Highlights of this Post
What Is A Scholarship And What Are Its Different Types?
Scholarships are free financial aid awards for both college and university students that help them cover the cost of getting an undergraduate or graduate degree. Based on the type of scholarship you will either get a lump sum of money or be paid quarterly per year or per semester as a means of financial support.
The best thing about applying for scholarship opportunities is that they are free money and need not be repaid, unlike loans. Before delving deep into your research for different types of scholarships it is necessary to learn the different categories and types of scholarships available. Knowing each category will streamline your application procedure and will help you to search as per the type of scholarship that you are likely to be eligible for.
Merit-Based Scholarship
Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on the skills or academic excellence of Applicants. Merit-based scholarships are awarded for athlete dominance, outstanding GPAs or high test scores.
Need-Based Scholarships
Need-based scholarship opportunities are determined based on the financial position of the student and their family. Low-income students who are unable to pursue higher education and have household incomes below a specific percentage of the federal poverty level can avail of need-based scholarships to qualify.
Activity Based Scholarships
There are a lot of scholarship opportunities based on the engagement or involvement of students in extracurricular activities or groups that are sponsored by private organizations or aligned groups.
Government Scholarships
Apart from private scholarships, there are federal, local and state government-funded scholarship opportunities in America that you can avail.
Employer-Sponsored Scholarships
A lot of employers provide scholarship opportunities for their employees who are looking for ways to expand their education and pursue higher studies. Employer-sponsored scholarships or tuition assistance programs are common for graduate degrees.
Identity Based Scholarship
Identity-based scholarships are based on particular demographics or groups in society. These scholarships cover people from particular cultural backgrounds, individuals with learning disabilities or members of the LGBTQ community.
Few more Types Of Scholarships
Basic scholarships
Students who are eligible for a basic scholarship will be given a fixed scholarship amount for studying. Having a low family income is one of the main requirements to qualify for this scholarship.
General scholarships (fixed or variable amount)
Students with low family income are eligible for general scholarships (fixed or variable amount). Depending on the situation of the applicant and the call, the scholarship amount can either be fixed or variable.
Tuition scholarships
They assist you in paying the entirety or a portion of your tuition bill.
Internship scholarships
Some organizations grant scholarship funding for interns to do an internship with a specific company or institution.
Scholarships for specific studies
These scholarships are available for postgraduate studies within a particular field, for example in science. Applicants’ academic records are very important for these scholarships.
Research scholarships
These are scholarships specifically designed for people who wish to pursue higher research degrees.
Material grants
These grants are helpful grants to help buy school supplies.
Travel scholarships
Students can apply for these scholarships if they need to travel a minimum distance (daily) for the purpose of attending classes.
Mobility scholarships
These scholarships are awarded to those students who decide to participate in an academic mobility program, whether national or international.
Dining room scholarships
There are dining room scholarships which cover the full cost or a portion of the dining room charges at the school.
Residence scholarships
Scholarships that cover the costs associated with moving to a new city in order to study. These scholarships completely or partially cover the costs associated with moving.
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How To Find Scholarships For College Students?
College students who are looking for avenues to explore multiple college scholarship programs can find tons of resources and search tools with the use of the Internet. Let’s take a look at the sources that will help you to find suitable scholarship opportunities.
Search Engines
You can search for suitable scholarships by making a simple online search in Google or Bing. You need to make a list of different scholarship categories that you can fit into before proceeding with a scholarship for instance by gender, hobbies, state, sports, GPA, disabilities and so on.
Newspapers And Bulletin Boards
You can find great information about scholarships on community bulletin boards or newspapers. Try looking for bulletin boards in newspapers at cafes, schools, places of worship or community.
These types of scholarships will have less stringent criteria and competition, unlike national applications. This way it will help to boost your chance to receive a scholarship in your local area.
Scholarship Websites
Scholarship websites are easy to access and host thousands of scholarship opportunities for college students. These sites have filter options, sign-up options and search results that can match the individual profiles of students. The only downside of this scholarship website is that there is a huge amount of competition.
Apps
Mobile-friendly scholarship websites and mobile apps are a great method to search for scholarships. These apps will help you to stay updated on current scholarship opportunities and even personalize your search options.
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How To Apply For Scholarship Opportunities?
Fill out FAFSA
FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a form that a lot of educational institutions in America use to figure out whether financial aid assistance must be offered to a student.
The financial assistance that comes by filing FAFSA is in the form of grants, student loans, work-study or scholarships. No matter whether you are applying for scholarship opportunities at the federal level or private sources, filing FAFSA will help you to know the amount of assistance that you are likely to receive.
You need to visit the fasa.gov home page to fill out FAFSA. The form will be sent to the financial aid office at your preferred school and they can understand the assistance that you are likely to receive based on your financial and personal situation.
Start Exploring Different Scholarship Opportunities
The first and foremost step is to locate merit-based and need-based scholarships that you are likely to be eligible for. Some merit-based scholarships are awarded to students based on their abilities or achievements. Need-based scholarships depend on the ability of a family to pay for their college.
There are other ranges of situation-based scholarships as well such as for minorities, women, gamers, journalism majors etc. You need to explore scholarship opportunities offered by the government, your college or university, private organizations or generous donors. Contact your high school guidance counselor or financial aid office about the available options.
Learn The Eligibility Criteria And Documents Required
It is necessary to research the eligibility criteria for the scholarship you’re applying for and the relevant documents that you need to submit.
