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Blake
Student
Auburn, Washington
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What are some things I should and should not do when paying for school and applying for scholarships?
I’ve been applying for different scholarships and I’m trying to find ways to pay for my education
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Dr H
Dr. H's Research
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Dr’s Answer
Hey Blake
Lemme just appreciate your question, and trust me, you’re not the only one trying to figure this all out. This little Paying for school, is a whole journey in itself. I will just talk to you straight, student to student. So first off, applying for scholarships....I would say Go for everything you can possibly qualify for, even the random small ones that look like they’ll barely make a dent. And honestly, fewer people apply for the smaller ones, so your chances are better. It’s like playing a bunch of low-stakes lottery tickets that actually help you win something real.
It’s also super helpful to keep all your common answers and essays in one doc. You’ll start noticing that most applications ask the same stuff, why do you deserve this, what’s your story, goals, community impact, etc. Instead of writing from scratch every time, just copy, tweak, and send. Saves a ton of brainpower. But, read carefully, I did say tweak so don't just send the same one to everyone of them because, somehow some of them just might know. And please don’t skip the FAFSA, even if you think you won’t get much. It opens up doors to other grants and scholarships you might not even expect. Plus, it’s usually required for most aid programs, whether they're need-based or not. Basically, free money only happens if you file that thing.
Also do check in with your school’s financial aid office. I know it sounds boring, but some of those people really know their stuff. They might point you to specific scholarships tied to your major, background, or even random stuff like your hobbies. I found one once just because I was into volunteering, like, that was literally the only requirement.
Now, a few things to not do. Don’t wait around hoping for some big full-ride miracle scholarship while ignoring the smaller, more doable ones. A lot of people fall into that trap and miss out on stuff they actually could’ve gotten. And never....never pay anyone who promises they’ll “find” you scholarships, that’s usually sketchy. There are legit free resources like Fastweb, Bold.org, and even your school’s own platform. People who say to pay to get u scholarships are usual scams so be aware of them. Oh, and definitely look into local scholarships, those little ones from your town’s rotary club, community center, or even small businesses. Less competition, and they often care more about your story than your GPA or test scores.
Last thing I wanna mention, is don’t lose track of your actual budget. Like yeah, tuition’s a beast, but food, books, transport, rent, all of that adds up fast. Knowing how much you actually need helps you plan smarter and avoid extra loans you could’ve dodged. You can always keep a side saving instead of over using.
Now, for a starting point, maybe just pick one night a week where you knock out a couple applications. You’ve got this Blake. Asking these kinds of questions means you’re thinking ahead, that alone puts you ahead of the curve. Keep going and keep shining, you can always keep asking if you need anything at all.
Write a rough draft of your personal story/why-you-deserve-this essay — Even if it’s messy, getting your core story down now will make future apps way faster and easier.
Lemme just appreciate your question, and trust me, you’re not the only one trying to figure this all out. This little Paying for school, is a whole journey in itself. I will just talk to you straight, student to student. So first off, applying for scholarships....I would say Go for everything you can possibly qualify for, even the random small ones that look like they’ll barely make a dent. And honestly, fewer people apply for the smaller ones, so your chances are better. It’s like playing a bunch of low-stakes lottery tickets that actually help you win something real.
It’s also super helpful to keep all your common answers and essays in one doc. You’ll start noticing that most applications ask the same stuff, why do you deserve this, what’s your story, goals, community impact, etc. Instead of writing from scratch every time, just copy, tweak, and send. Saves a ton of brainpower. But, read carefully, I did say tweak so don't just send the same one to everyone of them because, somehow some of them just might know. And please don’t skip the FAFSA, even if you think you won’t get much. It opens up doors to other grants and scholarships you might not even expect. Plus, it’s usually required for most aid programs, whether they're need-based or not. Basically, free money only happens if you file that thing.
Also do check in with your school’s financial aid office. I know it sounds boring, but some of those people really know their stuff. They might point you to specific scholarships tied to your major, background, or even random stuff like your hobbies. I found one once just because I was into volunteering, like, that was literally the only requirement.
Now, a few things to not do. Don’t wait around hoping for some big full-ride miracle scholarship while ignoring the smaller, more doable ones. A lot of people fall into that trap and miss out on stuff they actually could’ve gotten. And never....never pay anyone who promises they’ll “find” you scholarships, that’s usually sketchy. There are legit free resources like Fastweb, Bold.org, and even your school’s own platform. People who say to pay to get u scholarships are usual scams so be aware of them. Oh, and definitely look into local scholarships, those little ones from your town’s rotary club, community center, or even small businesses. Less competition, and they often care more about your story than your GPA or test scores.
Last thing I wanna mention, is don’t lose track of your actual budget. Like yeah, tuition’s a beast, but food, books, transport, rent, all of that adds up fast. Knowing how much you actually need helps you plan smarter and avoid extra loans you could’ve dodged. You can always keep a side saving instead of over using.
Now, for a starting point, maybe just pick one night a week where you knock out a couple applications. You’ve got this Blake. Asking these kinds of questions means you’re thinking ahead, that alone puts you ahead of the curve. Keep going and keep shining, you can always keep asking if you need anything at all.
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I appreciate you taking the time to answer this.