As junior year ramps up, I'm starting to think about ways to finance my college education, and scholarships seem like a great way to ease the financial burden. However, I'm not quite sure where to begin my search. There seem to be so many different kinds of scholarships, each with different requirements and eligibility factors.
Can someone break down the major types of scholarships out there? I'm curious about merit-based, need-based, athletic, and any other categories that might exist. Additionally, any tips on how to find lesser-known scholarships or those that might have less competition would be great! Thanks in advance for any guidance!
Sure, I'd be glad to help you understand the myriad of scholarship options out there and give you some tips on finding ones that suit you.
1. Merit-based scholarships: These are awarded based on a student's academic, artistic, or leadership abilities. They often require a certain GPA, SAT/ACT scores, or a demonstration of talent in arts or athletics. Examples might include scholarships awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Program or those offered by private organizations.
2. Need-based scholarships: These are based on financial need. They often require the completion of the FAFSA, which determines your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The gap between the cost of attendance (COA) and the EFC is your financial need, and need-based scholarships aim to fill this gap. Examples include the Federal Pell Grant and various scholarships from private organizations that require recipients to display economic need.
3. Athletic scholarships: These are awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional talent in sports. They usually require the student to play the sport at the college at which they're enrolled. The NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA all award athletic scholarships.
4. Ethnicity-based scholarships: These are offered to students belonging to a specific racial or ethnic group. Examples could include scholarships offered by the United Negro College Fund or the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.
5. Scholarships from specific colleges: These are awarded by the colleges themselves. They might be merit-based, need-based, or based on a combination of factors. For example, many colleges offer their own "Presidential" scholarships that have academic requirements.
6. Career-specific scholarships: These scholarships are for students pursuing a specific career. For instance, the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program provides scholarships for nursing students.
7. Scholarships for first-generation students: These scholarships are offered to students who are the first in their families to attend college.
As for finding lesser-known scholarships or those with less competition, you could start by looking locally. Check with your school counselor about scholarships offered by local businesses, community organizations, or foundations. You might find that there's less competition for these than the nationwide scholarships. Using scholarship databases such as Appily, CollegeBoard, and Fastweb can also be helpful when casting a wide net. When you do apply, remember that many scholarship essays have similar prompts, so don't be afraid to recycle and modify parts of one essay to fit another. That said, always make sure each essay is well-tailored to the specific scholarship.
I hope this helps you navigate the myriad of scholarship options out there. Best of luck on your scholarship search!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.