Questions to Ask When Applying for College Scholarships
Did you know that approximately 1.7 million (yes, million) private scholarships exist? When you’re looking at how you’re going to fund your college journey, the search should not stop at the schools you are applying to.
Private scholarships are financial aid awards that are created and funded by companies, organizations, foundations, and individuals. Their value varies greatly, from full rides to only $50. Some are “pocket money” that you can use toward whatever college expenses you see fit, like your textbooks. Other scholarships will be directly given to your college to apply to your tuition. Some may be recurring, and others are one-time scholarships.
Many organizations offering private scholarships are looking for candidates who relate to their organization in some way. For example, a marketing firm may offer a scholarship to a student pursuing marketing or advertising in college. Private scholarships are also available for a variety of different identities and skills that you may have. There are even scholarships based on something as niche as the color of your hair. (No, really. Redheads, the deadline is April 4!)
With so many scholarship options available, it’s hard to know where you should start your scholarship search and which questions to ask. There are many things that make you unique that can qualify you for scholarships, so it’s all about brainstorming and figuring out what may your qualifiers are.
Below is a list of questions that you should consider to start your search:
Do you excel academically?
Do you participate in a sport or other extracurricular?
What are your nationality and ethnicity?
Are you the first in your family to go to college?
Did your parent attend the college that you are applying to?
What is your religious affiliation?
Is someone in your family an active service member or a veteran?
Do you have a disability?
Are you from a single-parent household?
Are you an exceptional writer?
Do you have any special skills or interests?
Are you a member of the LGBTQ+ community?
Will you be a minority in the field you're entering?
Does either of your parents have a job that offers scholarship support?
Have you won any awards or competitions?
What is your family's income level?
Once you’ve answered each of these questions, visit a scholarships search site or a search engine and look for scholarships that you identify with. For example, if you do art as an extracurricular, look up “college scholarships for artists.”
Answering these questions and doing some me-search about what makes you unique is a good first step in your college scholarship search! There is something out there for everyone; it’s just a matter of finding and applying for scholarships that you are best suited for.
If you’re looking for more help with the scholarship search, download our free guide: Your Guide to Organizing the Scholarship Search.