How do scholarships work for college?

Can someone explain how scholarships work for college? Like, are they mostly merit-based, or are there need-based ones too? I'm overwhelmed by all the different ones out there and don't know where to start!

Sure, I can help break this down for you.

Scholarships for college come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are essentially "free money" that can help you pay for your education. They're different from loans because they don't have to be paid back. Scholarships fall broadly into two main categories: merit-based and need-based.

Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on a student's achievements. These can be academic (maintaining a certain GPA or excelling in a particular subject), athletic (outstanding abilities in a sport), or based on other talents (like art or music). These scholarships might come from colleges themselves, or from external organizations and companies. For example, a merit-based scholarship might be awarded to a student who has demonstrated exceptional talent in coding, or whose essay in a competition was judged to be the best.

Need-based scholarships, meanwhile, factor in a student's financial circumstances. These scholarships are designed to make education more accessible to students who might not otherwise afford it. The aid could originate from federal or state government, the colleges themselves, or private organizations. These scholarships take into account a family's financial situation, assessing factors like income, number of dependents, and assets to determine who gets the scholarship.

Another type of scholarship is the "student-specific scholarship," which often target particular demographic groups. These scholarships may be based on race, gender, religion, medical history, and more.

To find scholarships to apply for, you can start by looking at the financial aid pages of colleges you're interested in. They'll often list opportunities they offer. You can also look at platforms like Appily, which have databases full of different scholarships that you can sort by criteria that match your profile.

Absolutely, the scholarship search can seem overwhelming at first. A good approach is to begin with your strengths (such as academic performance or a special talent), any financial need you may have, and any specific characteristics or experiences you posses that scholarships might target. There are numerous opportunities out there, and sorting them this way can help you to narrow the field and focus on the ones that are most suitable for you. Best of luck!