Scholarships 101
So, you’re a senior, and as your acceptances start rolling in, you’ve realized that there is some money that will need to exchange hands to move forward and attend classes. I know it’s not what you had planned for, but here we are! And that’s why I’ve written this highly detailed blog post for you on how to apply for scholarships, where to apply for scholarships and everything else you need to know to get some extra money to help pay for college.
This post will provide you with valuable insights and considerations for the scholarship application process, which is particularly crucial given the growing complexity of funding your college education. Each individual's financial circumstances are unique (unless you happen to be a twin), making it essential for us to create this informative guide to help you navigate your scholarship journey. Think of it as embarking on your very own "Scholarship Adventure" – an exciting journey full of possibilities. After all, life itself is an adventure, and we're here to help you embark on this one!
WHAT ARE SCHOLARSHIPS (VERSUS LOANS AND OTHER TYPES OF AID)?
Let's start at the beginning, my friends. What exactly are these wondrous scholarships? Scholarships are like magical free money for your college education that you don't have to repay. It's the kind of money that feels like pure magic.
Now, scholarships are quite different from loans, which, as you probably know, must be paid back, except in those rare and intricate cases of loan forgiveness, which aren't something you should count on. There are also various other forms of financial assistance available for college, such as grants (similar to scholarships, though often based on financial need rather than merit), work-study programs (where you can earn money by working while in college), and a few other categories.
Scholarships typically fall into three main categories: private, local, and institutional. Most scholarship funds are offered by colleges and universities themselves, and your application usually contains enough information for consideration in these institutional scholarships.
However, this post primarily focuses on how to apply for private scholarships and local scholarships.
You must carefully review the financial aid and scholarship pages of every college you apply to so you don't miss out on any opportunities they may offer.
Here's a valuable tip: for each and every college you apply to, thoroughly review every page related to the application process, including the application itself, the timeline, requirements, scholarships, and financial aid information. Remember, research is your best ally in this journey.
Now, let's dive into the main event: discovering and applying for scholarships not directly provided by the colleges you apply to.
WHAT ARE SCHOLARSHIP READERS LOOKING FOR?
Scholarship criteria can vary widely, depending on the scholarship's specific purpose. Essentially, almost any individual or organization has the freedom to establish a scholarship for virtually anything they desire. They have the autonomy to determine which qualities and attributes they wish to reward, and they set the criteria accordingly.
Scholarships typically fall into several categories:
1. **Academic Merit:** Some scholarships are solely based on academic excellence. These scholarships have well-defined parameters, and they seek candidates who not only meet but also exceed the specified academic criteria. To earn a merit scholarship, you must have demonstrated exceptional achievements in areas such as academics, athletics, or the arts. These scholarships often aim to recognize students who stand out among their peers.
2. **Combination of Academic Merit and Personal Characteristics:** In certain cases, scholarships consider both academic merit and specific personal qualities, talents, or characteristics. Scholarship providers seek evidence of excellence in both these areas to determine the most deserving recipients.
3. **Focus on Personal Qualities, Talents, or Characteristics:** Some scholarships are awarded solely based on particular qualities, talents, or characteristics that applicants possess. These scholarships celebrate the uniqueness of individuals and their contributions in specific fields.
4. **Financial Need:** For some scholarships, the primary criterion is financial need. These scholarships aim to support students who require financial assistance to pursue their educational goals.
Ultimately, the specific criteria for each scholarship are determined by the organization or individual offering the scholarship. This diversity allows for a wide range of opportunities, reflecting the myriad of talents, characteristics, and needs within the student population.
It's important to note that the definition of "merit" can vary from one scholarship provider to another. Merit, in the context of scholarships, generally refers to "the quality of being commendable or deserving of recognition and reward." In essence, it means that individuals who meet the scholarship's criteria are considered worthy of receiving free financial assistance.
For example, there are scholarships that reward:
Making a prom dress from Duck Tape (and wearing it to prom!)
Being a Rodeo Enthusiast
Wanting to study Enology and Viticulture (that’s wine and grapes)
Creating a greeting card
Explaining your doodles to Google
And so many more: zombies, Minecraft, memes, and thousands of other qualities!
