How to Apply for a Scholarship Aid Grant for College
According to the College Board, the average annual tuition cost for a private four-year school is $26,273 and for public schools, it's $7,020. This is more than many students can afford, so more than 66 percent of students use some type of financial aid to afford their education, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. At private institutions, U.S. News and World Report says 81 percent of students receive some type of scholarship or grant. Scholarships and grants are both forms of money given to students to pay for tuition, room and board, and living expenses that students do not need to pay back. The main type of scholarship or grant is institutional aid, or aid given by the government or individual colleges. The second type of scholarships are given by external scholarships. There are plenty of opportunities for students to get both types of scholarships.
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Instructions
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Apply for college. According to U.S. News and World Report, most merit-based scholarships (those given based on your qualifications, not your income) are granted during the admissions process. To maximize your chances of merit-based scholarships, apply to private schools where you are above the 75th percentile in terms of test scores and grade point average. Often going to a slightly less selective school will pay off with a larger scholarship. Also, because aid differs greatly from school to school, apply to several schools to maximize your chances.
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Get recruited for your talent. If you are an especially talented athlete, musician, or artist, there may be colleges willing to grant you money to attend these schools. These scholarships are not applied for, so the best way to increase your odds of obtaining a talent-based scholarship is to play in local leagues or display your artwork in regional shows. Many colleges will recruit from state and regional level events, so this is your best chance at getting a school's attention.
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Apply for need-based scholarships by filing the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is available online and asks questions about you and your parents' income and wealth. This will help the government and your college determine how much your family can reasonably afford. To help fill the difference between tuition and what you can afford, the government and many colleges offer grants to cover the costs. Upon getting accepted to a college, you will receive your financial aid package, which will contain any need-based scholarships and grants.
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Apply for local scholarships. Many local agencies give scholarships to local high school students. It is a little challenging to find these scholarships, but once found, there is less competition, according to Scholarships.com. The easiest way to find these scholarships is by asking your high school guidance office and college counselor for a listing. The application process will vary, but they often consist of an essay and a transcript.
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Apply for national scholarships. There are millions of national scholarships, but they are often very competitive. Websites such as FastWeb are great ways to find scholarships. The applications vary quite a bit: Some will ask for essays and letters of recommendations, while others will only ask for an application. Generally, the easier the application, the more people applying for it, so your odds of winning it will increase. The added effort of an essay or letter of recommendation will increase your chances significantly.
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