How to Find and Receive Scholarships
Scholarships are by the far the best form of financial aid for any student to receive for one simple reason: they do not need to be paid back. There are many different ways to earn scholarships, all of which take quite a bit of time and effort. The end result, however, is definitely worth it.
This series of articles focuses on how to produce a successful scholarship application, including how to search for good scholarships online, how to maximize your scholarship income, and what scholarship committees look for in an application.
What Do Scholarship Committees Look for in Applicants?
The characteristics that scholarship committees look for in applicants will vary depending on the scholarship; however, there will several things that may help you stand out. They are as follows:
1. You meet all of the qualifications.The first thing that scholarship committees do is check to make sure that applicants are qualified for the award. For example, there are many scholarships that are only awarded to Boy Scouts, and other scholarship funds grant exclusive scholarships to members of minority groups or to students with disabilities. No matter how high a student's GPA is, a committee offering a scholarship to exceptional blind students will not look kindly upon an application from an individual with 20/20 vision. Don't waste your time by applying to scholarships that you don't meet the guidelines for.
2. You are passionate.
Committees like seeing particular dedication and passion to a specific subject, sport, interest, or hobby, especially if it is relevant to the scholarship. For example, a student who helps organize local chess tournaments, teaches classes, travels to compete in regional tournaments, manages a chess blog, and maintains a high GPA would not only make an attractive candidate for a chess scholarship, but also might be attractive to more general scholarship committees.
3. You are well-founded.
Scholarship committees also like to see balanced individuals who excel in school, participate in community events, and have work experience. It is important that the committee can see that you are an active member of your community and the money given to you will be well spent.
4. You are a leader.
Leadership qualities are also important. The student in number three is an attractive scholarship candidate because he not only spends his time practicing to become a national chess champion, but he also teaches and organizes related events.
5. You spent time on your essay.
Most scholarships require at least a short essay, and doing a rush job will not do the applicant any favors. Typos, mixing up "their" and "they're," run-on sentences, and other grammatical errors will communicate to the scholarship committee that the student does not care much about their application or the scholarship.
6. You had a great teacher recommendation.
Many scholarships ask for a teacher recommendation. Make sure that you maintain good relationships with your teachers so that when the time comes, you know you'll have a stellar recommendation.
7. You got your information turned in on time.
Although this may seem obvious, many individuals get rejected from scholarships because they didn't pay attention to the fine print. Make sure you do not fall into this trap.
8. You are confident.
Don't sell yourself short. Be proud of your accomplishments and let this show in your application. Again, the more passionate you seem, the better you will be received.
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How to Find Scholarships Online
Applying for scholarships may seem like a daunting task to students who are just starting to investigate how to pay for college. However, most scholarships have a similar application process, which means that applications should be easier to complete over time. Also, remember that if you are awarded a scholarship, the effort you put into applying will be well worth your time.
FAFSAThe first form you should fill out is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. This form is available from the U.S. Department of Education and it determines your eligibility for need based grants and government-sponsored loans. The FAFSA form will require that you supply pertinent financial information such as your W2 forms and Expected Family Contribution. Once you have gathered this information, keep it on hand for use with other scholarship applications.
The FAFSA should be submitted on or after January 1st for the upcoming school year in which aid is needed. This means that if you are beginning school in September you need to have your FAFSA application in the January before September. Also, the earlier you submit your FAFSA form the more likely it is that you will receive aid.
Scholarship Databases
There are many sites that specialize in providing scholarship search engines. However, these sites largely vary in their quality. In general, you will want to look for sites that have a sizable database of scholarships and a specific way for you to search for scholarships that you are eligible for. Here are a few examples:
USDE Scholarship Locator
The next best step is to use the scholarship locator on the Department of Education's website. Due to the fact that this locator is affiliated with a federal agency, you can be sure that the scholarships found are legitimate and obtainable. Enter a keyword in the search box that relates to either the educational program you are entering or any strong skills or interests that you have. Clicking on the fields that appear will give you more information about the scholarship programs available. From this point, you can email or phone the organization to request a scholarship packet.
State Departments of Higher Learning
From the Department of Education's website you can find your own state's department of higher learning. The federal Department of Education allocates funds to each state annually. These funds are used to provide scholarships and aid to college students. Each state designates how and when to distribute these funds. Find your state's agency and search their website for funding options.
College Answer
Sallie Mae's College Answer features over 60,000 scholarships, tuition waivers, fellowships, and grants to students. Use this free search tool to find funding that is unique to your own personal needs; these qualities can include ethnicity, academic strengths, and family information. College Answer will match you with opportunities that you are qualified for.
