Different financial aids for college education
This is my new
article on scholarships. In the last article we saw how to get Free College
Scholarship? The potential of winning a free college scholarship should be attainable
for anyone who has the motivation to attend college, but needs financial aid.
Read this
blog to know more about different money getting stream for college education.
What is a scholarship?
Scholarships
are funds used to pay for higher education that do not have to be repaid to the
provider. Scholarships may be awarded based on any number of criteria including
academics, achievements, hobbies, and talents, affiliations with various groups
or career aspirations. They are available from federal and state governments,
large corporations, local businesses, professional organizations, universities
and individuals and each has its own requirements applicants must adhere to to
be eligible for the award. Our scholarship search can match you with the
scholarships for which you best qualify and have the best chance of winning.
How is a scholarship different from a grant?
Though the
terms "scholarship" and "grant" are often used
interchangeably, there are a few difference between them. They are both free
money in that you never have to repay but in the majority of cases,
scholarships are awarded to students who are planning to attend or are already
enrolled in some form of postsecondary education. Awardees are often required
to maintain specific grade point averages, participate in certain activities or
take a certain amount of credits per semester to remain eligible for the
scholarships they earned initially; failure to adhere to these guidelines could
result in suspension or cancellation of the funding. Grant recipients, however,
do not necessarily have to be attending or planning on attending college: They
often need the funds to finance research projects (recipients are expected to
create proposals and update the donors regularly to maintain funding) or, if
they are entrepreneurs or victims of natural disasters, require capital to help
start or rebuild their lives.
How is a scholarship different from a fellowship?
Like
scholarships, fellowships are considered gift aid and do not have to be repaid
but they are typically only available for graduate students to help support
their educations. Some fellowships include tuition waivers or payments to
universities in lieu of tuition but most include a stipend to cover reasonable
living expenses.
How do scholarships differ from loans?
The main
difference between scholarships and loans is that while scholarships do not
require repayment, loans do...with interest. Loans are awarded federally
(Stafford, Perkins and PLUS) as well as privately (through banks and other
lenders like Sallie Mae) and can be either subsidized (no payments must be made
while in school) or unsubsidized (payments must be made while in school).
Will winning a scholarship impact my financial aid package?
It may. The
government takes student awards into consideration when offering aid. However,
students should not be deterred by this. The effects are not likely to be
great. Many schools use student money to offset loan eligibility, not grant
awards. Students who receive little aid can benefit greatly from scholarships.
Contrary to beliefs of certain celebrities, more money equals fewer problems.
If I’m not eligible for financial aid, can I still receive a scholarship?
Yes, there
are plenty of scholarships that aren’t based on financial need. Play to your
strengths: If you have a high GPA, apply for academic scholarships, if you’re a
great writer, apply for essay and poetry scholarships, if you’re creative,
apply for art and design scholarships...the list goes on and on. You could have
your entire tuition covered by scholarships if you do your due diligence, which
means you’ll graduate with zero student loan debt.
Why should I apply for scholarships?
The real
question here is why shouldn’t you apply for scholarships? A scholarship is
free money for college, money you don’t have to worry about paying back so you
can spend more time on your classes. You’re being awarded money for college for
something you’re already good at – whether it’s your grades, athleticism,
creative ability or tech savvy – so why not take advantage of it? So many
students don’t want to apply for scholarships because they don’t think they stand
a chance of winning but in reality, applying for scholarships that match your
specific criteria (like the ones our scholarship search will match you with)
increases the odds of receiving a scholarship award exponentially. Scholarships
can paired with all kinds of financial aid to cover the cost of books,
supplies, room and board, even entire tuitions but you will never know if
that’s possible unless you apply.
What are the odds of winning a scholarship?
It depends
on the scholarship you’re applying for. National scholarships will obviously
have larger applicant pools than state- or major-specific scholarships but they
are all judged on specific sets of requirements. If you follow the criteria,
you will have a better chance of winning than someone who doesn’t; the same
goes for students who observe deadlines versus students who submit their
applications late. You won’t win a scholarship because of who you know; you’ll
earn it based on how well you follow directions and the caliber of your
responses.
Can I win multiple scholarships?
Yes, but
typically not from the same scholarship provider during the same award year. If
you’re applying to more than one scholarship, though, be sure to keep your
applications and their unique requirements organized: Sending the wrong
materials to the wrong scholarship committee can guarantee you won’t be
receiving those funds for college.
Am I still eligible for scholarships if I am not a full-time student?
This varies
from scholarship to scholarship. Some awards require students to be in school
full-time, others are valid for students attending part-time and others are
offered specifically to individuals who aren’t currently enrolled but plan to
return to school in some capacity during the next semester.
