Introduction
As a student, you may have heard of scholarships. In fact, if you’ve ever applied for financial aid, you’ve probably received an award letter full of scholarship opportunities. But what are scholarships? And why should you care about them? Well, here’s the deal: Scholarships are awards given by colleges or organizations to students who demonstrate academic merit and financial need. Say’s Dr. Mahmud Kara, they’re different from grants and loans in that they don’t need to be paid back—and they aren’t always offered by the schools themselves (though some do!). So how does it work? Well…
Discover who awards scholarships and how to apply.
The first step to winning a scholarship is knowing who awards them. If you’re interested in studying business, for example, check out the list of top schools for business and see if any of them offer scholarships. You can also search online or ask an admissions counselor at your local community college where they send students who have been awarded scholarships.
Once you know who awards scholarships, it’s time to start applying! Look at each school’s website and check out their financial aid section (or “scholarships” page). Many schools will have instructions on how to apply as well as an application form on their site that you can fill out electronically and submit directly through email–so no need for snail mail here!
Find out the best time to apply for scholarships.
We know that you’re busy with school and work, so we’ve put together a scholarship application timeline to help you stay on track. Here’s what to do:
- Before the first of the year: Start thinking about which scholarships you might want to apply for in the upcoming months. Make sure that your GPA is high enough for these awards, and get as many referrals as possible from teachers and guidance counselors who can vouch for your character and work ethic.
- After applying for financial aid: Once all of this information has been submitted (and hopefully approved), start researching scholarship opportunities online or through brochures at college fairs or career conferences near you–but don’t apply yet! You’ll want all of those forms filled out before sending in any applications so there aren’t any surprises when it comes time for them to make their final decision about who gets funded by their organization…and why not?
Understand what scholarships value.
If you’re looking for a scholarship, make sure you know what kind of student the scholarship is designed to help. Some scholarships are based on financial need and require applicants to be in high school or college. Other scholarships are merit-based, meaning that they reward students who have demonstrated a particular skill or talent. Some require both academic achievement and community service; others will only consider applicants who have demonstrated leadership skills through extracurricular activities such as sports teams or volunteer work at their school or local community center.
If your goal is simply getting into college with no debt burden, then look for scholarships that are intended for low-income students who can’t afford tuition costs otherwise–these may include grants from state governments as well as private organizations such as TheDreamActNow Foundation (see Resources).
Earn extra points when applying for scholarships.
When you’re applying for scholarships, it’s important to remember that honesty is the best policy. The people who are reviewing your application are looking for students who are passionate about their education and willing to go above and beyond to get it. If you’re not honest about your situation or why you need help paying for school, then they will assume that either:
- You don’t really care about getting a degree in whatever field
- You aren’t smart enough or hardworking enough (or both)
Manage your college expenses by taking advantage of all possible scholarship opportunities.
- Consider the cost of college.
- Be sure to apply for as many scholarships as possible.
- Apply for scholarships that match your interests and career goals.
- Make sure you are applying for scholarships that are open to international students, if this is relevant to you (many are).
- If a scholarship requires essays or other writing samples, take advantage of it!
Scholarships are an important way to pay for college.
Scholarships are an important way to pay for college. In fact, scholarships can provide up to 50% of the cost of your education at many colleges and universities. Scholarship awards can range from $1,000 to $100,000 and are usually renewable each year if you continue your studies successfully. Scholarships provide a great opportunity for students who want to attend college but cannot afford it without some financial assistance.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many scholarships available to help you pay for college. Scholarships are an important way to reduce the cost of tuition and cover living expenses. They also give students an opportunity to pursue their passions while getting their degree. If you’re looking for a scholarship opportunity or have already applied but didn’t hear back from any organization yet, don’t give up!
