Answer:
Nobody representing a legitimate scholarship can or will be able to guarantee that you’ll win. Some services even boast they can guarantee the actions of another organization – they can’t. There are false promises and will likely result in something other than you obtaining money for school.
If someone contacts you, via phone, mail or email, offering you a scholarship, and you never requested information from that provider, be very careful. Scholarships are awarded to you after an application process – they are not just given out to random students – no matter how special they are.
Applying for legitimate scholarships does not cost money -- EVER! Submitting such applications will cost you time and effort, but should never cost money, no matter how small the amount.
Scholarships do have deadlines; however, they are usually clearly stated within the application guidelines. Legitimate providers don’t pressure students into applying for their scholarships; they have enough interest on their own. They also ensure that students have ample time to work on their scholarship applications and essays. If you ever feel pressured and are observing that it’s a “now or never” scenario, the scholarship is likely a scam.
