For many students, college is a major stepping stone to achieving the careers and lifestyle they want. Despite the benefits of attending college, college tuition and related expenses are a luxury a majority of students can’t afford. While many take on thousands of dollars worth of student loans just to get a degree, this isn’t the only option when it comes to finding funding for school.
Scholarships are an option for many students in need of funding for college. Consider the following guide on how to get a scholarship for college:
1. Search for Local Scholarships
While most students think of academic or athletic scholarships as their only options, local scholarships are some of the best ways to pay for college-related expenses. Organizations, clubs, benefactors, and small businesses in your community are all excellent options for scholarships as they have a less competitive selection process than more popular scholarships. Look for local scholarships in your community by searching online, visiting the websites of radio and television stations, and checking the social media
accounts of local businesses. Additionally, it’s a good idea to ask your guidance counselor and teachers, as well as recent graduates that previously qualified for local scholarships.
2. Apply for Smaller Scholarships
Though many students want to win scholarships with larger rewards, these are more competitive. While it’s a good idea to apply to as many scholarships as you can, it’s important to prioritize scholarships that offer smaller awards as they typically have fewer applicants. Though these scholarships provide less funding, they can still cover the costs of living expenses, books, and supplies.
3. Look for Scholarships with Longer Application Processes
During the process of applying for college, it makes sense to stick to scholarships that require the minimum amount of work. However, a simple application process makes it easier for more students to apply. College scholarship experts from Tech Live Connect recommend that students choose to apply to scholarships with lengthier application processes.
To illustrate, some applications require students to write 1,000-word essays and submit several letters of recommendation. While it may be aggravating to do all this leg work, your chances of earning such a scholarship are higher.
4. Find Unconventional Scholarships
Even though you’re applying for a scholarship to help you exceed academically, this doesn’t mean you have to search for overly academic scholarships. Tech Live Connect recommends getting personal in your scholarship application process. Consider your hobbies and interests and search for related scholarships. While there are many academic scholarships, there are also unconventional scholarships for everything under the sun.
Whatever your passion is, there’s a scholarship out there for you. Dig into what makes you unique and search for scholarships that fit the bill.
5. Use Best Essay Writing Practices
When writing your essay for your scholarship, avoid introducing yourself. Typically, scholarship committees have blind judging as they want to assess the student without any identifiers. In your application, write to engage your readers without going overboard with personal details.
Additionally, when writing an essay, it’s best to avoid repeating the prompt. Your essay should be as unique and interesting as possible to encourage the reader to keep reading. Consider starting the essay off by telling a story or jumping into the answer.
6. Meet the Requirements
The college application process can be grueling. With so many essays to write and scholarship opportunities to submit to, it can be tempting to do the bare minimum. However, if you want to improve your chances of getting a scholarship, you need to satisfy all of the requirements. Carefully read each scholarship’s stipulations and be sure your submission fulfills them.
Make sure you make the most of your studies without putting yourself into debt taking on student loans. With the help of various scholarships, you’ll be able to afford school and get the education you deserve
