12 answers
Adam
Student
Albuquerque, New Mexico
1
Question
Asked
975 views
How can I get scholarships to go to college
I am graduating this year and scared of not being able to pay for college. So I am seeking anyone’s on how I can get good scholarships to help me pay for college. There a bunch on the internet but a lot are just false ads.
#scholarship #money #financial-aid #college-advice
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12 answers
Christina Cockrane
Human Resources Manager
3
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Christina’s Answer
Hi Adam, I felt the same way thinking about college, was also not the best student in high school and lived in a single parent home. I decided to attend a community college 1st and earn my associates degree then eased my way into a University to earn my undergrad. 1st contact the school(s) financial aid office. Tell them your concerns and understand what that specific school offers as options. Depending on your circumstances there are grants out there that help you go to school for almost free and after grants their are loans. I also was an athlete in High School and never considered it in college, but I contacted the coach and was offered a small scholarship an ran cross country which paid for my books while in community college. There are also lots of employers now that will help with tuition reimbursement or pre-paid college for approved degrees. For example, I work for Bank of America and after 6 months of employment you would qualify for tuition reimbursement or prepaid of $5250.00 per year. Many of our employees work part or full time and finish there degree. There are options out there, be patient, ask a lot of questions and don't give up. Where there is a will, there is a way!
Contact the school(s) financial aid office - understand your options
Review costs and compare (if able live at home)
Create a plan / Vision board
Christina recommends the following next steps:
Hello, Thank you so much for your advice. hah! I have not thought of that, I am a very good soccer player, I will contact the sports department. I actually just got a full-tuition scholarship but my family still doesn't just have a way to cover my room and board so I am writing an appeal letter to ask the school for more scholarships. but I have been working with my counselor and have applied to a lot of scholarships and have not heard back yet. I just need a backup plan. Again, Thanks a lot for your advice!
Adam
Tammy Jacobson
Marketing
9
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Tammy’s Answer
Hi Adam. I am from Albuquerque , NM too!
I would recommend asking your high school counselor. They should be able to provide you with a list or a resource for scholarships. Hopefully they are still contactable during this quarantine time.
Sometimes where your parents may be employed, they may offer scholarships for their kids, so maybe check into that. Even credit unions if you bank with them offer scholarships for their members. You do have to do a little digging but they are out there. My daughter will be doing this soon so I am keeping my eye out as well. Best of luck to you!
Check with your high school counselor
Check with your parents employers
Check with companies/organizations where you do business
I would recommend asking your high school counselor. They should be able to provide you with a list or a resource for scholarships. Hopefully they are still contactable during this quarantine time.
Sometimes where your parents may be employed, they may offer scholarships for their kids, so maybe check into that. Even credit unions if you bank with them offer scholarships for their members. You do have to do a little digging but they are out there. My daughter will be doing this soon so I am keeping my eye out as well. Best of luck to you!
Tammy recommends the following next steps:
Hello, Tammy. oh good to know! Thank you so much for your advice. They will very helpful as I continue my research. I actually just got a full-tuition scholarship but my family still doesn't just have a way to cover my room and board so I am writing an appeal letter to ask the school for more scholarships. Another thing is that my parents are not in the US here, so I am not sure what companies. but I have been working with my counselor and have applied to a lot of scholarships but have not heard back yet. I just need a backup plan. Again, Thanks a lot for your advice!
Adam
Another thought for you, Adam. This more than likely won't help your first year in college but depending on the college you end up going to, you can look into being a Resident Assistant. Typically they seek Junior and Seniors in college but some may interview Sophomores. If you get accepted, your room and board is covered. It is a great leadership opportunity. You meet so many students and can help shape their college experience. I actually was an RA from my Sophomore - Senior year and had full room and board covered. A great benefit and a great experience.
Tammy Jacobson
Cody Kirk
Accounting
13
Answers
Tampa, Florida
Updated
Cody’s Answer
Best way to understand what scholarships are out there would be to set up an appointment with your guidance counselor and see what scholarships there are that relate to you. After reviewing the list, apply to every scholarship you can possibly apply to! You can't receive any if you don't apply!
Jerel L.
Management Consultant
85
Answers
Columbia, South Carolina
Updated
Jerel’s Answer
Hi Adam,
Scholarships are a great way to pay for college. Some scholarships for college are merit-based. You earn them by meeting or exceeding certain standards set by the scholarship-giver. Merit scholarships might be awarded based on academic achievement or on a combination of academics and a special talent, trait, or interest. Other scholarships are based on financial need. You can learn about scholarships in several ways, including contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend and checking information in a public library or online.
Scholarships are a great way to pay for college. Some scholarships for college are merit-based. You earn them by meeting or exceeding certain standards set by the scholarship-giver. Merit scholarships might be awarded based on academic achievement or on a combination of academics and a special talent, trait, or interest. Other scholarships are based on financial need. You can learn about scholarships in several ways, including contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend and checking information in a public library or online.