Can I win scholarships if I attend an online school?
This
depends on the school and scholarship provider. A great place to start your
search is Scholarships.com, where our scholarship search presents awards
meeting your exact criteria, or contact your school directly and inquire about
scholarship opportunities available only to students (this smaller applicant
pool will increase your odds of receiving the award).
Where can I find scholarships?
You’ve
already found your way to Scholarships.com, where you can fill out a profile
and have access to the 2.7 million scholarship awards in our database, so
that’s a great start! For additional awards, speak to your guidance counselor,
financial aid officer, volunteer coordinator, coach, employer or parents’
employers. Scholarships are distributed by large corporations like Google and
local businesses alike – the latter of which you may have a better chance of
winning since the recipient will be drawn from a smaller applicant pool.
I’m not a strong writer. Will I have to write an essay for every scholarship I’m applying to?
While the
majority of scholarship application processes entail some kind of essay to
assess applicants’ writing skills, not all providers require one. Keep in mind
that scholarships that do not require essays can be more competitive or have
additional guidelines to ensure the right students apply. If you’re having
difficulty finding an essay-free scholarship, peruse our "Scholarships by
Type" section for easy scholarships or increasingly popular video
scholarships, where applicants produce short multimedia pieces instead of
writing traditional essays.
Who should I ask to write me a letter of recommendation to accompany my scholarship application and when should I ask them?
Teachers,
coaches, employers or volunteer supervisors are all excellent choices to pen
recommendation letters because they can detail your strengths and achievements
in ways that appeal to scholarship committees. Do not ask parents, relatives or
friends close to your own age because even though they may know you better
personally, these references will carry less weight than a professional source.
As for when you should request their assistance, do so well before the
application deadline. Chances are your letter isn’t the only one they’ll be
writing so asking in a timely manner is not only appreciated but will likely
yield a more thoughtful finished product.
When should I start applying for scholarships?
The sooner
the better, of course! Eligibility requirements vary between awards – you must
be a high school senior, you must be a college sophomore majoring in computer
science, you must be under the age of 30, etc. – but one thing is for sure: You
won’t receive a scholarship if you miss the deadline. Make sure your
application packet is complete at least two weeks before the deadline; this
way, if it gets lost in the mail or the website crashes, you will have enough
time to resubmit your materials.
My schedule is packed. Can my parents apply for scholarships for me?
Your
parents can certainly help you throughout the process but since you are the one
the scholarship will be awarded to, you must be the one to fill out the
application, write the essay, complete necessary supplements and sign the
appropriate forms. Your parents can assist you in securing your transcripts and
even stamping your envelope but if it’s determined that they did the bulk of
the work for you, you will be ineligible to receive the award.
I have a question about the application process/award/requirements. Is it ok to contact the scholarship provider directly?
This should
be detailed in the scholarship’s rules, regulations and guidelines. The
scholarship provider may have the answer to your question but if they have a
strict "no call" or "no e-mail" policy, don’t call or
e-mail. Instead, speak to your guidance counselor or financial aid officer;
they’ve probably encountered the same questions in past years and will be able
to give you an answer...or point you in the right direction toward one.
Will I have to pay an application fee?
Scholarships.com
does not list any scholarships that require any sort of application fee but
there are some scholarships out there that might. It’s ultimately your decision
whether or not you want to apply for a scholarship that charges you to do but
use your best judgment: If the scholarship is for $500 and you must pay a $100
fee to submit your application, is the now-$400 award (which you aren’t even
guaranteed to win) worth it to you?
How do I know if I’ve won a scholarship?
Someone
from the scholarship committee should contact you directly via phone, e-mail or
snail mail by a specific date so it’s essential to make yourself available as
that time draws closer. The funds will then be sent to you or the school you
will be attending during the next semester. If someone from a third-party
organization claims they need personal information (Social Security number,
bank account numbers, etc.) to complete the award process, it could be a scam;
get as much information about the solicitor as possible without divulging your
details and contact the scholarship provider directly to determine your next
step.
Will I have to reapply for this award each year I’m in school, like the FAFSA?
Scholarships
usually come in three varieties: one-time, renewable and renewable with
stipulations. One-time awards are granted – you guessed it – only once while
renewable scholarships are granted each year. Some are dispensed automatically
each year after the initial award but most renewable awards call for the
recipient to reapply or provide transcripts and progress reports to ensure they
are still meeting the guidelines set by the scholarship committee. If you were
awarded for your stellar grades or athletic achievement, a low GPA or
nonparticipation on a university team could call for your award to be
discontinued so check with your scholarship provider to determine what kind of
award yours is and what you need to do to keep the funding coming.
