With the rising cost of college tuition, many students compete year after year for scholarships. These scholarships assist students with tuition, housing, and other costs. They can be endowed an individual, sponsored a corporation, or sponsored the school. Some are based on financial need, while others are awarded solely on the basis of academic achievement.
Scholarships awarded a college or university are the most common, and most students applying to a college also apply for any scholarships that are available. The two most common types of scholarships awarded colleges are leadership and academic scholarships. A leadership scholarship is given to students who excel academically and participate in school and extracurricular activities. It usually selects students based on their involvement in student government, clubs, volunteerism, and church activities. Academic scholarships may include activities as a secondary requirement, but the student’s academic record is the most important factor. Scholarships for valedictorian and salutatorian, as well as general academic scholarships, may be awarded.
Housing and book awards are two other types of scholarships. These scholarships are designed to assist with the costs of living in a dorm and purchasing books. Scholarships for students majoring in a specific discipline may be awarded different schools within the university.
Scholarships endowed individuals or sponsored businesses may have additional selection criteria. Some scholarships, known as “need-based” scholarships, require that the student have a specific financial need, while others require that the student be from a specific ethnic group or gender, or major in a specific degree program. Because these awards are usually open to students from all over the country, there is a lot of competition. Students can create scrapbooks of their accomplishments to increase their chances of receiving these types of scholarships.
Some scholarship applications ask students to write an essay on a specific subject. This essay, along with other criteria, determines who is awarded the prize. Civic and business organizations frequently fund these scholarships.
The “full ride” scholarship is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after of all the types of scholarships available. Other awards typically only cover a portion of tuition or housing costs, and while some are renewable each year, they rarely cover the full cost of tuition. The full ride scholarship covers all costs of attendance, including tuition, fees, and housing, and may or may not include a stipend for books. This type of scholarship eliminates the need for the student to take out student loans to pay for college.
Full-ride scholarships are the most scarce and, therefore, the most difficult to obtain. They typically require a student to have an outstanding academic record, a strong leadership resume, and letters of recommendation from teachers or administrators.
When looking for scholarships, a student should talk to his or her guidance counselor at school and also look online. Some scholarships aren’t well-known, but with a little digging, the student can often find awards that they are eligible for. Some people also offer their services as professional scholarship hunters, and some students believe it is worthwhile to consult one. Scholarships are not always easy to come by, but they are almost always worthwhile.