Jerel L.
Management Consultant
85
Answers
Columbia, South Carolina
Updated
Jerel’s Answer
Some scholarships for college are merit-based. You earn them by meeting or exceeding certain standards set by the scholarship-giver. Merit scholarships might be awarded based on academic achievement or on a combination of academics and a special talent, trait, or interest. Other scholarships are based on financial need. You can learn about scholarships in several ways, including contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend and checking information in a public library or online. But be careful. Make sure scholarship information and offers you receive are legitimate; and remember that you don't have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid.
Simeon Snow
Risk Assurance
1792
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Simeon’s Answer
Part of the key is applying for scholarships with smaller applicant pools. Apply for scholarships that are offered by local service organizations or ones that relate to your specific hobbies or demographics. It'll help increase your chances. Go ahead and do some volunteering to get those experiences on to your applications/resumes, but remember that many of the applicants will also have that experience listed. I'd focus more on the numbers game of applying for more scholarships while making sure they are scholarships that you qualify for.
Syed Ferdous
Program Manager
100
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Syed’s Answer
Hi Adam,
First off, make sure to accurately and honestly fill out your FAFSA application. Secondly, reach out to the Financial Aid offices of the schools you're admitted to and check out their websites. Find out about scholarship sources they've vetted that you can apply to. Also, consider asking friends and family for funding if this is socially accessible for you.
Lastly, consider work-study programs, community college or attending part time as your budget allows.
First off, make sure to accurately and honestly fill out your FAFSA application. Secondly, reach out to the Financial Aid offices of the schools you're admitted to and check out their websites. Find out about scholarship sources they've vetted that you can apply to. Also, consider asking friends and family for funding if this is socially accessible for you.
Lastly, consider work-study programs, community college or attending part time as your budget allows.
Jorge Zapata
17
Answers
Updated
Jorge’s Answer
Adam,
Thanks for your question.
We recently had our son accepted to several colleges and had similar concerns regarding possible assistance with scholarships. The amount of options that exist online can be overwhelming.
I agree with Tammy and Christina above that a good place to start is your School Counselor. They should be able to provide you with some local options. Here are some additional items that could be of assistance that helped us out.
- Once you decide on your top 2 or 3 options (apply and get accepted) you will fill out a FAFSA. The majority of colleges use this to determine the need for financial aid and here is where you can get significant assistance. Rarely is the cost you see posted online for a University what you will pay.
- Also speak to the admissions counselor at the University, often they have additional scholarship that you can apply for. This could be based on a specific degree, or your willingness to do charity work in the community the school is in. There are multiple options at most schools that range in value. Some are annual and some are for the entire 4 years period. Usually they require you to apply for them and in some cases you will need to write an essay to be considered.
- Your academic performance in school and SAT/ACT scores can also help. You should look at your States Government regulation as many states in the country have scholarships available that help with tuition and in some cases these are significant.
- Look into affiliation related scholarships as well. There are many of these available as well. As an examples, Hispanics students, African Americans, Catholics, Methodists and many more. Again these require applications and often essays be submitted however often easy money and as you may know every little bit helps.
Last bit of advice is, also inquire with the Student assistance office, often the school itself can assist in helping you get a PT job in the community or on the campus itself. You must be persistent and not be afraid to ask.
Best of luck to you and hope you found the material useful.
Regards
Jorge
Thanks for your question.
We recently had our son accepted to several colleges and had similar concerns regarding possible assistance with scholarships. The amount of options that exist online can be overwhelming.
I agree with Tammy and Christina above that a good place to start is your School Counselor. They should be able to provide you with some local options. Here are some additional items that could be of assistance that helped us out.
- Once you decide on your top 2 or 3 options (apply and get accepted) you will fill out a FAFSA. The majority of colleges use this to determine the need for financial aid and here is where you can get significant assistance. Rarely is the cost you see posted online for a University what you will pay.
- Also speak to the admissions counselor at the University, often they have additional scholarship that you can apply for. This could be based on a specific degree, or your willingness to do charity work in the community the school is in. There are multiple options at most schools that range in value. Some are annual and some are for the entire 4 years period. Usually they require you to apply for them and in some cases you will need to write an essay to be considered.
- Your academic performance in school and SAT/ACT scores can also help. You should look at your States Government regulation as many states in the country have scholarships available that help with tuition and in some cases these are significant.
- Look into affiliation related scholarships as well. There are many of these available as well. As an examples, Hispanics students, African Americans, Catholics, Methodists and many more. Again these require applications and often essays be submitted however often easy money and as you may know every little bit helps.
Last bit of advice is, also inquire with the Student assistance office, often the school itself can assist in helping you get a PT job in the community or on the campus itself. You must be persistent and not be afraid to ask.
