Hey! I'm a high school junior, and my parents want to help me with the college scholarship search. We learned that there are some scholarships that parents can apply for on behalf of their child, and we're keen on exploring all possible options for 2024.
If anyone has experience with parental involvement in scholarship applications, could you share how your parents helped? Are there specific scholarships or resources that cater to this? I'd love to hear any strategies for maximizing these opportunities. Thank you!
Absolutely, parents can often support their students in the scholarship search and application process, though they can't apply on their students' behalf for all scholarships. There are some scholarships tied to parental circumstances, such as scholarships for children of military personnel, scholarships based on the parents' employer, or scholarships based on memberships in certain organizations. Your parents can check if their employers or any organization they are associated with offer scholarships. They can ask the HR department or the organization administration.
One platform that might help both you and your parents is Appily. This resource provides a free search service for scholarships, where students or parents can create a profile indicating interests, achievements, and affiliations. The site then provides potential scholarships matches for you. It's user-friendly and quite comprehensive.
The majority of scholarships will require the student's involvement, as they often ask for essays, letters of recommendation or other materials that the student themselves would be best equipped to provide. Parents often play a supportive role in gathering information, proofreading essays, and keeping track of due dates, but it's important for the student to own the application process.
Additionally, one way that parents can 'apply' for scholarships indirectly is through financial aid. When your parents fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), they'll be enabling you to qualify for a variety of need-based grants and work-study opportunities through the college you attend. While not strictly a 'scholarship,' it's still incredibly valuable financial assistance and is primarily initiated by parental income and information.
Remember that applying for scholarships can feel like a job in itself, but the potential pay-off can be significant. A little bit of teamwork between you and your parents can go a long way. Good luck with your process!
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