Outside Scholarships for College - Part 1

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How Do I Apply for College Scholarships?

Once your college acceptance letters begin arriving, they should soon be followed by the institution’s financial aid package. As long as you completed the FAFSA and created your CSS Profile on time with your schools designated to receive a copy, the package will include both the federal and school-based aid available to you.

In most cases, this package does not cover your full tuition, room and board, and school fees. College is expensive, and most of the cost is up to the student and their family to pay. Part of your financial aid package will include the availability of federal loans. Before you apply for a student loan, it’s important to look into other scholarship opportunities.

What are Outside Scholarships?

Outside scholarships are scholarships that aren’t awarded directly by the college or university you’ll be attending. These scholarships cover a multitude of categories and can be awarded based on a variety of requirements such as:

  • Need

  • Academic merit

  • Demographic information

  • Field of study

  • Heritage

  • Sports, activities, or interests

  • Special skills 

  • Organization affiliation

You will also find that there are also scholarships awarded on nothing more than chance. It’s amazing how much money really is available to help students pay for college, but this money isn’t all for the easy taking. Applying for scholarships, especially those that involve essays and letters of recommendation, is time-consuming work. However, the benefit of earning scholarships that reduce your out-of-pocket expense or need for loans is well worth the effort.

Where do I Find Outside Scholarships?

Locating outside scholarships is the first step in your quest for financial assistance. There are many websites that advertise themselves as scholarship databases, but there is one very important rule to follow:

Never pay to search for or apply for scholarships!

Paid scholarship sites may not be scams in the strictest sense, but they rarely contain information that you can’t obtain elsewhere for free. Opt instead for a database like the CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder or create a free account on fastweb.com where you can set up a search scholarships based on your profile.

On the local front, see your school counselor to request a list of scholarships previously awarded to your high school’s graduates. Next, visit the websites of your local banks, corporations, large chains, your parents’ employers, and service organizations. Many of these organizations have scholarship money that goes unused every year because they don’t get enough applicants.

If you know of any professional associations in your field of study, check out their websites to see if they offer scholarships. Sometimes, these funds are available for college upperclassmen, so make a note to apply for them in a few years. It’s also a good idea to look at social organizations, community clubs, and nonprofit foundations to see if they offer awards. Finally, make sure you explore your state’s higher education funding organization which often offer opportunities for both scholarships and grants.

Don’t skip over awards that seem too small to be worthwhile. Small amounts add up, and when you consider what the award is worth versus the time you spent on the application, it’s a pretty good return on investment! Finally, remember that the hunt for scholarships doesn’t end with high school graduation. Keep track of your work so that you can apply for scholarships throughout college.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of searching, listing, and applying for college scholarships, believe me when I say that I get it. This is hard work, and support is available! I’ve helped many students release that anxiety by helping them get organized and focused on the scholarship application process. Contact me to start planning a strategy to obtain additional funding for college.

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