There are thousands of scholarships available to students entering college each year.  Along with grants and loans, scholarships can provide a nice piece to the financial aid puzzle.  This article will talk about some of the common misconceptions about scholarships, the main types of scholarships and where to find a college scholarship.

Scholarship Misconceptions:

#1 I have to have really good grades to get a scholarship.
While some scholarships require a certain grade level, there are many that do not.  Some may have a sliding grade scale in comparison to SAT or ACT test scores.  Additionally, there are many need based scholarships that don’t have a grade requirement.

#2 I can fund my college education with scholarships alone.
There is a misconception that all scholarships are “full ride” or, will pay all of a year’s tuition.  Scholarship dollar awards vary quite dramatically.  Some are as little as a few hundred dollars, while others are indeed “full ride.”  You should apply for as many scholarships as you qualify for since you will have to factor in tuition, room and board, food, books, lab fees and many other costs as well.  In addition to scholarships, every college student should complete a Federal Financial Aid Form to determine eligibility for grants and loans.

#3 Scholarships are too hard to get.
Certainly, some of the most lucrative scholarships are highly competitive to obtain.  Others, go unfilled due to lack of interest.  Preparation is key.  Do thorough research on all scholarships you might be able to qualify for.  Be aware of any application deadlines.  And organize extra components to the application like essays or letters of recommendation well before the due date.

Scholarship Types

Academic
Academic scholarships are typically tied to your grade point average or a test score – SAT, ACT, etc.  While other scholarships may have a minimum GPA requirement, academic scholarships are usually reserved for the highest achievers.  Some academic scholarships are reserved for students who want to pursue a specific course of study like computer science or history.

Activity Oriented
These types of scholarships are tied to an achievement in some sort of activity like athletic competition, debate, music, drama etc.  If you have excelled in any particular extracurricular activity, consider applying for one of these.

Need/Identity Based
Some scholarships are awarded based on financial need.  There may be some academic criteria involved, but the main selection point would be your level of financial need. 

Additionally, some scholarships are based on identity.  For example if you’re a racial minority, a woman, a child of a missionary, or child of a veteran.  Again, there may be some academic criteria, but the main selection point would be your identity.

Other
And then there’s everything else!  These scholarships can be based on anything and come from a variety of sources.  Some of the more important ones are those that come from civic organizations like the Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club or even local Chambers of Commerce. 

Others are a bit more eclectic.  Consider the Duck Tape brand duct tape scholarship that is open to students “planning to attend a high school prom in the spring dressed completely in duct-tape and or in accessories made from duct tape.”  The award is $500 to $2500 per year.  If you can call a duck in four different categories, you could earn up to $1500 per year.  And finally, if you’re a language study major, the Klingon Institute of America has $500 for you if you can be recommended by your department chairman.

Where to find college scholarships.
If you look carefully, there is at least one scholarship for everyone out there.  This leads to the final question.  Where should you look for college scholarships?  The answer is everywhere, but we’ll help you a bit here.

First, look at the school you plan on attending.  Most colleges and universities have a listing of all the major scholarships offered through the school.  These will include all the types of scholarships we’ve previously discussed.

Look locally where you live, or where you plan on attending school.  There are a variety of scholarships available through local Rotary clubs, Chambers of Commerce and other civic organizations.

Look professionally for scholarships.  If you have chosen a major, or have an idea what your career path may be, contact the professional association for that career.  They usually have scholarships available on a national and a local level.  This is particularly true of professions that are currently experiencing a shortage of qualified workers like nurses and machinists.

Finally, use the Internet.  This medium has got to be the greatest source of information.  I wish it was around in its current form when I had to look for college scholarships.  You can perform narrow or wide searches and most scholarships are out there.

As you can see, getting a college scholarship can be a challenge.  But if you’re prepared, you should be able to come away with at least one.  In combination with other sources of financial aid, college scholarships are a great way to improve your education and your life.

Final thought
If you’re serious about going to college and using scholarships to pay for it, you should be preparing long in advance.  Get good grades, join as many extracurricular clubs or activities that you can, make contacts in the local community, and study for your entrance exams.  Preparation is the key element to earning college admission and scholarships.