Title: Top Tips for Bagging a Scholarship
Hey there! I just want to share a funny story from my college days. While I was a bit flippant in the hunt for scholarships, I still managed to cover 75% of my tuition. Yes, I had decent grades and some skills that helped win some scholarships, but the funny part is how a half-hearted effort got me around $500 per semester throughout my undergraduate years.
Allow me to take you back to the winter of 2000: I had just heard from a senior in my AP class about an oratory contest organized by our local American Legion chapter. This intrigued me, and on a whim, I decided to participate in it even though public speaking wasn’t my jam. Fast forward a bit, and 24 hours before the contest, I was in panic mode—completely unprepared!
The day of the contest, there were only three other participants, and I was lucky enough to place second because one guy had gone off-topic. This little adventure earned me my scholarship close to $500 a semester from the local American Legion. I guess the takeaway here is that it could be worthwhile to apply for opportunities even when we’re not so confident, because who knows? The competition might not be as fierce as we imagine.
Now, I’m not encouraging you to just wing it like I did that time. The student who won first place went ahead to compete in county and subsequent levels, offering a shot at even bigger scholarships. Preparation is essential the further you go. But sometimes, diving in headfirst could get you somewhere you have never imagined.
All right, enough storytime. If you’re looking for scholarships, let me share some tips from my own experience that might prove handy:
1. First and foremost, be friends with your school guidance counselors or anyone who handles college-related matters. They can alert you about scholarship opportunities you’re eligible for.
2. List out all your skills, even if they seem quirky. You’d be surprised at the scholarships available for unique abilities or attributes. The competition lessens when the scholarship requirements get more specific.
3. Reach out to human resource departments of large local companies or where your parents work. Many provide scholarships for high school students.
4. Spend some time searching online. There are massive scholarship websites out there. You’ll see that many scholarships ask similar questions in their application process. Four or five tailored “generic” essays can speed things up considerably.
5. Always review the scholarship packages from your potential colleges or universities. Some offer automatic scholarships based on SAT scores and class position.
6. Once you’re in college, there’s often another office that keeps track of available scholarships. You may also be able to apply for scholarships from your chosen department.
Finally, if you still need tips on getting through college debt-free, you might want to enter for a chance to win a copy of “Debt-Free U.” This is a book by Zac Bissonette, someone who has personally walked the debt-free college journey.
Remember, every bit counts when paying for college, and scholarships are one of the best ways to lighten the load. Happy hunting!