Millions of students attend college each year to move forward in their lives and advance their careers. If college is the next step for you or your child, you’re probably excited and exhilarated about this next chapter. At the same time, you might feel a bit overwhelmed about how you’ll pay for that sought-after education. After all, a college education comes with a price, including tuition and fees, books, supplies, transportation, room and board, and more.
So, how will you cover the average annual going rate of a college education at $57,570 for a private institution and $27,940 for in-state, and $45,240 for out-of-state for a public institution? Earning a college scholarship is one option.
Per Next Gen Financial, 63% of undergraduates receive a scholarship or grant to help pay for college. Grants are often issued based on need, as are some scholarships. Many scholarships, however, are merit-based or offered based on meeting a specific set of standards set by the scholarship issuer.
Merit-based scholarships require you to meet specific academic standards, like a GPA of 3.5 or higher and good attendance. Other scholarships are issued based on meeting certain factors, including an ethnic requirement, skillset, talent, or major, like being of Hispanic origin, a talented actor, a skilled volleyball player, or a biology major, respectively.
How to Earn a College Scholarship
There are thousands upon thousands of scholarships available for college students. Though tracking down and earning a scholarship can feel overwhelming, that need not be the case if you know where to look and how to apply.
Here are eight tips on how to earn a college scholarship to reduce the financial burden of earning a degree.
1. Complete a FAFSA Form
Every student should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form regardless of financial status. FAFSA allows new and returning students access to scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and federal student loans to help pay for college.
2. Research Scholarships Online
Several online student resources provide scholarship options, allowing you to enter specific criteria and match you up with scholarships that align with your situation, interests, needs, and more. Here are just a few of the sites you can utilize to help you land and apply for college scholarships:
3. Contact the College Admissions or Financial Aid Office
Many colleges offer institutional scholarships. For colleges you’re considering, you can contact the financial aid or admissions office and ask them what scholarships are available for students. Some colleges also list available scholarships on their websites.
4. Apply for Employer Scholarships
Several organizations offer scholarships for the children of their employees. If you’re a student’s parent, see what scholarship opportunities your organization might offer and apply as appropriate.
5. Utilize Your High School Career Center
High school career centers are often in the know about scholarships available to students entering college. Your high school guidance counselor can serve as a great resource to help you research, identify, and apply for scholarships. You can even consider hitting up another high school in your area to see if they’d be open to sharing scholarship opportunities with you.
6. Enhance Your Essay Writing Skills
Many scholarships require you to write an essay when you apply, with several using the essay as the primary determining factor on who receives a scholarship. Therefore, it’s best to work with a tutor to enhance your essay writing schools if writing isn’t a strong suit. You also want to ensure someone else proofreads and reviews your essay before submitting it.
7. Work with a Mentor
A mentor could be anyone working in your field of interest or a professional you admire. Mentors can be excellent resources to guide you in career-related matters, including college applications. Some scholarship applications require letters of recommendation, and a mentor is an ideal person to ask for such a recommendation.
8. Track Your Scholarship Status
Don’t be shy. Apply for as many scholarships as possible to increase your chances of earning a scholarship. Creating a simple spreadsheet to track your scholarship applications is helpful as you apply. Include the:
- Name of the scholarship
- Amount of the scholarship
- Application deadline
- Date you applied
- Announcement date
Finally, it’s also wise to apply for scholarships each year that you’re in school, not just when you start or begin a degree. Some scholarships are only available to students of a certain year in school, for an advanced degree, or after they’ve declared a major.
Resources (not hyperlinked)
https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships
https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/finding-scholarships-for-college-students/
https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/how-to-get-scholarships/