Scholarships are a great way to pay for student’s to further their education. They represent free money, making it easier for a student to avoid taking out loans so they can graduate debt free. This is so important now more than ever with the rising costs for college tuition. No matter the amount of the scholarship, no amount is too small. Receiving a scholarship can open the door to education and employment opportunities. Especially, if the scholarship allows you to develop certain skills or increase your work experience by completing an internship. Plus many scholarships can be used for expenses other than tuition and board. In fact, some are awarded in cash and can be used for anything from supplies, to a new laptop, or gas for your car.
Start with Mrs. Smith in the College Career Center. She has information for scholarships available to you. You can also utilize your googling skills to search for specific scholarships that pertain to the academic program(s) you plan to pursue. Search the websites of the schools where you have been accepted or contact the financial aid office. They may have scholarship lists available.
Fall semester is a great time to apply for scholarships! Often, many students are focusing on admissions requirements, so they are concentrating on their applications instead of funding their education. Create a calendar to track scholarship deadlines. Utilize your time-off you have from school. Winter Break is a great time to dedicate to scholarship applications. Commit a few hours each day to your search for scholarships and the application processes. Apply for every local scholarship available to you. These scholarships are generally funded by community organizations and local families. Putting forth some effort at the beginning of your senior year can go a long way in making it feel like less of a strain in finding money to further your education.