Scholarships have become one of the most valuable assets for college students to make college more affordable. Tuition, housing, and other expenses add up quickly, and can scare many students.
Even though the process looks extremely confusing, knowing how and where to apply for scholarships can make the process a whole lot easier.
A scholarship is a financial award given to students to help pay for their education. Scholarships, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid, which makes them more valuable to many students. They can come from colleges, private organizations, nonprofits, or even local businesses.
Scholarships are often awarded based on different criteria such as academic achievement, community service, athletic talent, artistic ability or financial need. There are also scholarships for students with nice interests or future career goals.
The benefits of applying for scholarships are mainly for senior students, but there are also a few opportunities for advanced juniors to apply for a scholarship as well. “Now it is a little unlikely and not as common, but if they are eligible and have an advanced level of intelligence it is possible,” Counselor Robert Asaro said.
There are many different types of scholarships, including merit-based, need-based, athletic, and special interest. Merit scholarships are awarded to students who excel academically in sports and arts, while need-based scholarships are given to students who demonstrate financial need. Athletic scholarships are offered to students who show strong athletic ability and talent, and special interest scholarships are designed for students with unique skills, background, or goals.
The biggest benefit of a scholarship is to save money.
“I applied to so many scholarships because I need to save as much money as I can. College is very expensive,” senior Mariana Jackson said.
Jackson applied for various amounts of scholarships to help her financially. Unfortunately, one of the downsides of scholarships is that not every scholarship is accepted at every school.
For students who shine academically, the National Merit Scholarship rewards top scorers on the PSAT with financial rewards. Meanwhile, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship provides up to $55k per year to high-achieving students with financial needs who are attending four-year colleges.
Local scholarships can also play a big role. Many schools, local banks, and community organizations offer smaller scholarships that can still make a big difference.
Scholarships have a big impact on many things. They can reduce student debt, reward hard work, open opportunities, and encourage access to higher education.
Scholarships are also extremely easy to find. To find a scholarship, you can find it through websites like College Board’s Big Future and Scholarships.com, or even with a simple ask to a school counselor.
Asaro said, “Many students come to me asking where to even start looking to get a idea of other scholarships and opportunities. I always let them know that on our Lake Shore Public Schools page, there is a whole list of scholarships with pricing and requirements to give them a better look at what they might need when they start applying.”
While applying for scholarships, it is extremely important to read the requirements carefully, and take a decent amount of time to write very strong and personal essays. Even the scholarships that seem small can add up fast, and every dollar helps.
Scholarships can make a huge difference in making your dream career a reality. They are not just giving away free money, but making investments in a student’s potential success. Every opportunity counts.
