I'm starting to search for college scholarships and heard about essay-based ones available in 2025. Are there specific places I should be looking for them, or certain criteria I should know about?
Sure thing! There are several ways you can find essay scholarships.
1. High School Counseling Office: Your high school counseling office is a great resource to start with. They often have a list of local scholarships, and many of these are essay-based.
2. College Financial Aid Offices: Colleges themselves often offer scholarships, some of which require essays. Make sure to check the financial aid section of the websites for the colleges you're interested in.
3. Online Platforms: There are online platforms where you can search for scholarships, like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and Appily. They help you match with scholarships that are relevant to you, and you can filter for essay-based scholarships.
4. Community Organizations: Don't forget about local community organizations, foundations, and businesses. Many of them offer scholarships for local students. Churches, rotary clubs, and local businesses can be a good source.
As for criteria, it varies greatly depending on the organization offering the scholarship. It could be based on academic achievement, financial need, community service, or specific interests. The essay topics can range from your future goals, your views on a particular issue, or a significant experience in your life. Some scholarships have very specific prompts related to the mission of the organization giving out the scholarship.
When you're writing your scholarship essays, make sure they are unique, engaging, and show your personality. A good essay can help you stand out from the crowd. Good luck with your scholarship search!
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