Most parents want their student to win scholarships. Even if you can afford to pay for college, free money is always welcome. But talk with parents and parent groups and you can hear the frustration:

• My student isn’t motivated to search for scholarships.
• My student has applied for so many scholarships and hasn’t won a dime.
• Where do we search? Should we sign up on all the scholarship search engines?

But the number one questions parents ask is:

How can I help my student search and apply for scholarships?

Here are just a few ways parents can help with scholarships and scholarship applications:

Help with organization

Your student will need an organized system to help with the scholarship search and application process. You can help! Encourage your student to set up Google docs for scholarships with the name of the scholarship, requirements, due dates, and information needed for each.

As you find scholarships, you can add to the list that will be easily accessible to you and your student. This will also help you stay on top of deadlines so you can quickly text a reminder to your student.

Help with searching

You can help your student search for scholarships. While you are waiting in just about any line, you can use your smartphone to search. You can use Google or there are apps available to help you search.

Watch the news, look at community bulletin boards, talk to family and friends and search local organizations for scholarship opportunities. You can keep a notebook with you, or just open the Google doc and add the scholarships you find.

Help with proofreading

You can’t write their essays or fill out their applications, but you can proofread and double check the requirements before your student applies.

Help with reminders

Email or text your student when deadlines are approaching to remind them to submit the application on time. With so many things to do, it’s hard for students to stay on top of deadlines.