Some things about college scholarships are obvious—namely, free money to fund college is a good thing. But for something that everyone knows, there are actually many misconceptions and myths about how scholarships work and how students can qualify for them.
Check out these six common scholarship myths and find out how you can use these great tools to pay for your college education.
Myth 1: You have to be a star student (or an athlete, artistic virtuoso, etc.) to win scholarships
We’re not going to lie: if you’re a graduate student, have already won a Pulitzer, and qualified for the Olympics, it’s true that you’ll have an easier time getting college scholarships. But you don’t have to be any of those things to earn substantial scholarship money.
All you need is imaginative.
It turns out that there are many scholarships based on all sorts of criteria. While state and school grants typically have at least modest academic criteria for applicants, private grants can be based on whatever criteria the donor chooses.
There are scholarships based on demographics such as your religion, gender or ethnicity, hobbies, artistic pursuits, your intended career path, and more. There are even grants for super tall people or those with a certain rare surname. If you search, you’ll likely find at least a few that are perfect for you.
To simplify this process, visit our grants database, where you can search by various criteria so you can find the offers that best suit you.
Myth 2: College scholarships are good for all four years of school
Some scholarships are awarded as four-year fellowships, but many are not. If you are applying for a scholarship — and especially if you win it — make sure you understand if you will need to reapply each year to continue receiving the scholarship.
You should also check what criteria you need to meet each year to be eligible for the scholarship – it doesn’t necessarily stay the same. Common reasons why you may no longer be eligible for a scholarship you have already won are if your grades drop, you move house or you change majors.
Myth 3: You have to apply to high school
While you certainly should start looking for college scholarships while you are still in high school. You can still apply for scholarships as long as you are in school. Some scholarships are specifically designed for students who are already enrolled in college or are pursuing further education.
And remember, just because you didn’t qualify for a particular scholarship in high school doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have a chance of winning it later after you’ve proven your skills in college. If you see a scholarship that you think is still a good fit, go for it!
Myth 4: It takes a lot of effort to get a scholarship
It is true that some scholarships require quite a bit of effort to earn, including writing an essay and collecting reference letters and other documentation. But this does not apply to all scholarships. Tons of scholarships don’t require an essay; Some require little more than filling out a short form. (Our scholarship is easy to apply and your parents can apply too.)
If you want to put in some effort, make sure you have met all the requirements for a specific scholarship. The last thing you want is to miss out on free money because you submitted a form a day late or forgot to include a copy of your academic transcript.
Myth 5: Only large scholarships are worth applying for
Winning a prestigious and/or lucrative scholarship is obviously a plus for you and a way to reduce your overall college expenses. But here’s the downside: any student half-praying to win them applies for them, so you face stiff competition.
Smaller scholarships and scholarships from lesser-known institutions don’t get as much of a buzz, but they also get far fewer applicants, so the chances that you’re the chosen grantee are much better.
Think about it: Let’s say a county chamber of commerce offers three $500 scholarships for local graduates. And only a few thousand kids graduate from high school in this county each year—many of whom won’t bother to apply. You could have a better than 1 in 1000 chance of getting one of these scholarships compared to some big name scholarships where you would be up against tens of thousands of other students.
Well, $500 probably doesn’t mean you’ll graduate from college with no debt. But if you can win five, 10, or 20 of these smaller scholarships over the course of your college career, that can add up to thousands of dollars in free money — and a much smaller burden on student loans after you graduate.
It is worth spending some time looking for all the smaller, under-the-radar scholarships that might suit you. It doesn’t have to be a full-time job — an hour or two a week researching and filling out applications could be enough to earn you a significant amount of free money.
Myth 6: Scholarships are only good for tuition
A surprising number of people think that scholarships can only be used for tuition or direct educational expenses, and that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.
Each scholarship has its own rules on how you can use scholarship funds. Some are for instruction only; Some can be used for general living expenses and more. Some are even earmarked for specific types of expenses, e.g. B. A grant to buy technology you need for your education.
If you win a scholarship, be sure to check the policies to make sure you’re following the rules set out.
You juggle a lot while trying to graduate from high school and prepare for college. Finding scholarships can feel like just one more task on an already crowded plate. But if you can manage to set aside a little time to research (and apply) for the scholarships that will best suit you, you might be surprised at how fruitful these efforts are. See our scholarship guide for more information.