Wendy Nelson, http://exploresolutions.org/the-lowdown-on-college-scholarships/
October 25, 2014
One of the topics I think perspective college students and their parents often misunderstand going into the college
search is College Scholarships. Misunderstandings usually lead families to believe one of two things – either
assuming that they will get scholarships to make college more affordable or assuming they won’t qualify for any
college scholarships. Here are some facts to clear up the confusion:
1. There are four basic kinds of college scholarships – merit-based, talent-based, need-based, and combined.
 Merit-based scholarships are based primarily on GPA and ACT/SAT scores.
 Talent-based scholarships are awarded to students with a particular talent, often things like athletic talent
(Division 1 & 2 schools and a few other types offer athletic scholarships), musical talent (primarily for
students planning to be music majors), artistic talent (primarily for students planning to be art majors),
theatrical talent (primarily for students planning to be theater majors), and a few other odds and ends.
 Need-based scholarships are based primarily on a student’s need for financial assistance to go to college.
These are usually based on the FAFSA or other reporting of your family financial picture that includes
household income.
 There are also some scholarships that look at a combination of factors, like merit, leadership and
financial aid. These are usually looking for “great students” who also have a large financial need. I only
separate this category out because there is a clear line between college scholarships with no financial
need component and those with a financial need component.
2. The largest source of college scholarships is from the colleges themselves. Colleges usually offer all four
types of scholarships mentioned above and these vary from a few thousand dollars all the way up to full-ride
scholarships. Check the college websites for details.
3. Not many students can hit the “jackpot” – Yes, there are full-ride scholarships out there and they aren’t all for
athletes. There are merit-based and need-based full-ride scholarships and full-tuition scholarships, but they are
out of reach for a majority of students. That doesn’t mean they are impossible to find, though. Once again, fact
#2 applies.
4. Private scholarships, like the ones listed on sites like fastweb, scholarships.com and cappex are a crap
shoot. Private scholarships usually get thousands of applicants and your student has a very low probability of
winning one. It’s better to look into the next category.
5. Local private scholarships can be a good source for small amounts of supplemental college money. These
aren’t listed on the big scholarship websites. Most high school counseling offices have a list of local college
scholarships offered to their students. These also tend to be written up in the local newspapers. Clubs like
Kiwanis, VFW, Rotary and others award scholarships to high school seniors in their community based on certain
criteria.
6. Colleges have rules when it comes to outside scholarship money. Many schools limit the amount of outside
scholarship money (private scholarships) that can be applied on top of the school’s own discounts. In other
words, a school might reduce the aid it is providing a student if a student is also coming in with scholarships
from outside sources. Make sure you understand the rules for college scholarships at your student’s chosen
school.
College scholarships are a great way to make college more affordable. Just be sure you understand the
different types and what your student may be eligible for. Talk to the colleges about your student’s chances at
different types of merit and talent based scholarships. Ask about their criteria for need-based scholarships to
see if your family may qualify. And when it comes to outside scholarships, make sure your student spends his
or her time wisely, applying for those where he/she has a realistic chance at winning.
It seems like there are a lot of scholarships out there for the super-smart, athletically gifted, or the
insanely talented. Heck, there’s even scholarships for being left-handed or tall.
But what if you’re an average, right-handed, medium-height student? Don’t worry, there are
plenty of scholarships for you too. This list includes easy scholarships that any student can
apply to. You don’t even have to write an essay! How great is that?
$10,000 FROM COLLEGEXPRESS
All you have to do to win this scholarship is register on the website! Really! That’s it! Winners are chosen in a random
drawing every May. Sign up to be entered to win a scholarship and enjoy exploring their website packed with
information on colleges. http://www.collegexpress.com/carnegie_scholarship/
$2,000 FROM NICHE
Register for a free account at niche.com to be entered into their monthly drawing. This scholarship is open to all
current and soon-to-be students. You must apply every month to be considered eligible for their drawing. Niche
includes college grades and user reviews to help you understand is a school is the right choice for you.
https://colleges.niche.com/scholarship/apply.aspx
$1,000 FROM SALLIE MAE
Sallie Mae has a monthly drawing of $1,000 for students. All you have to do to be eligible for the drawing is
complete an online registration form. Sallie Mae provides loans and other services to students to help them finance
their education. They are a name you may get pretty familiar with in your quest to pay for college.
https://www.salliemae.com/plan-for-college/registration/
$1,000 FROM POTENTIAL MAGAZINE
Sign up for a free newsletter from Potential Magazine and you’ll be entered into their Countdown to College
scholarship. The newsletter is full of tips on preparing for, getting in, and paying for college. You’ll also get a free
eBook when you sign up! The scholarship winner will be notified in May. http://potentialmagazine.com/collegescholarships/countdown-to-college-scholarship-signup
$1,000 FROM U.S. BANK
U.S. Bank awards about 40 scholarships annually of $1,000 each to high school seniors. All you have to do is fill
out an online form. Winners are chosen at random. U.S. Bank offers personal, business and government financial
services. (They are currently no longer accepting applications for 2015, but will be announcing their 2016 deadline
soon.) https://www.usbank.com/community/financial-education/scholarship-application-form.html
$1,000 FROM COLLEGE FACTUAL
College Factual is offering $1,000 scholarships to all registered users who sign up and get matched to their best-fit
colleges! Winner is chosen at random in a monthly drawing. You only have to sign up once to be eligible every
month! College Factual offers advanced matching technology to help students discover their best-fit colleges,
majors and careers. http://pages.collegefactual.com/scholarship/
TIPS FOR YOUR SEARCH
 Keep track of all the scholarships you apply to. Start an excel sheet with the name of the scholarship, the
website, and the date you applied. As you start to search for and apply to lots of scholarships you’ll be glad
you have one place where you’re keeping track.
 Save time and apply to only what you are qualified for and will have a chance at winning.
Good luck!
This article comes from The USA TODAY College partner network. Jan. 1, 2016
Flip for more info
These websites can be searched for
general and national scholarships.
www.axa-achievement.com
www.cappex.com
www.collegezone.com
www.fastweb.com
www.finaid.org/scholarships
www.latinocollegedollars.com
www.meritaid.com
www.needalift.org
www.scholarships.com
www.scholarshipamerica.org
www.tuitionfundingsources.com
www.weirdscholarships.net
Scholarship packets are available in the
College and Career Center October-April.