By Violet W
College is getting more expensive. According to U.S. News, tuition at a public university was an average of $10,388 for the 2021-2022 year, compared with $38,185 for a private college. For an out-of-state student at a public university, the tuition averaged $22,698 per year. For many students, scholarships are essential to help offset the costs of education.
Here are some useful steps for finding scholarships:
- Start small
Start by applying for scholarships with the least amount of competition. Check first with your school’s counseling website for the scholarships posted by your counselors. These scholarships will often only be open to students in your area, which means a great chance of winning them.
- Talk to your counselor
Ask your counselor for past graduation commencement programs to see what local scholarships were by graduates from your school. Any scholarship posted there means the scholarship committee is already familiar with your area and school.
- Check the websites of other schools in your region
Private scholarships from small businesses tend only to contact the high school they attended to post their scholarship, but the scholarship might be open to students from other schools as well. It is important to note that some local scholarships prefer their money to stay in-state and may stipulate that the recipient attends a local college.
- Research local organizations that offer scholarships
Again, this is a great place to find scholarships with less competition and a higher chance of winning them. Organizations like Boy Scouts, Elks Club, Rotary Clubs, and especially local non-profits can be a great resource for students. Non-profits especially might often offer dozens of scholarships per year but lack an advertising budget to draw a large pool of applicants, which means less competition for you.
- Use keywords
Searching for the keyword “scholarships” on the websites of every local radio and TV station could reveal some surprising hidden gems. Many radio stations promote local scholarships on the air, but unless you listen to their show, you may not learn about the award.
- Widen the search
Many websites allow sign-ins and often post scholarships open to students of certain majors or meet specific criteria. Search to see what scholarships you might have the best chance of winning.
Applications for local scholarships typically ask for an activities resume, general information about what high school you attend, an essay, and half of them ask for a teacher recommendation.
(Writer is a College Counselor and Outreach Coordinator with Moon Prep.)