Best of luck to you and hope you found the material useful.
Regards
Jorge
Thank you so much for your advice. They will very helpful as I continue my research. I actually just got a full-tuition scholarship but my family still don't just have a way to cover my room and board so I am writing an appeal letter to ask the school for more scholarships. Again, Thanks a lot for your advice!
Adam
Aicha Moustapha
Full time student & actress
40
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Aicha’s Answer
Hi Adam! I understand your frustration with trying to find scholarships because it seems impossible, but it is not. You should check with your school to if they have any scholarships that you fit and qualify for. Also, Fastweb is a great website that is basically a large database with plenty of scholarship offers! When you get into college you will also have alot more opportunities to apply for more scholarships. The main thing that I can tell you is to just do some research at your current school and search online for scholarships that you qualify for ! I hope this helps and good luck!
Cheryl Haller
High School College Advisor
43
Answers
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Updated
Cheryl’s Answer
Yes, speak to the college admissions office. If you have been accepted, they want you to come! Did FAFSA cover any expenses? If so, how much? This will tell you if you need to focus on merit based scholarships or need-based scholarships. Need based are easier to get ONLY IF you qualify.
Attached are some search sites that I have found to be reliable.
Applying for college scholarships can seem daunting, with so much information out there. Here are some tips and helpful websites.
Tips
Applying for scholarships is a skill: the more you do it, the better you get. Students have found success by applying for one or two scholarships a week throughout their college application process. A little effort at a time can cover a lot of ground.
Keep a copy of your transcript on hand and know your family’s financial situation (complete the FAFSA early so you know your Expected Family Contribution toward tuition). This information at your fingertips makes scholarship applications go faster.
Don’t forget local support: AAPS, Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, and Kiwanis offer scholarships. Also think about any connections you may have to places that offer scholarships, like your parents’ employer or your place of worship.
Don’t ever pay to subscribe to scholarship searches; they’re gimmicky and usually a rip off when used by individuals.
First, check the specific college website of the college you are interested in!
Search for “scholarships”. Sometimes the scholarships are broken down into merit-based and financial need-based. Check for deadlines to apply for these scholarships.
For students with great financial need, especially first gen and under-represented:
College Greenlight at https://www.collegegreenlight.com/
Questbridge at https://www.questbridge.org/
Scholar Snapp
https://www.scholarsnapp.org/about/
Partnered with the Common App, this site lets you put your personal information in once, then apply more easily for many scholarships.
EnAct Your Future, Inc
https://www.enactyourfuture.com
Under Resources tab, click Scholarship Scout. Lists monthly scholarships. Amount varies, but many are generous.
Big Future
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/grants-scholarships
Part of the College Board, this site does a good job explaining the many different kinds of financial aid and matches you with scholarships based on your personal information.
Niche
https://www.niche.com/colleges/scholarships/
Search lists of scholarships by choosing a category or get matched to college scholarships you are eligible for.
Raise.me Microscholarships
https://www.raise.me
Unique approach that lets you fill in your high school accomplishments as early as 9th grade to learn what colleges might be a good match for you and what kind of scholarships they might offer based on your achievements.
FastWeb
https://www.fastweb.com
This top-rated site has a large database with the most tools to match you with scholarships based on your profile. Can be used easily from a mobile device, so it’s a good resource to use frequently.
Cappex
https://www.cappex.com/how-it-works
This site is a great tool for exploring colleges as well as searching for scholarships. Its large database matches you with schools and helps you communicate with them; it also has tools to help you choose your major/career.
Unigo
https://www.unigo.com
Highly rated site for the best search tools and being easy to use. It saves your essay questions to simplify applying for several scholarships, and it has a huge database of college reviews.
Going Merry
https://www.goingmerry.com
This site consolidates the application process and saves time when matching you with appropriate national and local scholarships.
Scholarship Buddy Michigan
https://scholarshipbuddymichigan.com
This site has a listing of scholarships based in Michigan; it’s a bit cumbersome to wade through them because sometimes you can’t tell by the title what they are. However, this site has a really helpful listing of all Michigan colleges and their tuition costs, with links to more information about each one.
StudentScholarships.Org
https://studentscholarships.org/sthash.EcEEIusy.dpbs
Another site with a large database, with more focus on scrolling the options and finding your own match.
Scholarships.com
https://www.scholarships.com
Other search sites worth noting:
Peterson’s, Unigo, Cappex, Chegg, CollegeNet.com, Scholarship Monkey
https://jlvcollegecounseling.com/scholarships/
Attached are some search sites that I have found to be reliable.
Applying for college scholarships can seem daunting, with so much information out there. Here are some tips and helpful websites.
Tips
Applying for scholarships is a skill: the more you do it, the better you get. Students have found success by applying for one or two scholarships a week throughout their college application process. A little effort at a time can cover a lot of ground.
