There is no dearth of scholarships
Educational costs being what they are today, there are very few students who are
able to meet these expenses on their own. Scholarships have been created to help
deserving students achieve their educational aspirations and to ensure that no
meritorious student is denied the right to get education merely because of the
lack of finance. Most students, therefore, seek proper scholarships for
completing their educational goals and many of them have a misplaced intuition
that they will not qualify for the same. This is borne out by the fact that
innumerable scholarship amounts are not claimed every year whereas one would
have expected that there wouldn't be sufficient scholarships to cater to the
requirements of the vast multitude of students.
Reasons why students are not aware of various scholarships
The main reason for this paradoxical phenomenon is that students are woefully
oblivious of the various scholarships that are available. They lack sufficient
knowledge about the mode of applying for the scholarships and they have several
wrong ideas about the eligibility or otherwise for the same. Given below are
some important facts which can be very useful.
- Factors on which scholarships depend: It is not necessary that you should
have a 4.00 GPA to apply for a scholarship. There are many types of scholarships
for which you do not need the above GPA or that you need to be adept in
extra-curricular activities. On the other hand, there are many other factors
such as ancestry, ethnicity, lack of finance, being a member of a club,
excellence in academics, certain majors that you might have taken and other
special interests which might make you eligible for one of the many scholarships
that are available.
- The odds: The 1999-2000 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study has revealed
that private sector scholarships are given to 6.9% of undergraduate students
with the average amount being $2,051. This indicates that the odds of getting a
scholarship are 1 in 14.5.
- Sources of information: There are various sources from which you can learn
about the scholarship announcements such as the Internet and the phone book that
can let you know about the organizations, companies and clubs that provide
scholarships. A simple telephone call will give you all the information about
the amount of the scholarship and the way to apply.
- Timing: The timing of the application is very important. Scholarships are
planned in advance and there are deadlines that have to be adhered to. Most
applications are made available at the start of the year and have a deadline
till the spring. In late spring or early summer, the applications are reviewed
by the committee and scholarships are awarded in the fall. You must take care of
the deadlines so that you do not miss the opportunities and waste a year.
- The steps to get the scholarship: You must look out for suitable
opportunities by following these steps: Find the scholarships and fill up the
application and essay. Gather the necessary documents and prepare for the
interviews. It is very important to express your gratitude after each interview
and award letter.
- Gather all documents: Try to collect all necessary documents such as
references, essays, letters of recommendation and transcripts without any delay
so that you are ready with them as and when necessary.
- Preserve all documents in a file: Try to keep your documents which exhibit
your skills and talents such as certificates of recognition safely in a proper
file. This will be very helpful to you during the time of a scholarship
interview and it will definitely be appreciated.
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