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Be Smart in Finding Scholarships this Summer
Scholarships aren't just for "A" students--know where to look for your scholarships.
By Kathryn Knight
So you thought that applying for colleges was the only time-consuming obligation necessary to finding the perfect school. Then you start talking finances with your parents and learn that you need more money to get to that dream school. Well, scholarship season is enough to smack you to your senses and yearn for the “early days” of the collegiate Common Application. And it’s not just the time that you lose…it’s your mind.
Little did you know that there were so many different scholarships. And little do you know about what the differences between those scholarships are…
Merit Based. Made popular by colleges. They are the scholarships you receive for achieving a certain GPA/test score combination. The higher your GPA and test scores, the more merit money. And the lower…well, you get the picture. Best part is your college application serves as your scholarship application in this case as well.
Need Based. Once your FAFSA is filed, you’ll receive a final financial aid package from the colleges you’ve narrowed it down to. You may notice, depending on how “needy” you are, that there are other scholarships listed in addition to your merit. These are need based scholarships, and are typically referred to as grants.
Other School scholarships. Yes, there is an “other” category. Oftentimes, colleges will have additional scholarships that require a bit more work—essays, interviews, etc. You can find these scholarships on school websites.
Promotional. You’ll find a lot of these scholarships on FastWeb. Companies use scholarships for marketing purposes. By generating scholarship enquiries, they are at the same time increasing awareness of their brand.
Contests. Can be promotional as well, but they typically require more than just an application or essay. Scholarship contests embody a more creative outlet in finding and securing scholarships. Contests oftentimes ask applicants for their secret talent, a homemade movie, or original song lyrics to depict their qualifications for the award. Once again, look for these types of scholarships on FastWeb.
cataquinde
5 months ago
Is there scholarships for minorities??
nurse1976
5 months ago
I have a 3.75 BSN in nursing . I am appying to University of phoenix masters of nursing I have applied for fasfa but I am 55 years of age and want to see if i qualify for scholarship so I will not have so much money to pay the government back. I need help.
AmandaC961
5 months ago
Wow. I feel like a lot of the people leaving comments on here need to take it down just a bit. I applied for college as a lower middle class person, and I was able to have almost all of my expenses for college covered, which was about $40,000. However, I also graduated with a 4.5 GPA, and have worked since high school. I'll even have four jobs next semester. The FAFSA and CalGrant saved me, in addition to my school's financial aid program and private scholarships. Everyone is looking for money right now, and it can be hard, but everything will work out in the end. There's always a way to get what you need. Just keep looking! :)
JacksoncoleBolajiD
5 months ago
i need a scholarship on gadurate on finance and mangement and that can pay for my fees
KaylaP152
5 months ago
i need moneyy...ugh...
in need of money for school..
On my way to be a registered nurse!
Desire_21
5 months ago
scholarships for low gpa students?
ChristianE23
5 months ago
scholarshlp for foreign student
yankeewash72
5 months ago
There's another consideration: the student (like yours truly) who, some thirty years after receiving a bachelor's, is finally considering graduate school and returning to teaching, not knowing whether he/she is suited for either, or whether it's prudent to even THINK of applying for a scholarship. Any insights out there?
JaneW111
5 months ago
also, being independent doesn't just mean living away from your parents, being independent is exactly what it means.....INDEPENDENT. You don't go to your parents for money, they don't pay for your car insurance/health insurance, you pay for it on your own. Unless you were emancipated chances are .....you aren't "independent".... unless there are some special circumstance...so many people think that just because you live away from your parents...means its being independent. Independent means you pay everything yourself.... and make enough money to support yourself.
JaneW111
5 months ago
its not just about your GPA, its also your writing skills, if they didn't get it - someone else probably wrote a better essay. Its how much or how bad do you want the scholarship? Some people don't really try that hard, and some aren't looking at the small mistakes, a bad sentence structure or an error in an essay are all marks for it to be thrown out or the one that makes the difference when it comes to the final judge. Are their sons and daughters making sure their grammer is correct? Making sure that their spelling is correct? going to workshops or writing centers to improve their essays - because I have...and I've had a 3.4 gpa and have recieved many scholarships...
molivier
5 months ago
I wonder if the middle class educated parents could ask for a refund from where they earned their degrees from, since we are not feeling the financial advantage of a formal education. Seems to me that educated parents are pentalized for role modeling the importance of college. There are all kinds of advantages for students who are first generation college bound applicants. How about 2nd or 3rd or 4th generation college bound students. How about scholarship for traditional families with old-fashioned values, i.e. female mom and male dad, no divorce, same race.
LindaT248
5 months ago
This is a "nice" article however, our family has the same problem as most people have mentioned. The middle class has no help from the government or the schools. And the so-called merit based scholarships are still a political pool. Yes, your child maybe a well qualified applicant but if the gender or the race doesn't fit, your child will not receive. Sounds harsh, it is the truth. So back to our original problem, other than merit, need, and the "promotional" grants, where do we go?
ShannonJ124
5 months ago
I am a college student myself and I understand the struggle of applying and finding scholarships. My best advice will be to do follow-ups with the individual companies and check the status of the application. This help in finding out if the company is fraud or real. Also, ask for info on last years finalist and winners as proof. You can research via google to see if it is real as well.
I trully understand what everyone is saying in reference to FAFSA. I don't understand why they are forcing students to use their parents infomation when they are not living in their parents household. I tried explaining numerous times that that is my parents money not mine. I provide proof that I was an independent student and still I had to use my parents income. Highway robbery... of opportunity of students getting an education.
MalaiaG
5 months ago
jacqueline I agree with you. My daughter graduated with a 3.5 gpa and she did not get anything either. who is going to help the middle class. I work everyday and I have to struggle to pay for her college education. HELP THE MIDDLE CLASS PLEASE!!!!! Sheila
JacquelineL109
5 months ago
If you are a member of the middle class, you don't get anything. Also, my daughter applied for a lot of these "promotinal" and "other" scholarships and heard zero, zip from anybody. This is somene with a 3.8 gpa. I agree with everyone else on the FASFA. Middle class loses again!!!