Following are the common documents that students have to submit along with your scholarship application form.
- Citizenship or residency documents
- Scholarship application form
- Essay
- Letters of recommendation
- Financial aid information such as FAFSA and parents’ tax and income information
- Copies of transcript and diplomas. You may also be required to submit your test scores from the ACT or SAT
- An updated resume or CV highlighting your skills and accomplishments.
- A letter of registration from your educational establishment confirming your enrollment for the degree you are pursuing.
- Copies of the previous level or grade’s ballot or certificate.
Apply Early And Continue Applying During The College
It is not right to procrastinate the scholarship application procedure. Scholarship opportunities are provided on a first come first served basis to students therefore it is important to start applying as soon as you can.
A lot of scholarship programs require personal statements and written submission so it is important to start sooner than later. Having more time in hand will help you to submit the application before the deadline.
It is important to keep in mind that you can apply for plenty of scholarships even when you are a college student. Do not forget it is never too late to seek financial assistance.
Check The Status of Your Scholarship Application and Be Patient
It is important to check the current status of your scholarship application form once you have submitted it to make sure it includes all information. After submitting the application, wait patiently and keep a positive attitude.
Keep an organized and comprehensive list of scholarships that you have applied for so that you can learn how much financial assistance you are likely to receive.
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Tips to apply correctly for a scholarship
Discover the different scholarship opportunities that are available to you
You can decide which one to apply to based on the stage of your education, the type of loan, or what you can afford to repay with the aid you receive. We recommend that you consider all the options available to you before choosing one.
Be sure to carefully read the bases for each call
Each grant or scholarship specifies the eligibility requirements, the documentation you must submit, the application deadlines, and what commitment you are expected to make with the aid. Don’t miss any details by staying constantly updated.
List the grants and scholarships you are eligible to apply for
It is important that you organize your thoughts after considering and knowing in depth what each entails. This is why creating a list of all the scholarships you are interested in will help you prioritize which ones you should apply for. The request for more than one scholarship may be possible in some cases, but in others, it may not be possible.
Set up a calendar for planning
Start looking for them months before the enrollment period. You can use a calendar to enter the key dates and to ensure that the deadlines are met. If you are seeking advice, make a note of the contact information, such as email, telephone, or face-to-face location, so that you don’t lose track. The purpose of this step is to assist you with the planning and follow-up of your application.
Complete the documentation
Online procedures are the main procedure. Prepare the following information in advance: your ID or passport, bank account details, center or university information, large family information, disability accreditation, etc. To complete the scholarship process, you must have all the documentation on hand so you are not logged out as a user.
Make sure all your data is accurate
Check that all the information is correct before sending the request; the ones you started with on the draft are still the same. Incorrectly written emails or postal mail will delay the entire assignment verdict and will prevent the payment of the benefit. Make sure you check your email or postal mail.
Apply for the scholarship
Now you must send all your documentation. The receipt or certificate that you have received everything correctly, and that you are following the process, is important. Make sure the references are correct.
Follow the instructions
Don’t let time pass you by. Take action right away. By doing so, you will be able to prevent problems from occurring. When you use an online user, you will be able to connect from anywhere, at any time.
Time to make a claim
When you receive an opinion explaining why your aid or scholarship has been denied, they will specify the reasons for the decision. They will give you a period of time to send any additional documentation or to clarify any doubts. However, you should remember that there are alternative options.
Beware of Scholarship scams
Scams are fake opportunities that are being offered by the fraudulent to fool the needy people. Here you can find more information about scholarship scams and how you can avoid them. We always suggest going with the trusted opportunities only.
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Conclusion
It is no secret that attending college is expensive and this is the reason why scholarship is valuable since students can pursue higher education without paying anything from their pocket. Applying for a scholarship is an amazing way to fund your higher education irrespective of whether you are already in college or still in high school. Around 25% of college students get money from grants or scholarships every year. It is important to learn that the eligibility criteria for scholarships are stringent so do not waste your time on applying for scholarships that you are not likely to qualify for or the one that seems far out of reach. To learn more about government grants for needy families click here.
Are you interested in learning more about different grants and assistance programs that can offset your living expenses? Check out the rest of Get Government Grants’ blog section today
Frequently Asked Questions
What are scholarships?
Scholarships are financial assistance offered by a school or an institution to students to help them finance their studies. Through grants, scholarships, financing systems, payment installments, or other options, you may be able to pay for your studies. You can pursue your studies without worrying about the costs since scholarships and study aids are available.
What Is The Difference Between Grants And Scholarships?
Both grants and scholarships are free financial aid awards that are not required to be repaid. Grants are free aid that is generally awarded based on the financial need of the students, for instance the federal Pell Grant for poor students. Need-based grants are awarded at state, federal or college level. Scholarships on the other hand are generally awarded based on academic excellence or merit of students.
What Is The Application Procedure For College Scholarships?
The process to apply for scholarships may vary depending on the scholarship and your location. You need to learn the eligibility criteria of the program, file FAFSA, complete an essay prompt video assignment, submit relevant documents and submit the application within the deadline.
Where Can I Find Scholarships?
- Scholarships are available through a variety of sources such as the following-
- College or university financial aid offices
- Your high school guidance office
- Community organizations like foundations, local clubs and businesses.
- Online scholarship search engines
- Professional associations associated with your field of study.