Where to look for college scholarships
66
With the rising cost of tuition, it is no wonder that students are taking out student loans to pay for their schooling. Some students wind up with over $30,000 in student loan debt plus an additional $8,000 in credit card debt by the time they graduate with their Bachelors degree.
Of course a college scholarship is one of the best ways to pay for college. You do not need to pay-back the money you are awarded and there is usually enough money left-over to pay for your books, housing, and food costs. There are millions of scholarships available, ranging from academics to your relation to a cancer victim. Speak with a financial aid advisor to find out more information about scholarships that you may be eligible for.
Video
Each year millions of dollars are given away in the form of college scholarships. Most people assume that you have to have outstanding grades or you have to be an athlete in order to obtain a college scholarship. This is false, private businesses, non-profit organizations, and several other places actually offer college scholarships all you need to do is find the right place that is offering them. Current statistics show that there are about 1.3 million college scholarships available. This totals out to be around $3.1 billion in available funds for qualified students.
College scholarships are also available to the students with a financial need. If you cannot afford to pay for your college education on your own, a scholarship may be available for you. Every student must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to apply for some college scholarships. When you fill out a FAFSA, you are also are applying for a federal grant which is similar to a scholarship because you do not need to pay it back.
After you fill out the FAFSA, contact the university for a listing of all the available scholarships. The college will offer academic scholarships, sports scholarships, and departmental scholarships. There are also scholarships available from alumni or organizations that support the university. The scholarships that are available from the alumni members are normally easier to apply for than the academic scholarships. Every scholarship application will require you to submit an essay along with a cover sheet and personal information about your accomplishments and your career goals. The money you receive is based on your need and your desire to contribute in some way to the university. The best place to find the scholarships that are available from alumni members is to get in touch with your financial aid office.
The financial aid office should also be able to discuss specialty scholarships with you. Several scholarships are available to students based on gender, race, nationality, religion, etc. There are also state grants available to students that are going to an in-state university. People often overlook scholarships that are right in front of them. Have you ever asked your employer about a scholarship? If they don't have scholarships, find out if they offer tuition reimbursement or tuition payment plans.
If you don't qualify for a scholarship, look into financial aid. A Federal Pell Grant is similar to a scholarship because you do not need to pay back the money you are awarded. A Pell Grant is awarded based on your need. Generally your family's income must be below $50,000 in order to qualify. If you are applying on your own (meaning no one can claim you as a dependant) your income must be below $20,000. Several states offer grants for students that are below an expected income status. State grants often go un-awarded simply because no one knows about them so no one applies for them. Contact your local state department to find out if there are any available grants for college students.
Video
Contact local businesses and find out if they are offering any college scholarships. Several local businesses will provide scholarships to high school seniors that are going to a local college because they want to support higher education and they want to support their local schools. The best place to find out about local scholarships is through a high school guidance counselor and the city council. They will know which businesses typically support higher education and have been known for giving scholarships away in the past.
Try going to your local library and ask about scholarships. Most libraries have a bulletin board with information about scholarships and other financial aid programs that are available for students. If you plan on going into a specific career, ask companies in a related field if they offer scholarships. Some companies may not offer a scholarship, but they may give you a $10,000 sign-on bonus if you work for them and stay with them for a set number of years. This money could easily pay for a great portion of your college education.
The internet is another great place to look for college scholarships. There are numerous web sites that provide a listing of all the scholarships that are available and the qualifications you need in order to apply for one. When you are browsing the internet, watch out for fake web sites that require you to pay in order to fill out an application. If you ever need to pay to fill out an application, this is a red flag that you are being scammed.
Another place you need to check is your local newspaper. Read every page and look for organizations that are offering scholarships. You may need to compete in a talent show to win the scholarship, but it is worth a shot. The best section to review in the paper is the "Community News" section; this is normally where organizations will provide information about scholarships. If you have a city newspaper, be sure to grab a weekly copy of it and look for scholarships or organizations that need volunteers. Contact your local police and fire department to find out if they have any scholarships available. Don't forget to contact your local news channels, they often have connections with several larger firms and can offer scholarships to students that are going into the Communication field or a related field.
Practically every business offers a scholarship of some type. McDonalds offers scholarships and your parent's employer might offer one too. Several employers may even offer tuition reimbursement if your parents end up paying for your schooling.
When you are looking for a college scholarship, you need to have a few things prepared on your end. First, you need to take a good look at your GPA and your SAT and ACT scores. You do need to show the scholarship committee that you want to go to college and you have the dedication to your studies that they are looking for. One of the best ways to really impress a scholarship committee is to also include numerous hours of volunteer work on your scholarship application. Colleges are looking for a person that is selfless, devoted, motivated, and will represent their school appropriately.
Students that often do not make the higher grades can easily get a scholarship through other skills that they possess. How about your volunteer work? What about clubs and organizations you are involved in? Are you a leader, do you have any leadership experience? When you take a good look at your talents and abilities, you will be able to see that you really can find a scholarship program that will award you money for those skills versus your grades and athletic ability.
If you are trying to avoid taking out a student loan, look into joining a company that will pay for your schooling. Several people sign up to serve in the Armed Forces because their entire education will be paid for. If you are going into the medical field, there are several companies out there that want to pay for your schooling. In return for your education, you will need to sign a commitment to remain with the company for a set number of years.
Always ask your employer if they offer tuition reimbursement. You may not get your entire education paid for, but most employers will pay for at least half of your schooling.
Video
When it comes to a scholarship, you need to be prepared to fill out several forms. Applying for just one scholarship won't guarantee that you will get it, especially when the odds are against you. For every one scholarship that exists, there are at least 15 qualified applicants. The amount of money you may get may be a full-ride scholarship or something much smaller, like $500. You need to take a good look at the scholarship qualifications before you simply apply for it if you want to improve your chances of getting one. Scholarship committees have a screening process and they will easily toss your scholarship application in the trash if you do not meet all the qualifications.
Your essay is one of the most important parts of your scholarship application. Use the essay to talk about yourself and why you are worthy of the scholarship. Tell the scholarship committee about your goals in college and in the workforce. Tell them about your past experiences, the things you have accomplished and even the mistakes you made that helped you get where you are. Try to tell a story about yourself that portrays your commitment to education and to your future. Make sure you have another person read over the essay when you are done to polish it. Never turn in an essay that has grammatical errors, this really hurts your chances of receiving a scholarship. Schools are looking for an individual that already possesses a certain level of talent, not someone that still needs to learn basic skills.
Another important aspect of getting a college scholarship is to turn in your application on-time. Schools will not even open an envelope if it arrives late. Try to get your application in early so you can avoid being tossed into the trash. It is also important to review your scholarship application several times before you mail it. Never leave a question blank and make sure you fill out each question will full sentences. If you do get called in for an interview, be sure to practice with another person before you go. You want to seem calm, confident, organized, and respectful when you go in for your interview. If you practice beforehand, it will alleviate some of the nervousness you may be feeling.
Once you get the scholarship, you need to work hard to maintain good grades. If you do not meet all the standards and rules that have been laid out by the scholarship committee, they can revoke your scholarship. If you lose your scholarship, you will need to come up with the money to pay for your schooling or you could even be kicked out of school.
Finding a college scholarship is easier to do that most people think you just need to have time and patience. Do not rush through a scholarship application and only apply for the scholarships that you are actually qualified for. Always speak to a financial aid advisor if you do not know where to start looking for a college scholarship.
