Scholarship Misconceptions

In 2009, college graduates finished with an average of $21,700 of debt, reports USA Today.

Many students graduate in mountain of debt because they didn’t know how to search for financial aid. Students know that scholarships are available, but if they don’t see themselves as the smartest, most athletic, or most talented, don't even apply. There are a few misconceptions about scholarships. If college students were aware of these misconceptions, they wouldn’t be graduating with so much debt.

MISCONCEPTION:

You must have good grades to get a scholarship.

TRUTH:

Scholarships are available to students will all sorts of skills and interests including sports, music, art, dance, community service, languages, leadership, writing, and other accomplishments. These types of talents merit scholarships and don’t require a 4.0.

MISCONCEPTION:

The longer your list of extracurriculars, the better.

TRUTH:

This is a situation where quality will outweigh quantity. Most scholarship recipients are highly involved in specific organizations.

MISCONCEPTION:

Scholarships are unbiased.

TRUTH:

Each scholarship board is looking for their own criteria and specific qualities. The process is very subjective. This makes it important for you to emphasize your background and attributes that fit the scholarship requirements.

MISCONCEPTION:

If you haven’t received a scholarship before, you never will.

TRUTH:

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that if you have never received a scholarship that you will never receive one. Apply to all scholarships that you may qualify for, even if you don’t think you are the best.

MISCONCEPTION:

There are only a few scholarships available at a university.

TRUTH:

Each university has a certain amount of money that they award to students for scholarships. Besides receiving scholarships from the general university, your department and major also offer scholarships. Also, there are many local and private scholarships that are just waiting to be used.

Get free money for school with scholarships

With a tight economy and an unpredictable future, many people are looking for alternatives to paying for college out of their own pockets. More and more students are applying for scholarships to help ease the large financial burden.

CollegeScholarships.info, an online resource to help students and prospective students outline their education and career goals, offers a few tips when considering scholarships.

1. Apply early and apply often. Deadlines for scholarships are throughout the year. Many deadlines are in March or October, so, it’s not a bad idea to plan ahead.
2. Read eligibility requirements carefully. If you have a question about any of the requirements, it is best to contact the scholarship sponsor before spending time on an application.
3. Consider local scholarships. Most students only apply for university or national scholarships. Local businesses are often looking to give out scholarships. These scholarships will be less competitive and often look at things beyond your GPA, like community service, job experience or financial need.
4. GPA matters. Your parents are right. Your GPA from your freshmen year through your senior year will be important… so try to avoid senioritis. Don’t be afraid of AP classes to help you boost your GPA.
5. Find a way to stand out. Get involved in extracurricular activities including sports, community service, drama, music, art, or religious groups. Apply for internships that are relevant to your major. The relevant experience will put you above other candidates. It is never to late to do things that will make you a better scholarship applicant.
6. Write a compelling essay. Many scholarships require some sort of written essay along with the application. Use this as an opportunity to make yourself stand out. Have a parent, friend, or teacher critique the essay before submitting.
7. Look for gender, ethnicity, or major specific scholarships. A lot of scholarships are looking for specific types of students. If you want to get into education or medicine, there are many scholarships offered. Also, there are numerous minority and female focused scholarships, so take advantage of them.

Don’t let finances hold you back from getting your degree.

Scholarships Made Easy

The economy is slow and the cost of tuition is on the rise. Oh yeah, and you’re not independently wealthy. What options do you have to pay for college? It’s all about scholarships.

Right now there are tons of scholarships offered regardless of your GPA and standardized test scores. For those of you who have written off university-specific scholarships as a viable option, it’s time to look into outside scholarships.

Outside scholarships are usually provided by charities, companies, and service clubs. Each year, organizations give about $2 million in private scholarships. About 1 million students a year will receive a scholarship averaging $2,000. To give you some context, of students who apply for scholarships, 1 in 13 will receive one.

Outside scholarships can be awarded for almost anything you can think of. Here is a list of scholarship categories and criteria to help you narrow your search:

• Athletic – Requirement #1: have some athletic ability. These scholarships aren’t for everyone; in fact, only a select few will receive an athletic scholarship. So if you have physical talent, this may be a scholarship category to consider.
• Artistic – Look locally and at scholarship directories for art specific scholarships. Artists can also use their artistic skills to attain non-artistic scholarships. These scholarships are all about doing research and being creative.
• Employee – Some employers will give their employees scholarships because of the established relationship. You can receive these scholarships either from your own employer or your parents’ employers.
• Minority – These scholarships are set aside for those who are from financially disadvantaged backgrounds or ethnicities. If you fit this description, you still want to make sure you make yourself stand out. Community service or athleticism are a plus.
• Bizarre – Are you really tall? Really short? Do you like candy? If any of these apply to you, you may be eligible for a bizarre scholarship. The best strategy to find a weird scholarship that applies to you is to do some research. Your best resource: the Internet.

Some last tips:

Give yourself time

Search for scholarships early and give yourself time to prepare. Think about how to impress the judges. Prepare for essays or other presentations that may be required. Give yourself the best chance possible to secure a scholarship.

Apply early

Everyone turns their scholarship applications in at the last minute. Don’t be like everyone else! Stand out and get noticed.

Good luck in your scholarship search!