Should I Apply for Scholarships?

A lot of students are probably wondering if they should even bother going through the application process. I admit that it is a lot of work, but it does pay off. Scholarships can range anywhere from $200 to $20,000. If you think about it even the smaller awards are worth the trouble. When I applied for scholarships, I liked to think of the process like a job. I show up for work, put in the hours and then I get paid. Even if you spend 5 hours (which is a lot of time) on a $200 scholarship and win, this means that you were getting paid at $40 per hour! I don’t know about you, but I’ve never heard of a summer job that pays that well. Your chances of winning these small awards are pretty good too. Most people aim for the big bucks and tend to ignore the smaller ones. This leaves all the money for you!

You should definitely apply for the large scholarships too. I’m just saying that you should mix it up a little bit. Apply for all different amounts and you will probably get several of them. If you are going to go after the big fish, you should make sure that you match the requirements exactly and that your essay is great. Invest a little more time on the scholarships that are worth more and the ones you think you’ve got a good chance of winning. These are the awards that are really worth it.

If you are worried about the grades… don’t worry too much. There are lots of awards out there that are so specific that you may be the only one that fits the requirements. Focus on your ethnicity, your interests, your skills, and you will be able to find something. It is definitely helpful to know your heritage and where you come from because there is tons of money set aside for those who have a diverse background. If you are a young white male, then you will have to either get creative with your skills or really focus on the academics because there are no awards specifically for you. I know this because I searched… long and hard! There is always a scholarship that will fit you. All you’ve got to do is spend the time finding them.

Free Money? I Think So!

There are basically two different kinds of free money out in the college world. First, you’ve got government grants and second, there are tons of scholarships. You should apply for both! You’re not going to get anything unless you ask right? Knock and the door will be opened to you.

Grants

These can be accessed by filling out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA for short. This can be found at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/#. You can start this application process on January 1^st for the following school year (starting in fall). From what I’ve heard, it is best to apply as soon as possible so that you are sure to get a cut of the funds. If you wait too long it is possible that all the funds will already have been disbursed to other students.

The students most likely to be awarded some sort of grant are the ones who are in some sort of financial need. So if you aren’t making a lot of money, don’t have much saved, and you’re parents don’t make a lot, and then the government will probably give you money. It also depends on how much you will be spending at school, but I was able to collect while going to an extremely inexpensive community college. The Pell Grant is a pretty common one that is easy to get.

Scholarships

There is a lot of information regarding scholarships, so I will start with a little bit (so as not to overwhelm you) and then submit more posts later on.

The first thing you should know is that scholarships are extremely specific. They are looking for a specific type of person, and if you fit it exactly then you’ve got a very good chance of taking home the bacon! There are scholarships relating to your height, your nationality, your athletic ability, and even if you are left-handed! There are actually a lot of athletic scholarships. Finally, there is a reward for the incredible lack of left-handed desks in school. But anyway, I’m sure you get the picture. Apply for scholarships that match you. Your school most likely has a list of scholarships that you can find on their website.

You will probably be asked to submit some kind of essay to accompany your application. This may seem daunting, but most are very short. I’m sure you can hammer out three paragraphs right? Just incorporate a little thought and authenticity into your writing. Whoever is going to read the essay (the sponsor) needs to know that you are a serious student who has positive values and may be sympathetic to their cause in the future. Most of these sponsors want to see that their money is going to someone who will do well. I’ve noticed that being “real” and down-to-earth is a very good approach. Tell them stories about yourself.

One question to ask yourself is, “How many people are applying for this scholarship?” If you suspect it’s a lot, then I wouldn’t put too much stock in winning something like that. I know that Coca Cola has a nationwide scholarship that doesn’t have a lot of restrictions. It’s also got a pretty big payout, which basically equates to a large turnout. So be realistic. Do you think you can write an essay that will rise above thousands of others? If you can, then go for it! I applaud your skill and enthusiasm. For the rest of us, try to find more specific awards. They might pay less, but you can always apply for multiple scholarships. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.