Advocacy-Based Scholarships for College Students

I've been active in advocacy for underprivileged communities and am curious if there are scholarships for college students involved in similar efforts. How can I find these opportunities, and what do they typically require?

Students who demonstrate a commitment to community service and advocacy can find various scholarships. Many organizations appreciate this dedication and provide funding to assist advocates in pursuing their education.

A resource like Appily, which offers many filters, can help you locate suitable scholarships based on your interests. Remember to look for local community organizations that may provide scholarships, or inquire at your school's financial aid office about any advocacy-based aid opportunities they may know of.

Now, these scholarships mainly have "impact" as their primary requirement. You will probably need to demonstrate how your advocacy work has influenced the community somehow. This could come in the form of letters of recommendation from supervisors or community leaders, a personal essay detailing your work, or a video showcasing your initiatives. Some scholarships might require a student-initiated project that focuses on community improvement.

For example, the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Award rewards young individuals for their 'social action' or 'humanitarian efforts' and emphasizes a sustained commitment to certain causes. On the other hand, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is awarded to high school students who've undertaken a significant volunteer project recently.

It's worth noting that deadlines, application processes, and award amounts vary widely, so planning and organizing your scholarship search and application submissions are crucial. Apply as early as possible and make sure to tailor each application to highlight how your work aligns with the organization’s mission or the scholarship’s purpose.

To strengthen your application, try to quantify your impact if possible. Instead of stating "helped kids with their schoolwork," you could say "tutored 5 students weekly, and all have seen an improvement of at least one letter grade." It gives the reviewers a concrete idea of your commitment and the effect of your work.

Good luck with your scholarship search!