from your college app, that is) or uniquedeadline. Scholarship money is often limited, so you might help your chances of winning cash by applying earlier. To read more about schools that offer money based on academic performance, read our guide on guaranteed scholarships based on ACT/SAT scores. Closing the Deal: Put Together an Awesome Application Once you’ve found the most promising easy-to-win scholarships, you’ll want to follow through by submitting the best applications possible. Here are the most important steps to putting together a winning scholarship application: Make sure you meet all eligibility criteria.Miss just one and you’re likely wasting your time by submitting a full application.Some commonrequirements to look out for include class year, financial need, minimum GPA, and minimum SAT/ACT scores. Ask yourself if you’re a good fit.This is often the difference between a low and high likelihood of winning an award. Are you the target audience here, or do you just technically qualify for the scholarship? Emphasize your ideological ties to the scholarship program (and your ties to the community, if applicable). How do your values align with that of the scholarship program? How are you an active participant in that community, geographic or otherwise? You’re more likely to win if your values and goalsare congruent with thoseof the scholarship organization. Complete ALL PARTS of the application.Before you even start an app, make sure you’ll be able to provide all the documentation that the scholarship asks for. Plan on submitting the app in the exact way that’s asked of you (whether that’s via email, fax, snail mail, etc.). Make sure to meet the deadline.Submit a late application and you’re likely to be disqualified. On the off chance that your application isn't automatically tossed, late submission will definitely not make a good first impression. Don’t wait until the last day to actually send the paperwork in (just in case you run into technical or logistical issues). What's Next? Looking for other ways to make your scholarship search a bit easier? We've got you covered. Start off by checking out scholarships with super simple applications. Next, check out our other top scholarship guides: top awards for high freshmen/sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: