Anyone applying for college this coming year and not paying attention to scholarships may as well skip the SAT and ACT in favor of counting change at the local Michael's. Seriously, going to college without taking advantage of free money is one of the dumbest decisions you can make. There are plenty of excuses to avoid applying for scholarships: I'm not special enough, my grades aren't great and I don't have any time, but honestly none of these should keep you from applying for at least one scholarship.

Don't be discouraged by lackluster academic performance. Many scholarships focus on a well written essay and your future plans. Some others focus on more outlandish criteria including these 9 weird and unusual scholarships, which are awarded based on your last name, height or your affinity for Duct tape! While most scholarships require a little more effort, they are worth it.

As the cost of college skyrockets, so do the number of scams trying to take advantage of families. With the average cost of a private four-year college topping more than $32,000, more families than ever are on the hunt for scholarships that can help relieve some of that financial burden. Con artists and unscrupulous businesses snare several hundred thousands of unsuspecting students and their families with fraudulent offers every year, to the tune of more than $100 million, according to FinAid.

You don't have to let it happen to you!

Here are a few key tips to get started safely.