I'm looking into scholarships for college and I heard that there might be some specifically for people who have survived cancer. As someone who has gone through this experience, I think it would be helpful to know about any financial aid opportunities available for survivors. If anyone has applied for or got a scholarship like this, could you share some details on how to find and apply for them? Any advice or resources would be really appreciated!
Yes, there are indeed a variety of scholarships available for cancer survivors. Here are a few examples:
1. Cancer for College: This organization offers a variety of scholarships including a perpetual scholarship which provides four-year scholarships for survivors.
2. The Ulman Foundation: This organization provides multiple $2,500 scholarships annually to young adults, aged 15-39, directly affected by cancer.
3. The Patient Advocate Foundation's Scholarship for Survivors program: This program offers scholarships to those diagnosed with and treated for a critical or life-threatening disease before the age of 18.
To apply for these scholarships and others, you'll typically need to provide a personal statement detailing your cancer journey, a letter of reference (often from a doctor or another individual familiar with your experience), and evidence of admissibility to a university or college.
Remember to also directly check with the financial aid offices at the colleges you're considering, as there may be university-specific scholarships for students with your background.
When writing your personal statement, try to focus on how your experience with cancer shaped you as a person, the lessons you learned, and how it influenced your academic and career goals, instead of merely detailing your medical journey chronologically.
A valuable resource to help you find more of these specific scholarships is the Scholarship.com database, which allows you to search for scholarships based on different criteria, including health conditions.
Remember, it's all about making sure your unique story is heard. Best of luck with your scholarship applications!
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