Scholarships are also often aimed at particular groups of people, for example:
Underrepresented groups
Underrepresented groups studying X
Underrepresented groups studying X who have quality Y
Underrepresented groups studying X who have quality Y who are from Z
People whose parents work for a specific company
People with quality X (and sometimes Y and Z and so on)
You’ll want to think broadly about your many qualities and characteristics! Do you have any special skills or talents? There might be a scholarship for you! More on my favorite resources in a bit.
HOW TO FIND SCHOLARSHIPS STEP-BY-STEP
1. START EARLY
If you’re a current grade 10 or 11 student reading this, that’s excellent. Keep reading, and get started early! Some scholarships allow you to apply before grade 12.
If you’re in grade 12 now, still great! There are tons of scholarships with spring deadlines. After you’ve wrapped your applications, applying for scholarships can be a lucrative way to spend your time! (But don’t burn yourself out!)
2. THINK BROADLY
What are all of your positive attributes? Write down a list of every noun that describes you. Ex. Polish, basketball player, Civil War enthusiast, veteran dependent, STEM major, cancer-survivor. Anything. Here’s a webpage to help you if you need it.
You’ve probably spent a lot of time thinking about who you are and what you are good at over the last few months, so put all of that thinking into action! There are scholarships for everything under the sun, so make a list and then dive into those scholarship databases (see below) with some key terms.
3. DO YOUR RESEARCH
Think local, think national. Any time you’re doing research, understand your trusted sources and avoid ones that seem fishy. Never pay for a scholarship search.
4. FOCUS ON FIT OVER QUANTITY
While it's advisable to apply for numerous scholarships if your personal schedule permits, it's essential to recognize that certain scholarships receive an overwhelming number of applications and demand substantial effort. In such cases, they may not align perfectly with your goals. It's crucial to scrutinize each scholarship opportunity and assess whether they provide details about the number of scholarships awarded and the applicant pool size.
To optimize your efforts, focus your energy on scholarships that closely match your profile and qualifications. These scholarships may feel as though they were custom-made for you, increasing your chances of success. Begin by applying to these tailored opportunities before moving on to more general ones.
Generally, if a scholarship has a straightforward and easy application process, it's likely to attract more applicants. Conversely, scholarships with challenging application requirements and offering relatively smaller monetary rewards may not warrant a top priority. However, if a scholarship aligns closely with your specific attributes or interests, it's worth considering as a priority, even if it entails a more rigorous application process.
5. PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS
Many have rigid requirements, and if you don’t meet them all, chances are there’s someone who does. They’re likely going to give the scholarship to the person who best fits exactly what they’re looking for. Lots of scholarships go unclaimed because they are so very specific that people who qualify simply aren’t able to find them.
6. GET ORGANIZED
Spreadsheets, tables, and calendars, oh my! Hopefully, your organizational skills are sharper than ever, given that you may have just navigated a highly complex application process. Or maybe you learned that you need to be even more organized?! Well, here’s a wonderful opportunity to practice.
Here’s another idea: Make a separate email account/address for scholarships! Some types of email accounts let you create several addresses (sometimes called an “email alias”) in the same account. This will allow you to automatically filter emails sent to that address into a dedicated scholarship folder. Another option is to just be very diligent about your filter and folder system.
As a counselor, I’ve had many students who missed deadlines, opportunities, and, yes, even accepting scholarship offers because their inboxes were a catastrophe!
7. RECYCLE YOUR ESSAYS AND LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Chances are, you've crafted numerous essays for your college applications, and here's an opportunity to maximize their utility. Adapt, reuse, and recycle your previously written content. While it's crucial to ensure that your essay aligns with the specific scholarship prompt, there may be portions of your existing writing that can be repurposed effectively for your scholarship applications. Perhaps you've created captivating turns of phrase, employed compelling literary devices, or even composed entire essays that you particularly enjoyed—don't hesitate to incorporate them again. Make your previous work work for you in your pursuit of scholarships.
If you're currently in the 12th grade, your teachers and counselor have likely already written letters of recommendation on your behalf. It's relatively straightforward to request that they forward these letters to organizations offering scholarships. Most educational institutions have stringent confidentiality procedures in place, so your teachers or counselors will need to send these letters directly to the scholarship organizations.
