Tips for Success
The government, colleges and private organizations provide money to help students
cover college costs. This comes in several forms. One form is scholarships — gifts of money that does not need
to be paid back. Scholarships are usually offered to students who meet certain requirements.
For example, scholarships may be given to students who have strong academic or athletic
skills, who are members of a specific ethnic group or whose parents work for a certain
company. Here are more details about what types of scholarships are available and
where to find them.
It's not easy to separate your application from the crowd. After all, even if you fit the criteria to a "T," you're
still likely to be one of a number of applicants with similar grades, goals, activities,
and aspirations. That's where a great application essay comes in. The essay is your
best chance to make the case for why you should receive the scholarship; it helps
the scholarship provider learn about , and gives them a much more detailed look at your school and home life.
Applying for scholarships is a lot like applying to colleges. You start with a large
number of possibilities and cut that down to a short list of choices. Then you have
to complete and submit applications that include essays, recommendations and lists
of achievements that highlight your best qualities. You may hear various suggestions
about the best way to apply for scholarships. The truth is, what works for one person
may not work for another. There are no secrets to applying. The best advice is to
use common sense and follow directions.
Undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships are forms of aid that help students
pay for their education. Unlike student loans, scholarships and fellowships do not
have to be repaid. Hundreds of thousands of scholarships and fellowships from several
thousand sponsors are awarded each year.
Writing an application essay that is memorable and engages the reader can have a big
impact on whether you win a scholarship. It is one of the few selection criteria that
is completely under your control.
Scholarship America is in place to help students make postsecondary education possible.
The Scholarship America blog appears weekly at and features expert advice on all kinds of scholarship related issues.
Best Scholarship Search Platforms
Reviews.com is a website dedicated to conducting data driven and unbiased research
about topics that can help make an impact in people's lives. They spent over 200 hours
researching 17 of the most popular scholarship search platforms that are currently
available. They analyzed and audited them using five core metrics to identify key
functionality, research tools, and useful student resources. In an effort to raise
awareness around the barriers that hinder students from pursuing their college education,
they have provided the Best Scholarship Search Platforms guide.