I’ve been told since day 1 that you should refrain from spending too much time applying to big name scholarships that offer big money (ex. Dr. Pepper, Coca Cola, etc) and go to smaller local sources with smaller amounts (Lions Club, Moose Lodge, etc.) because there is less competition. Does anyone have any advice as to what places tend to make your time the most worthwhile and where to find them? Any input is greatly appreciated and thanks!
@EthanAS Your best shot is merit aid from colleges based in your state, public and for whom your test scores make you a “big fish” (better than the average student they accept). This may mean you go to a less popular and well known school, which may not appeal to you. Consider the long view of 10 years from now - would you rather have a $955 a month payment for debt for 10 years or be debt free and living away from home wherever you want? Go to the smaller school, kick butt, stand out and see how far you will be able to go!
@EthanAS Merit aid is definitely where the bulk of your scholarships can come from depending on where you go but it doesn’t hurt to try for some smaller scholarships too. I wouldn’t devote full time to it but try some. My daughter did win over $5000 in small scholarships so far. She goes to community college, so this covered half of her total program tuition! You definitely want to look for local scholarships. See if your guidance counselor has a list. Also search online for scholarships for your intended field of study. If you are a member of a church denomination look for any your district or other church organization may offer. Or your parents’ employers. Once you know what college you’re going to, apply for any foundation/donor scholarships run through the college (every year or semester, however the college does it). These are donor funded scholarships separate from the freshman merit and some are for upperclassmen only.
For example, my daughter has won $750 from our rural electric utility, $1500 from the local ethanol plant, and $500 from a foundation scholarship at her college. She reapplies for the foundations every semester. She is doing a 2 year graphic design program and won a $1500/year from the Printing and Graphics Scholarship Foundation so there is another $3000. I never thought she’d win from a national organization so that one was a nice surprise.
I wasn’t even going to have her apply for the ethanol plant one because it was for STEM. But apparently graphic design falls under the “technology” so she applied on the way home from a track meet the night before the due date. Quickest $1500 she ever made.