Helpful tip: to streamline the process for your recommenders, consider completing the essential details on any required paper forms. If you're applying for multiple scholarships, provide your recommenders with an organized list containing all the necessary information. Remember that you're requesting a favor, so be courteous, express your gratitude, and acknowledge that they are not acting as your personal assistants.
8. ASK FOR HELP
There are undoubtedly individuals who are eager to lend their support during this scholarship application process. These individuals can include teachers, counselors, friends, parents, relatives, coaches, and more. It's a good idea to select a few people from this list whom you believe might have insights into scholarship opportunities and reach out to them for guidance. For instance, your chemistry teacher might be aware of an exceptional scholarship that a previous student successfully obtained.
Additionally, there's a remarkable strategy for transforming potentially awkward conversations with adults who inquire about your future plans into opportunities for their assistance. Whenever an adult asks you about your college plans or what you're doing with your life, and you find yourself without a clear answer, take the initiative to redirect the conversation. Politely inquire, "Hey, do you happen to know of any local scholarships?" This simple question can open doors to valuable scholarship information and turn these conversations into meaningful support for your academic journey.
9. CONTINUE TO APPLY, EVEN WHEN YOU GET TO COLLEGE
Many organizations offering private scholarships allow anyone who is about to go OR is already in college to apply! You can keep up this fun game for years!
Did you also know that many colleges have internal scholarships for students meeting specific criteria throughout undergrad? Take USC as an example! Check out this list of scholarships for ongoing students, this page that links to department-specific scholarships for ongoing students, and this page that links to a PDF of dozens of scholarships just for students who have already been accepted to USC’s School of Cinematic Arts!
10. STAY ON TOP OF THINGS
Remember those sad missed email stories? Keep track of who you have and haven’t heard from. Check websites for updates about when they’ll notify finalists and winners.
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS: THE UNTAPPED GOLD MINE
Reside in a city or town? Well, if you happen to live anywhere with a community, there's a good chance you can tap into local scholarships! It might pleasantly surprise you to discover that numerous local businesses extend annual scholarship opportunities. Moreover, local governments, agencies, and community organizations like the YMCA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, civic groups such as Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, various clubs, religious organizations, and cultural associations often offer scholarships too.
Finding information about these local scholarships should be relatively straightforward. Your city or town likely maintains a comprehensive list on its official website, and scholarships specific to your locality are likely featured in the databases provided below.
To make the most of these local opportunities, consider contacting your school counselor, teachers, and adults within your community. Inquire if they are aware of any local scholarships that might be suitable for you. You can also approach local businesses and inquire about the possibility of them offering scholarships. You never know; your inquiry might inspire them to initiate scholarship programs with you as the inaugural recipient!
It's worth noting that local scholarships typically range from $500 to $1,000 on average. While these amounts may seem modest individually, they can accumulate significantly. What's even better is that fewer applicants usually vie for local scholarships compared to the more competitive national ones. Applying to multiple local scholarships can substantially enhance your odds of securing financial assistance for your educational journey.
WHAT HAPPENS TO UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL AID WHEN YOU RECEIVE OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS?
You may wonder, "Will this scholarship impact my financial aid?" Well, the answer isn't entirely straightforward. Here's how it typically works:
You must report all external scholarships to the college or university you plan to attend.
If the combined total of all your scholarships and financial aid exceeds the estimated cost of attendance (COA), it can indeed affect your financial aid package. Colleges aim to meet your demonstrated financial need, which is determined by subtracting your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the COA, resulting in your total Calculated Need, and you cannot be awarded more than your calculated need.
A reminder:
Cost of Attendance (COA) - Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = total Calculated Need (sometimes called Demonstrated Financial Need)
Certain colleges commit to covering your entire demonstrated financial need, but others may leave a gap. In cases where there's a gap, institutions often allow external scholarship funds to fill that financial void.
However, if there's no financial need gap, colleges may adjust your aid package differently. They might permit you to retain all the grants and scholarships they initially awarded while reducing the portion of loans (which require repayment) in your package. Additionally, colleges may allow you to offset your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and/or Work-Study allocation with external scholarship funds.
To get precise information on how your college handles external scholarships, the best course of action is to contact them directly. Open and honest communication is key to understanding their policies.
