One of the most common issues people face when entering college, especially later in life, is how to afford it. While there are many options available in the form of student loans, both issued through the government and private banks, those loans will inevitably need to be paid back. For those who are already in the workforce, going to college can even represent a major loss of income as they give up side jobs or go down to part-time work from previously working full-time.
Naturally, those entering college in 2023 must seek other options. The most common alternative to loans or paying out of pocket is to earn free scholarships. Even if these scholarships don’t pay the full way through college, they can bring much-needed relief to those who are already working to balance credit card bills, auto loans, and mortgage payments. Below, we examine the 13 best tips to earn free college scholarships.
Earning School-based Scholarships That Can Save Thousands
Colleges have entire departments devoted to financial aid, and some of those officers work exclusively to process and administer hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of grants and scholarships to students of all ages and progress in the college. These specialists want to find the best candidates to receive those scholarships, but it’s not always easy – even for those people who do it as a full-time job.
These tips will help bring attention to any student seeking to get access to those funds:
- Apply – Simply put, you can’t earn any free college scholarships if you don’t apply first. In fact, there are many scholarships that go unawarded because of a lack of qualified applicants. In those cases, anyone who seeks out the award and puts their name in the hat may earn it without any struggle. As they say, showing up is half the battle.
- Introduce Yourself – As mentioned, college financial aid officers want to give those scholarships to students. Those students who take the time to introduce themselves via email or even by requesting an in-person meeting are much higher on the officers’ radar. As a result, when those officers are sorting through the available scholarships, they may even reach out to students and suggest that they apply.
- Browse the Catalog – Many colleges have catalogs that detail the different financial aid solutions available. Take the time to look through those opportunities and apply to any that you’re eligible for.
- Requirements vs. Preferences – Some scholarships are only available to select classes of students, such as majors in a specific subject or those of a particular ethnic background. Other scholarships will state that the ideal candidate has some quality or other. Students who don’t fit the description of the ideal candidate but check off all of the required boxes should go ahead and apply anyway.
- Take Placement Tests – Many scholarships rely on standardized tests such as the SATs to determine eligibility. In these cases, students who actually take the tests may earn scholarships.
- Check Back Every Semester – The list of available scholarships changes over time, and some scholarships are only granted to each student once, so even if a student didn’t receive a particular scholarship the first time, they should absolutely re-apply.
Don’t Forget about Private and Public Scholarships
While colleges are the primary source for scholarships, many private providers also issue them. These organizations are often non-profits that focus on helping particular demographics, but there are more options available than niche scholarships. Just as with school-based scholarships, there are more tips to increase the odds for any student seeking to get more help to pay for college.
- Browse Online Databases – Some websites will conveniently compile lists of various scholarships that are available in the United States. Often, they’ll even have links to the applications themselves.
- Consult Employers – Depending on the industry and size of the company; many employers offer scholarships available to employees regardless of tenure. These scholarships may be ongoing, so they can easily turn into several thousand dollars of assistance over the years.
- Government Opportunities – Some localities even distribute grants and scholarships to students living nearby. Even if there are no such opportunities, it’s important to remember that the IRS and state governments often give deductions and tax credits for those seeking ongoing education.
General Advice
Regardless of the source of a scholarship, there are a few things that can be done to maximize the odds of receiving a scholarship.
- Get Involved – Many scholarships are based on different activities, such as sports and extracurriculars. Some are even tied into travel or charitable activities.
- Keep Taking Classes – There are countless scholarships that are only available to those who are attending school at a given time or for those with a background in certain educational fields. The more classes a student takes, the more doors will open for potential scholarships.
- Consider Multiple Colleges – Since there are many school-based scholarships, it’s worth looking at numerous colleges to see which may have the best options for any given student’s situation.
- Get Good Grades – Many scholarships are at least in part based on merit and depend on maintaining a certain GPA. Keep those grades up to remain eligible for the most scholarships that are possible.