What exactly do scholarships for college mean?

I keep hearing about college scholarships and know they can help with costs, but what do they really mean? How do they work, and what should I expect during the application process? Any insights would be super helpful!

Scholarships are essentially financial aid awarded to students to help cover the costs of higher education. They're often based on various criteria designed to include a wide variety of students. It can be based on academic achievements (merit-based), a particular skill (e.g., athletic or artistic talent), financial need, intended major, career goals, your background (e.g., first-generation college student), community service, or a combination of these.

When you receive a scholarship, these funds go towards your tuition, room and board, textbooks and/or other college-related expenses, generally depending on the rules set by the scholarship provider. Some scholarships may be one-time awards, while others may be renewable and provide money for students each semester or school year.

The application process for scholarships varies widely. It often involves completing an application form, and may also require writing an essay, furnishing letters of recommendation, or submitting academic transcripts. The scholarship sponsor will typically provide all the details you need to apply, including the deadline.

One crucial factor to remember is that scholarships, unlike loans, don't need to be repaid, making them an excellent way to reduce overall college expenses. Therefore, spend time researching scholarships suitable for you using various resources like your high school counselors, libraries, trusted online databases or platforms like Appily, and directly from colleges themselves.

Finally, note the deadline for each scholarship you're interested in and allocate plenty of time to complete the application process since it can be time consuming. Good luck!