Though applying to college remains a fun and exciting time for upcoming adults, the process also involves numerous stressors. One of these anxieties in particular worries applicants and confuses those who have never filled out these applications before. The fact of the matter stands: college costs money, which may drain bank accounts or rack up student loan debt. However, the opportunity of scholarships, which students can find through various sources, can help alleviate the looming beast of university tuition and fees.
Foremost, the concept of a scholarship differs from that of a grant. The latter focuses on a needs basis so that students with needs may receive aid. For example, the Pell Grant allows students who demonstrate extreme financial need to receive money based on factors such as parental income, family size or uncommon circumstances.
Scholarships, however, are rewarded based on a student’s merit. Colleges or third-party organizations typically offer this type of aid for scholars who exhibit impressive academic, extracurricular or athletic achievement. These may require an application, but programs such as the Zell Miller or Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) scholarships in the state of Georgia can cover full or part of qualifying students’ tuition, contenders must simply reach a specific grade point average (GPA) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) score.
Colleges also reward various scholarships to their students. These may require an additional application after acceptance into the college, or the institution may offer a certain amount of money based on the student’s initial application, which universities typically call merit-based. For further scholarship opportunities, colleges may structure a separate application process that includes additional essays and interviews, but these forms of aid vary between institutions. Generally, college websites will display a “Scholarships and Aid” tab that explains in-depth what students can receive from them.
“My experience with the Presidential Scholarship [for] Georgia State, we had to write five to six short essays similar to the CommonApp essays. About a couple of months later, I heard back that I was a finalist so we went in for interview day. It was a formal event, we dressed up in our business casual clothes and we were there all day. It started with a welcome and a panel of current scholars and we got to kind of ask them questions and ask parents of scholars questions as well and then we broke off into groups and we had interviews at these tables. The whole point of interview day is to get to know you beyond your academics and kind of get to know more of your hobbies and you know why you want to go to Georgia State, so it’s still professional, but it’s fun. And then you break off into an individual interview when you’re also interviewed by staff,” NC alum Jacey Cuffie said.
Outside of scholarships awarded by the state and those from specific colleges, organizations provide students the chance to receive extra aid as well. Programs such as the Coolidge Scholarship, named by the foundation for 30th President Calvin Coolidge, open an application every year for high school juniors to receive college aid. By researching programs and taking the time to fill out their applications, high school students can obtain multiple scholarships to help pay for tuition.
Organizations such as the Coolidge Scholarship garner high amounts of traction each year due to their eminence, so looking into local scholarships also stands as a vital way to receive aid. Around Acworth and Kennesaw, organizations such as the Acworth Business Association (ABA) allow seniors in the Cobb area to apply for $1,000 scholarships. These opportunities remain attainable ways for students to obtain aid from their hometown, as a minor number of people apply to these scholarships, allowing those who do apply a probable chance at success.
Overall, obtaining scholarships remains a manageable task through a student’s knowledge of resources. By researching scholarships with specific parameters such as location, major, college or family life, students can find a plethora of scholarships for a diverse array of characteristics. The search may seem stressful for high school students with no prior knowledge, but with the apt investigation of college websites or scholarship websites such as BigFuture, those in need may find the aid they need to pursue their dreams.
“If there’s a school that you’re thinking about going to, Google and put that school’s name and then put scholarships. For example, I knew that I really wanted to go to Georgia State so I literally googled Georgia State scholarships and you’ll find that most colleges will have a portal of scholarships that they offer to incoming students and also current students and you can even filter the search they have specifically for STEM, majors or specifically for first-generation or for men or women. I have learned [that] there is so much money out there that schools want to give away and all you have to do is apply, and you will be surprised how much money is out there for you. [Also] don’t be afraid to talk to your counselor; they are there to help you. I know senior year can get super hectic and super crazy but just take two seconds to stop by the counselor’s office and they can also give you more information about specific scholarships that you might have questions about,” Cuffie said.