It’s no secret that going to college can be very expensive. In fact, there are 43.2 million people in the United States who have college debt, and the average amount owed is $36,406. If you want to avoid financial stress, it’s a good idea to look at college scholarships for when applying to college. These range from a small amount of money for essentials like textbooks to large sums that can cover your entire college experience.
However, with so many colleges out there — each with their own application process — it can seem impossible to know how to apply for scholarships. To help you understand how to access college board scholarships, we’ve created this easy guide to different kinds of college scholarships — including sports, essay, low income, and federal aid scholarships.
Whether you’re just thinking of applying or already studying and looking for college scholarships for college students, keep reading. You may even be interested in college scholarships for transfer students. We’ve got every potential student covered with this complete guide.
What are Scholarships?
Almost every school offers college scholarships for college students. Lowering tuition encourages the best students to study at their institution. These scholarships are usually in the form of a sum of money, delivered either in one deposit or in installments. However, sometimes scholarships provide other things — for example, paying for rent, providing textbooks, or funding an educational travel opportunity. College scholarships are a form of free money that you don’t have to pay back.
It’s important to understand what they are before you start your scholarship search. There are a few key features that most college board scholarships share:
Competitive: Because they are so helpful, most are very competitive. You often have to have a particular skill, be that academic, musical, or sport-related, to get one.
Requirements: There is usually a strict set of requirements to be eligible for a scholarship. For example, you may have to live in a particular state, study a specific subject, or have a special skill to qualify for scholarships. However, because there are many available, you will likely meet the requirements for at least one to help you pay for college.
Funded: There is usually a specific body that manages the scholarship, whether these are college scholarships for transfer students or current students. This may be a department in your college, a private trust, or a federal agency.
Although there are several other distinctive characteristics of scholarships, they can differ significantly depending on the institution you attend, what you’re studying, and which body provides the scholarship. For the most detailed information on how to apply for scholarships, you should contact the body providing them directly.
How Do College Scholarships Differ From Other Forms of Aid?
There are three main ways that scholarships differ from other forms of aid like student loans:
Eligibility: Most students are eligible for student loans, but not for every college board scholarship.
Limited Amounts: Unlike student loans, there are usually only one or a few of each scholarship available. For example, if you’re applying for an essay scholarship, it’s likely that only 1-3 students will receive it.
No Requirement to Pay Back: Unlike loans, you don’t need to pay the money you receive back at any point. This is ideal if you’re struggling financially. There are usually some clauses to this, though. For example, if you received a sports scholarship, you might need to commit to competing in that sport for the academic year to receive the scholarship.
Each of the college scholarships for college students is different, but they usually follow these general rules.
Is There a Limit to How Many Scholarships I Can Apply For?
The answer to this question depends on the body that runs the applications. For example, if you apply for aid from a private body that runs three scholarships or looking at several college board scholarships, they may require that you pick one. However, if all the ones you’re considering are run by separate entities, you can usually apply for as many as you want.
If you’re unsure whether you can apply for two scholarships from the same body, the best thing to do is contact them directly. Most providers are happy to offer guidance and advice to potential applicants. You can also often find testimonies from current or past holders of the aid who will often be easily contactable and happy to help.
All About Scholarship Applications
Now that you know all about the different types available, you’re probably wondering how to apply for scholarships. Read on for everything you need to know about your scholarship search and how to pay for college.
When To Apply For College Scholarships
The application deadline depends on which scholarship you’re applying for. Some can have very early deadlines — even a whole year before college begins. College scholarships for transfer students are processed separately, so ensure you’ve got your dates correct.
It’s best to be prepared early so you don’t miss out on important deadlines. However, don’t worry if you’ve left it a bit later as some are only available after you’ve started college. You can also apply for scholarships while you’re at college — just ask your professors for more information.
How To Apply For College Scholarships
If you want to know how to apply for a government-backed scholarship, it’s best to contact the department that provides them. In addition to college scholarships, federal aid scholarships are a great way to supplement your tuition obligations. Schools you’re interested in will also have webpages dedicated to information about their college scholarships for college students.
Once you start researching, you’ll realize that most scholarship applications require the following things:
- Proof that you will be or are attending college.
- Proof that you fulfill the requirements for the scholarship to help you pay for college.
- A formal application — often an online document. This will include a piece of creative work for an essay scholarship.
- References from a relevant person — this could be a teacher, coach, or guidance counselor.
If you’re still unsure of exactly what you need to do to apply for a scholarship and pay for college, you should reach out to the relevant body. Each school is unique, so you need to make sure you don’t forget their important documents.
Types of Scholarships Available
There are many types available to help you pay for college. This is great news for your scholarship search, as you can almost certainly find one that you’re eligible for.
We’ve covered some of the most common types, but for the most up-to-date information, you should contact your college directly. You can also find information using the federal aid scholarships search and looking at the government’s recommendations for your situation.
Situational Scholarships
These forms of aid are targeted at students who have a particular characteristic. Some common types of situational scholarships include:
Military Family Scholarships: Many places offer scholarships to people who have had parents or guardians serving in the military. You can access this scholarship through colleges or military bodies.
Graduate Student Scholarships: If a graduate student is carrying out important research, they may get a scholarship to help with it.
Race-Based Scholarships: Some aid packages are targeted at people of a particular race to increase access to higher education.
Gender-Based Scholarships: Some are targeted at women, particularly in areas where they are often underrepresented, such as science or engineering programs.
Location: Scholarships are occasionally only open to people from a certain area. For example, if a scholarship has been made in a person’s name, sometimes it is only available to people from their country or state.
Academic Scholarships
These college board scholarships are awarded if you excel academically. They can be for incoming students, current students, or college scholarships for transfer students. This is usually assessed in one of three ways:
General Academic Performance Before College: This looks at how you performed during school. It is often measured by your results in exams like the SAT.
Prize or Essay Scholarship: Some institutions hold competitions, often in the form of writing. These competitions enable students to win an essay scholarship.
Subject-Based: Many colleges offer money for succeeding in a particular subject. For example, it’s common that the person achieving the highest grade in a year may win a prize. Essay scholarships can also fall under this category.
Athletic Scholarships
Athletic scholarships are granted if you excel at one or multiple sports. However, these are unique and depend on the sport you play.
For example, if you are looking at a running or rowing award, you will likely have a certain time that you have to achieve in an event to be considered. If you play a sport like football or soccer, you may have scouts at important games or practices that will determine your skill level and whether you are eligible for a scholarship.
However, you are unlikely to get an athletic scholarship to pay for college if the school does not specialize in your best sport. Therefore, if you excel in a niche sport, you should research which institutions offer athletic scholarships and also have high-achieving teams in your sport.
Skill Scholarships
Like athletic or academic scholarships, some colleges give money based on other skills that may aid their school’s reputation or prestige. For example, if you are a talented musician, you may receive a scholarship in return for agreeing to play in an orchestra.
This applies to a wide range of skills and activities — for example, art, writing, or volunteering. To see which your college offers, you should contact the academic or scholarship office directly.
Conclusion — Getting a College Scholarship
Now you’re an expert on how to apply for scholarships. All that’s left to do is start your scholarship search. Whether it’s for the private or college board scholarships, get started early and submit your applications.
Although it can seem like there are hundreds of rules to follow when you’re looking at how to apply for scholarships, just reach out to the college board. They will be happy to help if you need any extra advice.