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Scholarships are usually awarded on the basis of merit, whether it's for academics, athletic ability or a specific talent. Scholarships are gifts.They don't need to be repaid.There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations.
How Do I Find Scholarships for College?
Students should start their search with local scholarships, since these awards are often less competitive, experts say. But it's still important to sign up for a few national scholarship database websites. Different types of national scholarships are listed on database search websites, including Fastweb.com, Cappex.com, Unigo.com and U.S. News Scholarship Finder.
What are some common scholarship application requirements?
Many scholarships require similar application materials, which commonly include:
- The application, which can be paper or an online form.
- Essays, often personal statements, that provide insight into your activities inside and outside the classroom.
- Letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, community members, or other mentors.
- Honors or awards you have received, academic or otherwise.
- Information about your high school or college, which may include your transcript, GPA, Student Aid Report, or financial aid offer.
- A résumé that includes any employment, volunteer, or extracurricular experiences.
Specialized scholarships may require additional information and may have a priority deadline. For example, scholarships supporting the arts may require portfolios or writing samples. Be sure to read each application thoroughly for requirements so you don’t miss any.
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Search for scholarships in this order to maximize your scholarship money:
1) Your school(s) of interest
- Students will receive the most scholarship money from the school they attend. The students should apply for scholarships with each school they apply to.
2) Local Organization Scholarships
- To see a list of local scholarships, please see scholarships "Posted by your District" in SchooLinks.
- Check with community organizations where you are involved. For example, student's place of employment, parent's place of employment, place of worship, organizations in which the student is involved outside of school, etc.
3) National Scholarships and Scholarship Databases
- Below is a list of scholarship resources.
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For a list of national and local scholarship opportunities, please visit SchooLinks.com.
- Select on the left menu bar to search for opportunities. Contact the College and Career Center for assistance.