This article was co-authored by Jennifer Kaifesh and by How.com.vn staff writer, Amy Bobinger. Jennifer Kaifesh is the Founder of Great Expectations College Prep, a tutoring and counseling service based in Southern California. Jennifer has over 15 years of experience managing and facilitating academic tutoring and standardized test prep as it relates to the college application process. She takes a personal approach to her tutoring, and focuses on working with students to find their specific mix of pursuits that they both enjoy and excel at. She is a graduate of Northwestern University.
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The costs of college keep rising, but that doesn't have to hold you back! Scholarships can help you afford the education you need to reach your goals. Even better, you don't have to pay them back! So how do you find scholarships, and what do you have to do to get them? Well, we're here to help with the answers to all of your most important scholarship questions.
Steps
Where do I look for scholarships?
- Start by checking with the colleges you're considering. Even if you haven't started applying yet, it's still a good idea to see what each school offers. Scholarships will often be listed in the financial aid section of your application packet, but you also may be able to find information on the school's website or by contacting their financial aid office.[2]
- Check with your guidance counselor or local library. These are both great resources for all kinds of scholarships—in addition to information about school-based, federal, and state scholarships, you might also find out about scholarships offered by local organizations or companies that you wouldn't have heard about otherwise.[3]
- If you're a member of a religious community, check with your church, temple, or synagogue to see if they offer any scholarships.
- Use an online scholarship search. There are tons of sites that offer scholarship searches. To keep from getting overwhelmed, start with 1 or 2 of the most popular free search sites, like Career One Stop, which is sponsored by the US Department of Labor.[4] Other popular databases include FastWeb and Scholarships.com.[5]
- Scholarship information is available publicly, so you don't need pay a website to give you these search results.
How can you improve your chances of getting a scholarship?
- Focus on academics and extracurriculars while you're in school. You're most likely to win a scholarship if you were a good student, active in your school and community, and demonstrated leadership throughout your school years. Also, get really clear on what you want to do after school—if you have very specific goals, a scholarship committee might be more likely to see you as a good investment.[18]
- Try applying to smaller and local scholarships. It can be tempting to only apply to scholarships that offer a large amount of money, but remember that you'll also have to compete with more people for those. On the other hand, if you get several smaller scholarships, those can add up quickly—and they might have less applicants, so you may have a better chance of winning![19]
- Similarly, you might be one of only a few candidates when you apply to scholarships that are only available to students who live in your city or state.
- Organize your application process. As you search for scholarships, save all of the scholarships you're considering to a spreadsheet. Include the deadline and anything you need to include in your application. When you're more organized, you'll be less likely to miss out on an opportunity because you got your application in late.[20]
- It can help to dedicate a few hours each week solely to finding and applying for scholarships.
How Can You Make Graduate School More Affordable?
Expert Q&A
- QuestionDo I apply for scholarships after I get accepted?Jennifer KaifeshJennifer Kaifesh is the Founder of Great Expectations College Prep, a tutoring and counseling service based in Southern California. Jennifer has over 15 years of experience managing and facilitating academic tutoring and standardized test prep as it relates to the college application process. She takes a personal approach to her tutoring, and focuses on working with students to find their specific mix of pursuits that they both enjoy and excel at. She is a graduate of Northwestern University.
Founder, Great Expectations College PrepSchool-specific scholarships are offered by a particular college to students who enroll. You may be automatically considered for these when you apply, or you may be required to submit applications or essays to be considered. Independent scholarships are separate from any specific educational institution. You can often find small scholarships through your local Chamber of Commerce, as well as local clubs, newspapers, and places of worship. - QuestionAre there scholarships available for undergraduate students?Pink_StarCommunity AnswerYes, there are many scholarships out there for undergraduate students. These can be found through online searches or by visiting your school's financial aid office.
- QuestionHow do I fill out scholarship forms?HalleCommunity AnswerThis depends on the scholarship form! If it is online, simply fill it in typing. Or, you can print it out and write your answers in and then mail it in.
Tips
References
- ↑ https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships
- ↑ https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships
- ↑ https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships
- ↑ https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/how-to-find-scholarships-for-college/
- ↑ https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships
- ↑ https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/prestigious-scholarships-and-fellowships
- ↑ https://nurse.org/scholarships/
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/money/how-to-find-scholarships
- ↑ https://hamptonroadscf.org/scholarships/scholarships-at-hampton-roads-community-foundation/materials-youll-need-to-apply-for-a-scholarship
- ↑ https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/how-to-find-scholarships-for-college/
- ↑ https://www.owens.edu/writing/scholarship/
- ↑ https://hamptonroadscf.org/scholarships/scholarships-at-hampton-roads-community-foundation/materials-youll-need-to-apply-for-a-scholarship
- ↑ https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/how-to-find-scholarships-for-college/
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/how-to-find-scholarships-for-college/
- ↑ https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-find-scholarships
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/money/how-to-find-scholarships
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/money/how-to-find-scholarships
- ↑ https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships
About This Article
To apply for scholarships, start by talking to your guidance counselor or looking online to find opportunities that are a good match for your skills. Next, review the scholarship’s requirements and make notes about what has to submitted and when. Then, complete the application form, and write any required essays. You may also need to provide your transcript if the scholarship organization wants to see your grades. If you need letters of recommendation, try approaching your teachers and other adults who interact with you regularly. To learn how to look for academic, athletic, or need-based scholarships, keep reading!
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