The process of deciding where you’ll go to school, which classes you want to take and how you’ll decorate your dorm can be overwhelming in its own right. Factor in the financial side of things, and applying for college can feel downright daunting! Thankfully, scholarships can make the whole process easier and cheaper — sometimes even free.
Here’s how to get extra cash to fund your education.
1. Know Where to Look
OK, you know you want to apply for a scholarship, but where do you find one? With over 1.7 million scholarships available in the United States alone, it can be hard to know how to start. Let’s simplify things.
The first method is to contact a school’s financial aid office or admissions department and ask what their scholarship process looks like. The staff in these departments will likely be happy to walk you through applying for scholarships. They may even give you a list of unique scholarships available through the school. Otherwise, you can ask your high school guidance counselor for help.
You can also search for scholarships on reputable websites like Collegeboard.org, Scholarships.com and Scholarshipowl.com. This is a good approach if you’re not sure which college you want to attend or are trying to find scholarships from non-school-affiliated organizations. These databases are helpful for finding any type of scholarship, whether merit-based, rewarding students based on skill, or need-based, meaning they reward you based on financial need.
Watch out for scholarship scams on sketchy websites, including any sites that ask for your bank account info, charge an application fee or guarantee you’ll earn money. Typos are also a red flag. Preying on people who need money quickly, these websites can take your personal data, install computer viruses or even steal your hard-earned cash. If you stick to reputable sites, you shouldn’t run into any issues in your search.
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2. Make Good Grades Work for You
Many scholarships reward students for their academic achievements. When I was a college freshman, for example, I got $1,000 from the writing department by getting straight As in my English classes that year. The money covered my textbooks, fees and part of my tuition for the next semester. Talk about a nice surprise!
Find out if your school offers any academic merit scholarships that reward students for doing well in their classes or on tests like the SAT, ACT and PSAT exams. Some universities will automatically consider you for academic merit scholarships when you apply or while you’re attending classes. Others require separate scholarship applications.
3. Apply Your Talents
Some merit scholarships will give you cash based on your artistic or sports abilities. If you have a penchant for dance, music, painting, creative writing or photography, you may be able to secure an art scholarship. Most art scholarships require you to submit a portfolio of your work, and some require an essay. Like all other scholarships, they may also be location-based.
An example of an art scholarship is the Doodle for Google Scholarship. Open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade, the winner gets $30,000 to put toward college.
Playing sports in high school is another great way to secure funding. Many universities offer full-ride scholarships to athletes, and some will scout high schools for top-performing players.
4. Got a Special Skill?
Even if you can’t catch a ball to save your life, many schools reward students for being good at a particular hobby or extracurricular activity. You’d be surprised how many unusual skills count toward college scholarships!
For example, the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest awards first-place winners $2,000 for their duck-calling abilities. The National Marbles Tournament gives out four scholarships annually to students who’ve won a local marble championship. No matter your passion, there’s probably a scholarship for it.
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5. Demonstrate Need
Many young people are struggling to make ends meet right now, with 23% of millennials skipping mortgage or rent payments due to debt. Need-based scholarships award students who can prove their financial hardship.
Financial needs scholarship applications may ask for a copy of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form helps colleges determine whether you qualify for financial aid. The main benefit of securing a scholarship is that, unlike a loan, you don’t have to repay it — it’s yours to keep.
6. Apply for No-Essay Scholarships
As the name suggests, no-essay scholarships don’t require you to write an essay to apply. Some function like a lottery system. Although thousands of people might apply for a single no-essay scholarship, all you usually have to do is submit a simple form to be entered into the drawing.
For example, Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway offers multiple awards worth up to $2,500 for high school seniors and college students. Just submit the entry form and forget about it!
Although the odds of securing a no-essay scholarship are low, you can apply for them quickly, submitting your name to dozens or hundreds of them to maximize your chances of winning. It can be worth it if you have a few extra minutes in the day — such as while you’re riding the bus or waiting in line — to put your name in the proverbial hat.
7. Search for Demographic-Based Scholarships
No matter your race, gender or situation in life, there are probably specific scholarships geared toward your demographic.
For example, the Abhi Khune Underrepresented Minorities Scholarship awards $2,000 to African-American women seeking a degree in computer science or data science. The Fathers for Scholars Scholarship gives $500 to young fathers who want to attend college. Acorn Equality Fund offers up to $4,000 for LGBTQ students living in Illinois.
Many scholarship databases let you filter the search results by demographics, so use these tools to find specific scholarships that few people will probably apply for.
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Funding Your Dream
College is expensive, but you can make it happen. You don’t have to pay back scholarships, so if you secure one — or several — you can use the money to pay for part or all of your tuition. Believe in yourself and apply for as many scholarships as you can. You’ve got this!
