Scholarship and Grant Tips for Nontraditional Students

128 Comments

Returning students can qualify for plenty of scholarship and grant opportunities.

Like many nontraditional students, I found the process of returning to school intimidating. Worries hung over my head. How would I pay my bills? Support my family? Pay my tuition?

It was those questions that drove me to begin my own scholarship hunt. I used FastWeb, asked friends and kept my eyes open.

Yet when I found scholarships I was eligible for, I became worried as I filled out the applications. Many of them had essay questions like:

What is your greatest strength?
What types of community service have you performed?
Why does your background make you an ideal candidate for this award?

I knew that I would be competing against high school students who, I believed, had better applications. They had time to perform community service and play sports, and many of them had better grades. I, on the other hand, had dropped out of school to support a family and didn’t have time to volunteer. I perceived these as weaknesses to be overcome.

However, by following the steps below, I was able to transform these weaknesses into scholarship qualifications.

Step 1: Identify Your Strengths

Write down what you believe are your strong points: personality traits, life experiences, lessons learned. It could be anything from your work ethic to how you raise your children.

Step 2: Write Down Your “Weaknesses”

The word “weaknesses” is in quotes because what you perceive as a detriment may, in fact, be the very thing that sets you apart from other applicants. Take an honest inventory of what you believe may work against you.

Step 3: Make Your Weaknesses Your Strengths

As you look at your list, you may be thinking, “How can this help me?” To start, pick one of your weaknesses from the list and ask yourself these questions:

How did I cope with this experience/weakness?
What good qualities/traits did this experience bring out in me?
How has this made me a better person?

For instance, I didn’t finish high school because I needed to help support my family. I believed that not having a high school diploma was a drawback. However, I tried to convey to judges how this experience was actually a show of character; it displayed strengths such as responsibility, determination, hard work, family loyalty.

Each life experience – positive or negative – is a lesson learned. Those lessons should be the theme in your scholarship essays and applications. Put your best foot forward and make your strengths shine through. You will be surprised at the effect it has on your applications… and your wallet!

Jose Vasquez has been awarded 27 scholarships totaling more than $100,000 in aid. He is a public speaker and the author of Free Cash for College: The Everyday Students’ Guide to Financial Aid.

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YCHammonds

about 1 hour ago

I am a 57 yr. old woman of mixed races. I am a grandmother of 4 and have been through a LOT in my life. I tried going to school years ago with loans and grants and due to life occurances was unable to complete classes. In Los Angeles I even worked and paid my own tuition in 83.Once again 'life' happened again to prevent me from completeing my courses. I have had a passion for psychology and counceling. I have experienced drug addiction and recovery. I am a saved penecostal apostolic woman,passionate about going to school an line and obtaining a degree in psychology to help other people who suffer. Knowing what I know personally will aid in my education. Life experiences and my own personal research on how the mind is affected by lifes issues ,such as drugs and alcohol, childhood trama ect. is priceless and I DESPERATELY want to go back to school WITHOUT loans that will bog me down with debt. M past goverment loans have been excused due to my disabilities.(mulitiple physical problems) so I cannot apply for them anyway. (Thank God)!!! I need help finding funding to pay tuition. Please HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MariaT74

6 days ago

@micheleborja have you applied for Vocational Rehab in your area? It is a good place to start for funds for college and help with ADHA. I am bi-polar and depressed but I am going through Vocational Rehab and applying for scholarships. Good Luck!
micheleborja

3 months ago

I am 47, started on my AA in Hospitality, Travel & tourism with University of Phoenix. I also have ADHD. Unfortunatley, I lost my job but before that I failed one of my classes. I now owe $1500 & can't continue until I pay this. If I can get financial aide, I can pay this balance & continue to pursue my dream. I am stuck & don't know what to do. HELP!!!
jfleming53

4 months ago

Hello, My name is Jannie Fleming, Iam a fifty-eight year old and I have decided to go to colledge on-li.ne to earn my Associate Degree in Human Services. I have been working in this field for twenty-three years,and earning this degree would strenghtened my knowledge and chances for further advancement. Are here that there any grants out there I may apply for?
kranalli63

4 months ago

This is unbelievable what a state we are in, PLEASE HELP the forty somethings. We still have a few good years left in us! Do not turn your backs on us we have been through enough!!!!
heisttreue

5 months ago

I am a 40 year old white male. i have found all kinds of grants that DON'T fit me. haven't been to school in 20 years and moved states with almost no income. trying to better myself and going to school part time through a fasfa grant. but will vbe on the street soon with my wife doing the same without help. where do i check. someone please heol us. heisttreue@yahoo.com
chriscox82

5 months ago

I'm 28 years old and have an associate's degree in Culinary Arts and I've been working for 8 years full time in my field. I recently lost my job and now I want to go back to school for a bachelor's degree. I made too much money last year to qualify for Pell even though I barely broke $30k. I can't afford college, and already have too much student loan debt, how can I get financial aid???
kimruell

7 months ago

I'm 50 years old and have resently lost my job Im collecting unemployment, and can't afford college on my own i have decided to attend a nearby college for medical assisting My question is there any grants out there that could assist me for the tuition I didn't qualify for the pell, last year we made to much,
email ruell50@yahoo.com
cs1301hair

7 months ago

My struggle has been quite hard. Going through a nasty divorce, not having my children around and keeping my Lupus quite. Unfortunately had ended up being hospitalized for 2 months.I would love to inqiure about your scholarships that gear towards my personal situation.
kandiland

8 months ago

I ALSO THINK WE NEED MORE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS FOR NON- TRADITIONAL STUDENTS
kandiland

8 months ago

I have decided to continue my education after a break. I am a non tradition student who is also disabled. Im trying to get the most outta my financial aid and currently am not working. is there anything i need to know or applications i need to fill out to do so.
auxois29

8 months ago

this is good also look at the essay advice
ytownangel

8 months ago

I agree that there should be a separate area for non-traditional students or older students. Most of us do not qualify for Pell grants so please do not tell me to apply. Also when you are a displaced worker & own property that you are barely holding on too you again do not qualify for anything. I am finding that if you are a minority, own nothing, no parent with any college education you can qualify for all of our US government benefits. Rest of us are out of luck. Please update your site to address us non-traditional students who were born & raised in this country & have paid our taxes on a continuing basis. We NEED ASSISTANCE.
TommyRay

9 months ago

This is pretty much nothing new to me here as I have been doing just this very thing. No awards yet but will keep trying! At 48yo with a 1980 GED, I'm going into my 4th semester still homeless, without transportation and still struggling every single day without much at all for awards beyone the Pell and going into more debt to Uncle Sam. Many commenting here seem to want more advice (I cannot blame them, this is not much to go on here) and so do I. The playing field is never level, I know that, and it is up to ourselves to pursue and take risks, but more information for those of us "non-traditional" students would be of great value as our time is precious while we strive to live. halloffame002 is very dead-on, the title here is misleaading, as is states "tips". plural, whereas this article mentions only one aspect; turning weak ppoints into strong ones". Please, do add more to this or give us more than something obvious? Thanks!!
dacosmc1ne_

9 months ago

I'm a 23 year old who has graduated high school in 2006!!! I was wondering are there any grants that I might qualify for?