7 News Features: College Without Cost

A few weeks ago, an anonymous donor promised free college tuition to every child attending public school there.

But for most students like Alvin Arline and Natasha Bevans, the only way they're going to be able to afford an expensive education is by earning a scholarship.

Finding those scholarships isn't just a goal; it's a game.

Think of it like playing PAC-man.

Knowing what the judge's want is a maze.

You have to avoid costly mistakes

And you have to know how to get to the next level of the application process.

Ben Kaplan is the author of a book called "How to Go To College for Almost Free."

He believes anybody can win a scholarship regardless of their GPA.

Ben Kaplan: "A huge myth is that you just have to have amazing grades or test scores to win college scholarships and that's just not the case."

What you do need however is a strategy.

There's no point just going in circles.

If you want to know where to find the scholarships, try the websites Fastweb.com and Wired-scholar.com.

Ben Kaplan: "There are tens of thousands of scholarship providers. They all want to reward different things. That's why there really is a scholarship out there for everyone."

And if you do get turned down, don't give up. You should plan on applying to at least 12 different scholarships.

When Ben said there's something out there for everyone, he wasn't kidding.

We found a scholarship out there for Trekkies who have mastered the cling-on language.

And a scholarship for nudists asking "Why is nudism important to you?"

But the secret is actually not to make too much work for yourself.

Ben Kaplan: "You can recycle, re-use and re-think old material and re-deploy it for new applications. So once you've applied for one or two you have already done 60 percent of the work to apply for ten if your smart about how you approach the process."

The real way to score bonus points - community service and a strong essay.

Ralph Leon: "We are really looking for an honest answer. We don't want something that's been crafted or made up too much. That also shows through."

Ralph Leon is the community affairs manager for the Miami Heat.

Each year, he helps award the heat's four scholarships.

For Ralph, the big prize is when a candidate writes something personal.

Ralph Leon: "What we are really looking for is the essence of the candidate to come through."

Jessica Gurllon came through.

She's going to Barry University on a free ride because she learned how to be aggressive and eat up the competition.

Nataja and Alvin are ready to sell themselves.

They're already working to get a high score with the judges so they can go to college without cost.

Also keep in mind if you're applying for financial aid, you should start working on it ASAP. The forms are due January first and most colleges offer aid on a first come, first serve basis.

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