Keep a copy of your transcript on hand and know your family’s financial situation (complete the FAFSA early so you know your Expected Family Contribution toward tuition). This information at your fingertips makes scholarship applications go faster.
Don’t forget local support: AAPS, Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, and Kiwanis offer scholarships. Also think about any connections you may have to places that offer scholarships, like your parents’ employer or your place of worship.
Don’t ever pay to subscribe to scholarship searches; they’re gimmicky and usually a rip off when used by individuals.
First, check the specific college website of the college you are interested in!
Search for “scholarships”. Sometimes the scholarships are broken down into merit-based and financial need-based. Check for deadlines to apply for these scholarships.
For students with great financial need, especially first gen and under-represented:
College Greenlight at https://www.collegegreenlight.com/
Questbridge at https://www.questbridge.org/
Scholar Snapp
https://www.scholarsnapp.org/about/
Partnered with the Common App, this site lets you put your personal information in once, then apply more easily for many scholarships.
EnAct Your Future, Inc
https://www.enactyourfuture.com
Under Resources tab, click Scholarship Scout. Lists monthly scholarships. Amount varies, but many are generous.
Big Future
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/grants-scholarships
Part of the College Board, this site does a good job explaining the many different kinds of financial aid and matches you with scholarships based on your personal information.
Niche
https://www.niche.com/colleges/scholarships/
Search lists of scholarships by choosing a category or get matched to college scholarships you are eligible for.
Raise.me Microscholarships
https://www.raise.me
Unique approach that lets you fill in your high school accomplishments as early as 9th grade to learn what colleges might be a good match for you and what kind of scholarships they might offer based on your achievements.
FastWeb
https://www.fastweb.com
This top-rated site has a large database with the most tools to match you with scholarships based on your profile. Can be used easily from a mobile device, so it’s a good resource to use frequently.
Cappex
https://www.cappex.com/how-it-works
This site is a great tool for exploring colleges as well as searching for scholarships. Its large database matches you with schools and helps you communicate with them; it also has tools to help you choose your major/career.
Unigo
https://www.unigo.com
Highly rated site for the best search tools and being easy to use. It saves your essay questions to simplify applying for several scholarships, and it has a huge database of college reviews.
Going Merry
https://www.goingmerry.com
This site consolidates the application process and saves time when matching you with appropriate national and local scholarships.
Scholarship Buddy Michigan
https://scholarshipbuddymichigan.com
This site has a listing of scholarships based in Michigan; it’s a bit cumbersome to wade through them because sometimes you can’t tell by the title what they are. However, this site has a really helpful listing of all Michigan colleges and their tuition costs, with links to more information about each one.
StudentScholarships.Org
https://studentscholarships.org/sthash.EcEEIusy.dpbs
Another site with a large database, with more focus on scrolling the options and finding your own match.
Scholarships.com
https://www.scholarships.com
Other search sites worth noting:
Peterson’s, Unigo, Cappex, Chegg, CollegeNet.com, Scholarship Monkey
https://jlvcollegecounseling.com/scholarships/
Hi Cheryl, your comments are awesome and thank you for sharing a comprehensive lists of sites.
Sheila Jordan
Riley Carr
Business Analyst
179
Answers
Hollywood, Florida
Updated
Riley’s Answer
If you are having trouble finding legitimate scholarships, you should talk to your guidance counselor at school! It is literally their job to help their students do well and they will definitely have a lot of good options to pursue. As a general guideline to make sure you are on track for academic scholarships, keep your grades up to As and Bs and take as many AICE/AP classes as you can because a lot of scholarships will be directly related to these.
Richard A.
physician
2151
Answers
Updated
Richard’s Answer
To increase the chances of attaining a scholarship, you should try to maintain the highest GPA possible. It is also important to study for and perform as well as possible on all standardized tests (SAT, ACT, AP exams, SAT subject tests, etc.). Once you have great academic metrics, you will be in a great spot. At this point, you need to make sure you have good application essays you have proofread.
You should spend a substantial portion of your time looking for scholarships because they offer a huge potential return for your time investment. The scholarships you have the best chance of winning are those offered by your university, so look into those. Talk to counselors about how to find these if needed.
In regard to affording college: If you can work and still do well in your classes, you should work part-time. You should also seek out all the scholarships and grants your college offers. Although it is time consuming to seek out scholarships, it is well-worth it considering the return on investment.
You should spend a substantial portion of your time looking for scholarships because they offer a huge potential return for your time investment. The scholarships you have the best chance of winning are those offered by your university, so look into those. Talk to counselors about how to find these if needed.
In regard to affording college: If you can work and still do well in your classes, you should work part-time. You should also seek out all the scholarships and grants your college offers. Although it is time consuming to seek out scholarships, it is well-worth it considering the return on investment.