It's important to note that in some cases, you can negotiate with the financial aid office. For instance, if you receive a scholarship and your college intends to use it to offset a grant, you can inquire whether it's possible to apply the scholarship to offset a different aspect of your financial aid package that isn't already covered by grants or scholarships, thereby maximizing its benefit.
THE BIGGEST MISTAKE THAT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS MAKE
Not reading the details!!!
Take the time to read descriptions c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y. The last thing you want to do is waste precious time applying for something you don’t qualify for!
Read the details and ensure your submission responds to the prompt exactly as stated. Yes, you can recycle your old essays, but make sure you edit them to suit the purpose.
OTHER THINGS NOT TO DO IN YOUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
Waiting until it’s too late to apply
Spending too much time on scholarships with lots of work and lots of applicants
Not recycling essays and recommendations
Recycling essays in a way that is sloppy and/or obvious
Submitting essays that don’t catch the reader’s attention
Not applying to scholarships that you might actually get!
HIGHER & HIRE’S BEST RECOMMENDED SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES
With hundreds of scholarship websites, all touting that they offer the largest database with the best features and the most money, it’s tough to decide which are worth investing time in. Here’s what we’ve found:
OUR TOP 5 RECOMMENDED SCHOLARSHIP SITES:
In our opinion, these are all some of the best sites. And here’s why:
1. CAPPEX
Cappex is said to have the largest database. Big, detailed, and easy to use, it was voted Best Database by Reviews.com, and we happen to agree. They have a fresh web design and easy-to-use profile and settings.
2. UNIGO
While Unigo may not have much in the way of supplemental articles and materials, it does have one of the best search engines out there. You can save time by using their advanced search filters to match who you are with the right scholarships.
3. BROKE SCHOLAR
Broke Scholar is beautiful. It is a well-designed website that is enjoyable just to look at. You won’t have to create an extensive profile; just get on and search. Remember to save your tabs because, without that profile, you won’t be able to save your place on the website. They also make additional information on grants and fellowships available.
4. BIG FUTURE
Made from the folks over at College Board, Big Future has the most supplemental material and resources on scholarships and financial aid. For example, they offer a Financial Aid 101 course or career or major searches. Big Future also doesn’t offer personal profiles, so you won’t be able to save your place (get another bookmark folder started).
5. COLLEGEXPRESS
College Xpress is a smaller, friendly, and transparent scholarship resource. Create a quick profile and get entered to win a $10,000 scholarship. It has a college and grad school search based on different rankings they collect from either admissions experts, facts and numbers, or user experiences. They also have a summer program search tool to help you find a great internship.
OTHER SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES:
Sallie Mae - enormous, easy to use, probably the highest amount of scholarship money.
JLV College Counseling - Made by a former counselor. Interesting categories to search by (due date, circumstances, by age/grade level, etc). Limited features.
Student Scholarships - Homey, old, but seems like a team dedicated to scholarships specifically. Thousands of Q&A and Videos about careers and majors.
College Greenlight - First Gen and underrepresented students focused platform. Laser-focused but easy to navigate.
CareerOneStop - Full of options. Job search, career search, college search, and scholarships. A pretty extensive list of scholarships.
SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
A final note about scams:
Unfortunately, we live in a scam era, and there are people who will try to take your hard-earned cash! Luckily, this scenario is pretty rare, but be on the lookout.
Never ever give your personal information or financial information to someone who contacts you by phone or email. Always triple-check the source. Many scammers will have official-sounding names, and websites that show logos of other actually legitimate sites.
TELL-TALE SIGNS OF A SCAM:
Requires a fee of some sort to enter a scholarship
Guarantee of winning a scholarship if you enter
Soliciting you via calls or emails
Limited time offers
Requests for personal information
Scholarships that literally anyone can enter
Anything else that sounds too good to be true
There are plenty of legitimate scholarships out there, and this is another opportunity to be a savvy consumer of information.
Ask for help if needed by talking to a counselor or teacher who has helped students through this process before.
Best of luck in your scholarship adventure. You got this.
For more information, please visit my website- Higher & Hire. If I can assist you, please reach out to me here.
Many Thanks!
Valerie Palmer
