OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Funded!" by Lucy Gent Foma.]

Only the smartest students with the highest GPAs get all the distinguished scholarships and major awards, right? In Funded! How I Leveraged My Passion To Live A Fullfilling Life And How You Can Too! by Lucy Gent Foma, the author explains how that age-old myth is simply not true. Lucy's background includes being waitlisted at the college of her choice and earning a D+ in her freshman economics class. However, due to her tenacity, persistence, and unique approach to problems, she has won nearly a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships, grants, and fellowships. She's traveled the world and been involved in several meaningful and impactful social and environmental projects. In Funded! Lucy Gent Foma describes exactly how she accomplished all this, references the similar success others have had, and provides a clear roadmap for other students to do the same. I rated this book 4 out of 4 stars. It is a very easy-to-read, instructive, interactive non-fiction book.

Funded! is organized into four distinct sections that take the reader through the steps of finding their story and purpose, researching and preparing applications, writing and rewriting applications, and staying motivated during the process. There are several excerpts of real, winning applications included to give the reader some useful examples and help guide a new applicant in the right direction. The author also includes handy icons that direct the reader's attention to sample winning applications, wise advice from been-there-done-that scholars and mentors, and lists of requirements that could easily get overlooked during the application process.

I really liked how easy-to-follow this book is. The author included helpful worksheets as a practical tool to aid in the application process. She also offers some great encouragement, but doesn't sugar coat how competitive these scholarship and award contests can be. Lucy Gent Foma not only describes her successes, but her failures as well; ultimately using them to propel her to the next opportunity and doing all she can to learn from them. Her optimistic and positive attitude is also very encouraging and fun to read. I also appreciate that the author is genuinely grateful for all the opportunities she's had and awards she's won.

While this book does an excellent job sharing the author's real-life experiences, I felt there was a lack of advice and guidance for those students pursing medical, dental, pharmacy, or other professional degrees. These are career areas often desperately needed in under-served areas, yet students go into hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt to obtain their education and training. Some real examples of winning fellowship, scholarship, and grant applications and proposals in these areas would be very helpful and make the book appeal to a wider audience.

I think the author did an excellent job sharing her experiences and offering encouragement and practical advice. Funded! would be an important guidebook for any college student interested in pursuing scholarship, grant, and fellowship monies. I could also easily see it being used and recommended often by high school and higher education student advisers, financial aid and career counselors, and parents of high school and college students.

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Funded!
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Like Shelle's review? Post a comment saying so!

What a wonderful review, Shelle! This sounds like a very interesting book, and that many could benefit from reading it. I feel the idea of those who do not do well in school will be unsuccessful in the future is in many minds. However, that is not always true, so I'm glad that are books out there that speak about this.

hsimone wrote:What a wonderful review, Shelle! This sounds like a very interesting book, and that many could benefit from reading it. I feel the idea of those who do not do well in school will be unsuccessful in the future is in many minds. However, that is not always true, so I'm glad that are books out there that speak about this.

Thanks! It was pretty inspiring and I could see it being very helpful for college students.

Nice, balanced review! I liked that you mentioned that the author doesn't sugarcoat how competitive the application process is. Sometimes authors promise too much instead of being realistic about the process.

bookowlie wrote:Nice, balanced review! I liked that you mentioned that the author doesn't sugarcoat how competitive the application process is. Sometimes authors promise too much instead of being realistic about the process.

I appreciated that aspect of the book too. The author certainly didn't make any guarantees, and instead shared how to use your own unique talents, skills, and experiences to be the best applicant you can be.

Sounds like a helpful, informative and motivating book as well as realistic and relatable. I wish I get the chance to read it. Great job on the review. Congratulations to Lucy Gent Foma on such an obviously well-written book.

Excellent review very well written. I just love reading your reviews.

Vermont Reviews

Nice, I wish I had a book like this when I was starting college.

I know a lot of people who would love this book. It doesn't sound like it is for me, but many of my friends who dream of finding ways to send themselves to remote corners of the world to learn, serve, and grow would be thrilled to read it.

Sounds like a great book for the right audience, as you mentioned it's "a very easy-to-read, instructive, interactive non-fiction book". Good job on the review! Congratulations to the author for getting such a good review!

I wish I had had this book about 4 years ago when I started my college career, I might have been able to go the distance. I will be reading it now to see if I can make a comeback. Thank you for this great review!!!

. Lucy Gent Foma not only describes her successes, but her failures as well; ultimately using them to propel her to the next opportunity and doing all she can to learn from them. Her optimistic and positive attitude is also very encouraging and fun to read. I also appreciate that the author is genuinely grateful for all the opportunities she's had and awards she's won.

Great review! Really insightful and helpful on what this book is and who it will and won't help.

I agree that it would be helpful if there were information for students pursuing professional degrees such as a medical degree. I am currently in college and have thought a out medical school, but it is definitely expensive. This sounds like a great book! I will have to add it to my list!

Great review! You made it very clear what this book has to offer and where it can be improved. I love that the author was motivating and realistic about the application process.

Thanks for the review!