Students,
if you need financial assistance to pay for school, you should be applying for
scholarships! Prime time for scholarships is typically between October and
March, so make sure that you’re checking out all of your possibilities.
Your
best bet for scholarships will be through the colleges and universities that
you’re considering. Some schools will award automatic scholarships based off of
your GPA, test scores, and the classes you’ve taken. If you have received any
automatic scholarships, you should get a letter from the school to let you
know. You can often apply for additional scholarships through the financial aid
office at the school or through your academic program. Some of these
scholarships might require essays, interviews, or participation in a
scholarship event on campus. Make sure you know what the requirements are when
you begin the application!
Local
organizations are another great resource for scholarships. Check in with your
school counselor for a list of scholarships through your local community. If
you have a part-time job, ask your employer if they offer any scholarships for
student employees, and have your parents do the same. If you or your parents
are a member of a local church or volunteer organization, check to see if they
offer scholarships as well. ICAN offers a scholarship for any student who uses
our resources (including this blog!), so you can apply for our scholarship as
well. Visit ICANsucceed.org/ICANscholarship to fill out the application.
In
addition to institutional and local scholarships, you can also use the internet
to search out ways to pay for college. Scholarship databases like Raise.Me,
Fastweb.com, and Scholarships.com are national resources for college
scholarships. However, if you’re searching for scholarships online, be careful!
There are some scam websites out there. Never pay money to a scholarship
website for access to information -- you can get scholarship info for free from
lots of different resources, including our website: ICANsucceed.org/scholarships.
Students,
the scholarship search is YOUR responsibility! Try to spend an hour or two each
week searching for scholarships, filling out applications, and writing essays.
If you put in the time, you’ll see the rewards. Apply for every scholarship you
come across, especially local ones! Some scholarships will go unclaimed because
students don’t apply for them. Don’t give up on the chance for free money to
pay for school!
As you fill out your scholarship applications, it’s a good idea to start developing a resume with your contact information, academic information, and a list of the activities you’ve been involved with. This will make filling out applications much easier! Some scholarship applications will ask for letters of recommendation, so have a few teachers, coaches, or employers in mind who would be willing to write you a letter. Make sure to ask ahead of time so they have plenty of time to write! Make sure to circle any deadlines on the calendar so that you don’t miss out on great opportunities to help you pay for school.
Susan - ICAN Hiawatha
