How to Find Scholarships That Actually Make a Difference
Trying to figure out what’s next when you leave high school isn’t always as easy as they make it seem on TV or in the movies. For many teens, college isn’t an option for multiple reasons. They might not be able to afford it, or they simply might have other ideas on how they want their future to look. And honestly, it’s a huge decision at any age, but especially one you need to make before you reach adulthood.
But for the most part, regardless of career aims, finances are a huge barrier for many people, and the search for a scholarship is something that starts way before the end of high school. If you need help to find the scholarships that are actually going to make a difference, we have some tips.
Federal and State Resources
Start with your FAFSA. This is what is going to unlock federal grants, work-study, and a lot of state-based financial aid. Even if you’re not sure if you’ll qualify or not, just apply; you never know.
Next, you should head to your state’s official higher education website. Each state will have its own grants and scholarships. From here, you can see if you can qualify for anything on offer.
Use Scholarship Tools
You need to use genuine resources that point you in the right direction, not those that make outlandish claims or promise too much.
Stick to free resources, do not pay for anything, and do not part with any information that seems odd to be requested — chances are it’s not a legitimate site.
- Fastweb.com
- Scholarships.com
- College Board BigFuture
- CareerOneStop
These sites will match your scholarship with your background, interests, and goals. It’ll save you so much time.
Look for Scholarships Designed to Help People Like You
Outside of government grants and scholarships are those that are designed to help people who face financial barriers or systemic challenges. They’re typically more selective about their application, and you have to meet specific criteria, but you will typically find scholarships for:
- First-generation college students
- Students from low-income households
- Students pursuing specific careers (STEM, Trades, Healthcare, etc)
- Students who have overcome personal or academic challenges.
There are programmes like the Judah Spinner Scholarship, for example, that focus on helping children facing such system challenges as nations get the financial support they need to move forward and make a real difference.
Local Scholarships
Don’t overlook resources and institutions in your local area that offer scholarships, too. Look in places like your local Rotary Club, local bank or credit union, community foundation, or even employers.
These won’t be available in all areas, but it’s worth putting feelers out just in case there are some on offer you can play for. Local people like to see the next generation thrive, and it’s a great way for those who can afford to help to give back.
The trick to finding the right journey or path post-high school depends on the doors that will be open for you, and scholarships can help open those doors. Whether you’re aiming to go to college or you want a different path, you might just find exactly what you need.