Junior Achievement
The Junior Achievement organization hosts their own scholarships for high school students. These scholarships are often related to ethics and student achievement. The applications frequently involve an essay and an application form, which is obtained by contacting the organization posted. The links on their website will provide further information about availability, amount of aid, and how often the aid will be dispersed.
For High School Students
If you are a high school student, your high school or college academic counselor will have a listing of scholarships for you. Use this resource to its full advantage by asking your counselor any questions you have about scholarship applications and technical jargon. Professionals in this field have a lot of knowledge about the strategies used to win financial aid, and they are always willing to share this information with students. Starting with local resources can have many benefits when applying for aid. The number of applicants to any one scholarship will be smaller, and your chances of winning will be greater. Your counselor will also have national scholarships available.
Finding and applying to financial aid is an integral step in the college application process. These organizations and forms will give you the foundation you need to fund your higher education.
Article References
FAFSA
The U.S. Department of Education
USDE Scholarship Locator
State Departments of Higher Learning
Top Strategies for Maximizing Your Scholarship Income
When researching and applying for scholarships, there are a few key ideas that will maximize your potential to earn a financial award, and minimize any errors that you might make. With these tips, you will find that the scholarship application process, though time consuming, can also be rewarding. Maximizing your scholarship income will benefit you in your college career as expenses add up. Although many scholarships are based on strong academics, they are also focused on community involvement, personal achievement, and growth - you do not have to be an intellectual superstar to win a large amount of scholarships.
1. Be Organized
Start your application process with a space that is organized, and gather information that is relevant to the application process: income, grade point average, transcripts, and community achievements. Preparing a file that has your information will make each application go faster, and will ensure that you never leave out any information that has been requested. Also, gather a file of personal and professional references that includes phone numbers, email addresses, and mailing addresses. As you fill out more scholarships, you will continue to add to this file so each subsequent application is easier to complete. In addition, keep a record that details the specifics for each scholarship you are applying for - such as when they are due. The best way to keep track of multiple applications is to create a spreadsheet. Update this spreadsheet as you turn applications in and find more scholarships to apply for.
2. Recycle Essays
You may find that as you work through multiple scholarship applications, you are writing essays that are very similar in scope. You can maximize your time by modifying an essay that you have already written on a similar topic. Apply this technique to school assignments as well; any school essays that might pertain to a scholarship can be modified for this purpose.
3. Think Local
Start your scholarship search locally. With local donors and organizations, you are more likely to be competing with a smaller pool of applicants. The best way to find local scholarship opportunities is to contact a school counselor or the counseling center at your local community college. They can give you information regarding due dates, amounts paid, and the necessary information to obtain a packet of application materials. Do not ignore scholarships for small amounts. Every dollar counts when you are paying for higher education.
4. Get Your Applications in Early
Many scholarships have a rolling awkward giving process, therefore, it is a good idea to get your scholarships in as soon as possible. Further, it shows that scholarship committees that you are organized and prepared.
5. Learn from Other Winners
Lastly, it is helpful to learn what specific scholarship boards are looking for in an application. Often, the essays, biographies, or applications of past winners will be posted on the scholarship's website. Reading through these may give you the competitive advantage that you need to tailor your essays for the editing board.
Article References
U.S. Department of Education
Scholarships and Online Degrees
Online learning is becoming an increasingly popular option for many students. Online study gives students the flexibility to work or care for a family while earning their degree. However, some online students still think that scholarships are not available to them since they are not a traditional student. This could not be further from the truth.
Firstly, if you attend an accredited online institution you are eligible for all Title IV government aid, and most normal scholarships. Government aid and private programs encompass a nearly endless amount of need and merit based grants and scholarships. This means that your chances of receiving any of this aid are equal to any traditional on-campus student.
Secondly, there are some scholarships targeted specifically to online learners. While a thorough search can turn up many options that fall into this category, your best bet is to first check with your online school. Online colleges and universities typically have the most promising scholarship opportunities for their online students.
For instance, Western Governors University (WGU) offers some excellent scholarships for online students studying special education. This university offers flexible, online degree programs in special education at both the bachelor's and master's level and is the only online university to be regionally accredited and accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the leader in teacher education accreditation. The scholarships completely cover the online student's tuition bill. Many other online universities and colleges offer similar opportunities.
Speak with your college's financial aid office and take the same steps a traditional student would undergo when seeking out college scholarships. If your school is a nationally accredited organization you should have no problem applying to the exact same scholarships as traditional college students.
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