Help Applying For Scholarships, Paying For College
Scholarships = free money! There are several scholarships to choose from: local, state, or nationwide scholarships. It is important to ensure that you are applying for all the scholarships available to you. Scholarships are a great way to pay for your turion or tuition related expenses. Books, technology, and even doing laundry on campus can get expensive. You should never pay for scholarship opportunities, be careful that you are not being scammed.
To learn more about scholarships and get access to scholarship opportunities, download this guide You Need to Know About Scholarships. Guide provided by DecidED
Help Applying For Scholarships, Paying For College
Applying for scholarships is tricky! Every scholarship is unique and asks for its own set of requirements. Not to mention, there are different types of scholarships! One thing to always remember is that scholarships are free money. You do not need to pay back a scholarship, it is not a loan! If you have questions about loans, click our previous post here. So let’s get started, how should we apply for scholarships?
SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH TIPS
- Ask for Recommendation Letters
- Have transcripts ready
- Search for local scholarships
- Find scholarships that fit you
- Use the ‘About Me’ Sheet in the PDF below to help brainstorm your characteristics
- Keep a ‘Progress Checklist’ which can also be found in the PDF
FREE MONEY: Outside Scholarship FAQs
What are “outside scholarships?” Private sources of financial aid.
How can I get one? Most require an application – separate from FAFSA – and essay(s).
Who gives them? Offered by national corporations/institutions, local businesses, community-based organizations, and private foundations.
When are they due? Deadlines vary by scholarship – check early and often during your college search process.
Where can I use them? Most can be applied to any school, but some can only be used for college(s) in a specific location (e.g. region, state)
Why should I care? Scholarships are an excellent supplemental source of aid to cover the remaining costs after financial aid from your school.
Now that we have the basics out of the way, let’s start preparing to apply!
Download this guide to help you apply for scholarships!
Help Applying For Scholarships, Paying For College
Scholarships are free money that you do not have to pay back. Scholarships are awarded based on grades, community service, major, class level, where you live, and more. The money that you are awarded can be used to pay for college tuition and other expenses.
Investing in yourself
Most scholarships have similar prompts, so you have the advantage of reworking the same essay for each application you submit. If a scholarship is worth $1,000 and you spend 10 hours writing an essay and submitting your scholarship application, it results in $100 per hour invested! Use the Scholarship Essay Worksheet to improve your essays and ability to receive multiple awards.
Getting started
Use Immigrant Rising’s Scholarship Lists and additional scholarship databases to identify scholarships you are eligible to apply. Use the Scholarship Search Chart to list the ones you are eligible for, including deadlines, and create an action plan. Remember the more scholarships you apply for, the greater your chances to be awarded.
Immigrants Rising Scholarship Lists
Undergraduate List
Graduate List
Additional Scholarship Databases
Dreamers Roadmap
Geneseo Migrant center
http://migrant.net/scholarships/
MALDEF
My Undocumented Life
Scholarships A-Z
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
The College Expo
Provided by:
Paying For College
Bay Area Scholarships
The Minerva Scholarship Program
Eligibility
- All California residents may apply and will be considered
- Applicants must be enrolled full-time in an accredited college for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Minimum GPA of 2.5
- Self-identify as female
Deadline
Amount Awarded
- Up to 108 one-time $2,500 scholarships
- One $10,000 scholarship
YPE SF Bay Area Scholarship Program
Eligibility
- Full-time or part-time students pursuing an Associates or Undergraduate degree with an interest in entering the energy/climate space
- Demonstrated financial need (e.g., FAFSA student aid and report)
- Active academic enrollment at a college or university in Northern California in the fall of 2023.
- Academic record (official or unofficial transcript)
Deadline
Amount Awarded
College Success
Throughout our whole education journey, we constantly hear about scholarships and how
wonderful it is to be awarded one, but we almost never see how to really apply for one.
Depending on the sort of scholarship you are seeking for, the application might be extremely
complex or quite simple. There are many different scholarships available, and the greatest thing
about them is that anybody may apply for one. Some scholarships are only available to members
of particular groups, while others are available to all applicants. Everyone is able to receive one
no matter what, if you put in the work and work hard you will be able to receive one. Let’s go
through a few ways you can look for a scholarship!
1. Research the Types of Scholarships:
● Be knowledgeable about the scholarships you’ll apply to. Do research
if you need to!
● Apply to scholarships that connect with you
– Such as those that speak to your interests, background, and
desires.
● Look into scholarships that list your unique traits to help you stand out
from other candidates.
2. Complete All Requirements/Criterias:
● Make sure to read all of the scholarship details.
● Read carefully (don’t miss deadlines or requirements).
● It is essential to complete every part.
3. Exceed:
● If possible, turn in ahead of time, to prevent missing deadlines.
● Go above and beyond in your responses.
● Apply to as many scholarships as possible, don’t rely on just one!
● List unique traits about yourself! Don’t be afraid to be your own
supporter!!
4. Have Documents at Hand & Ready to Use:
● Letters of Recommendation
● Resume (updated and polished!)
● Get advice on your writing piece
– Have a few people revise your work.
5. Check in On the Scholarships:
● Follow up with any requirements that may be needed or missing.
● Check your emails regularly.
● Get in contact if necessary.
Last Note:
Make sure you’re authentic to yourself and just apply, you don’t lose anything!
