For most college-bound seniors, the price tag that accompanies a higher education is troubling. Tuition is expensive, and additional costs like board and supplies certainly don’t ease the anxiety many seniors feel about paying for college.

Taking out loans may help pay tuition, but eventually, they must be paid back. Completing the FAFSA can get students grants from the government, which can be used to pay for tuition, books, and boarding. (In fact, according to a study, almost three billion dollars in government financial aid goes unclaimed every year. You can read more about this here.) However, grants alone might not be enough to cover a student’s entire college education. And then, there are scholarships.

When it comes to scholarships, many students are hesitant to apply. There is a misconception that applicants must have the academic standing of a genius, some super-human athletic ability, or presidential leadership qualities to be awarded scholarships. While this is true for some scholarships, it certainly is not true for every scholarship. The scholarship universe is vast and – most importantly – very diverse. There are many different scholarships with eligibility requirements that are applicable to everyone, not just geniuses and super-humans. In fact, according to an interview with Mark Kantrowitz, author of Secrets to Winning a Scholarship, “most high school seniors will match fifty to one hundred scholarships.” (CNBC) Examples of some easy scholarship requirements include grade level, hobbies and interests, and religion (or lack of religion).

Another misconception about scholarships is that they are impossible to win because there’s too much competition. This is not true. Competition differs between scholarships – some are more desirable or more advertised than others, leading to more applicants. Even if a scholarship is very competitive, most applicants “don’t take the time to properly read or follow the rules and answer the questions thoughtfully, or even correctly,” reports Scholarships.com.

The key to winning is to apply to multiple scholarships, because this helps to beat around competition. As Scholarships.com points out, “apply for as many scholarships as you can and you are bound to win something, provided you make sure to do everything you are asked and follow all of each scholarship provider’s instructions.” More expensive scholarships are more likely to be competitive, while smaller scholarships are less likely to draw as many applicants. By applying to many large and small scholarships, the chances of winning are greatly increased.

To most students, generous scholarships seem worth the effort and time of applying, while smaller scholarships are typically disregarded because the application input appears to be greater than the financial output. However, not applying to smaller scholarships is a mistake. Small scholarships usually fall in the range of $50 microscholarships to winnings worth a few thousand dollars. Small scholarships might not pay the majority of tuition, but they are incredibly helpful when it comes to paying for supplies, as they are “free money” that doesn’t have to be paid back.

To encourage my fellow students to apply for scholarships, I’ve included a handful of financial aid resources:

• Raise.me is a website where students can follow colleges to win microscholarships for their academic and extracurricular achievements. The scholarships range from $50 to $1,000 and they really add up. This website is designed for underclassmen or seniors who have not yet applied to a college. Check it out by clicking here.
• Questbridge helps low-income students gain admission to some of the US’s top schools, including Stanford, Princeton, and Columbia Universities. Students selected by Questbridge’s Match Scholarship will receive a full, four year scholarship (worth over $200,000) to their chosen participating university. Click here for more info!
• Unigo.com is one of the best scholarship websites I’ve found. Unigo not only gives away their own scholarships (with fun prompts and easy applications), but is also a scholarship match engine. Enter in details, such as your grades, clubs you participate in, your religion, interests, and ethnicity to receive a personalized list of scholarships you are eligible for. Unigo’s scholarship match is the most specific and accommodating and their website is easily navigable. I totally recommend Unigo, so click this link!
• Cappex is a leader in college application and financial aid information. Cappex is also a scholarship match engine, but the website goes above and beyond with matching you to colleges, majors, and careers, as well as providing extensive information and insightful reviews on just about any university out there. Some handy features include a personalized financial aid calculator, a “college fit” meter, and countless articles to help you apply for both colleges and financial aid. To top it all off, Cappex can also get you in contact with schools you want to attend. Click here to learn more about Cappex.com!
• Seniors – BUH’s guidance counselors post upcoming local scholarships to the school website. Click here to view it, and don’t forget to check out the website in the spring, because that’s when most local scholarships become available.
• Don’t forget about Cal Grants! You must give your counselor permission to submit your academic information by the beginning of senior year. If you’ve done this and you qualify for Cal Grants, go to https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/ to set up your WGS account.

Sources:

CNBC: Holland, Kelley. “Take These Steps to Find and Secure Scholarships.” Cnbc.com, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2016, 11:03,  www.cnbc.com/2016/01/20/take-these-steps-to-find-and-secure-scholarships.html?view=story&%24DEVICE%24=native-android-tablet.