With the cost of attending college so high, many students hope to land a scholarship. Not only can these ease the financial burden of higher education, but they also bring with them a sense of prestige, honor, and achievement. In order to give yourself the best chance of being granted a scholarship, take some time to think carefully about the ones that will be most relevant to you. You don’t necessarily have to be a star athlete or academic genius – there are a huge number of different types of scholarships available, based on everything from financial need to personal background.
Here’s a quick overview of the sort of scholarships you might be able to apply for. Remember, there are scholarships you can apply for both before and during your studies, so even if you’re already at college it’s not too late to get an award.
Here are the Types Of College Scholarships:
1. Academic scholarships
If you’re a top student with an exceptional GPA, you might be eligible for a merit-based scholarship that rewards academic achievement. These are particularly prestigious and look great on your resume after you graduate. Competition for them is fierce though, as the monetary amount is often larger. Many also take other factors such as extracurricular activities into account as well as grades.
2. Sports scholarships
If you’re a star student-athlete, a sports scholarship might be more suitable for you. As well as the well-known ones for sports such as football and basketball, awards are available for all kinds of athletic activities including golf, fencing, and tennis scholarships. Athletic scholarships also tend to be extremely competitive, and you will need to be competing at a national or international level to qualify for the most generous ones.
3. Scholarships based on financial need
There are a number of scholarships available for students who can demonstrate genuine financial need. These needs-based awards might have specific requirements, such as residing in a certain area or studying certain subjects, so check the criteria carefully before applying. These can be a great option even if you are an average student academically.
4. Scholarships for people from certain backgrounds
Many scholarships are offered to people from specific disadvantaged or minority backgrounds, for example, women or people of certain ethnicities. Others are aimed at mature students, students from a military background, those whose parents work at certain companies, or who live in a certain geographic location, such as scholarships for Alaska natives. There are also scholarships for students who are studying specific subjects such as medicine, science, mathematics, or engineering.
5. Arts scholarships
In addition to scholarships for athletic ability, awards are also available for those who demonstrate talent in certain creative endeavors. For example, if you are an exceptional musician, artist, singer, or similar, there may be scholarships you can apply for. You’ll generally need to submit a portfolio or have an audition to be considered.
6. Community service scholarships
Finally, there are even certain scholarships available for those students who have a history of volunteering and giving back to their community. These are often not so well known, but might be ideal for you if you are deeply involved in community service, even if your grades are not the highest in your class.
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