As college tuition increases, the idea of pursuing a degree could seem unappealing to many. Whether you are straight out of high school, in the military, or joined the workforce, college is a worthwhile experience that encourages lifelong learning, except the only problem is that it is not widely accessible in terms of the costs. Consider this—you are a prospective student in high school or an employee at a company who has an interest in getting a formal degree.
You go ahead and apply, and before you know it, you are setting up your first semester course schedule with an advisor. It’s exciting at first, but then it finally hits you that somehow you have to pay for the hefty bills which come with taking college classes. You ask yourself, how are you supposed to pay for this? Assuming that not all students juggled a part-time job in high school or your paycheck is only enough for you to get by paying for your long list of bills, the costs of college could be intimidating and, frankly, unrealistic. But despite this, there are ways to go about paying for college such as applying for scholarships or being awarded grants. So, if you are looking to find ways to pay for college and pursue the degree that will benefit your dream career, this blog is just for you. I have gathered a list of ways to pay for college and how to increase your chances of winning scholarships that you will not have to pay back.
Scholarships
With different types of scholarships come different eligibility requirements, so there are a wide-range of routes you could take to increase your chances of winning. The most popular of the few are merit scholarships, need-based scholarships, and talent scholarships.
Merit Scholarships
In most cases, merit scholarships are awarded to students who were academically achieved in high school and scored high in their classes or SAT/ACT scores. Colleges look for academically achieved students through their GPA, class rank, or SAT/ACT scores. Most of these scholarships are awarded to students through their college, however there are additional outside organizations that could offer merit-based scholarships. To win private scholarships that are not directly awarded through the college, a student could reach out to their guidance counselor in high school to pass on their transcript for it to be reviewed by the organization the scholarship belongs to. For those students who received high scores in high school, they are more likely to win a merit scholarship that was granted to them by their college or through an additional scholarship they applied for. An important thing to note is that colleges weigh their eligibility for merit scholarships differently depending on the level of prestige or criteria. For example, most Ivy League schools like Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Brown, and a few more, do not offer merit based scholarships due to the expectation that all of their students are academically inclined. Some colleges also will not consider SAT/ACT scores, while others will in terms of awarding merit based scholarships, so it is important to research the eligibility for merit based scholarships in different colleges. It is especially important to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and list the colleges you intend on applying for in order to see whether or not you are awarded a merit-based scholarship before you commit.
Need-Based Scholarships
So, “winning” a need-based scholarship is a bit more complicated. The reason why I used quotes is because whether you win a need-based scholarship solely depends on whether the government or college considers you or your family unable to pay for college on your own. Frankly, I believe every family is eligible for need-based scholarships considering the tuition rates, however it is measured through income rates. In order to be eligible for a need-based scholarship, your family would need to fall below the average yearly income rate in order to be awarded a scholarship. Whether you plan on paying for college by yourself or have help from your family, the need-based scholarship is awarded to low-income households and looks at the family as a whole rather than the person who is filling out the FAFSA form. To see whether you have won a need-based scholarship, filling out the FAFSA is crucial in order to be considered eligible for the need-based scholarship.
Talent Scholarships
Depending on the type of talent scholarship you are going for like arts, athletics, or hobbies, there could be different ways to go about winning a scholarship. If you plan on going for an athletic scholarship, there could be opportunities to showcase your talents like auditioning for a college team or presenting your commitment to the sport through awards or leadership roles gained in the sport. It is important to maintain good grades while going for an athletic scholarship because most scholarships require a minimum GPA or high test scores. As for the arts, colleges offer scholarships that could be awarded through auditions or portfolios to showcase a student’s artistic ability whether it be through dance, writing, or music. To increase your chances of winning an arts scholarship, it is best to show rather than tell by providing portfolios of your work or going through an audition to showcase a student’s skill. As for winning a scholarship for a unique hobby, it is best to provide evidence of your commitment to a hobby and the growth made through the activity.
MeetYourClass Scholarship
MeetYourClass offers regular scholarship opportunities for students throughout the year. These scholarships are designed to be accessible and straightforward - with no essays required. To see what scholarships are currently available or live, check out meetyourclass.com/scholarship. The application process is simple and quick, making it an easy way to potentially reduce your college costs without the hassle of lengthy application requirements.
Grants
Similarly to scholarships, grants are awarded to students based on their merit or need for financial assistance and do not need to be paid back. In most cases they are awarded through the student’s college of choice and could be viewed through their Financial Aid Letter sent by their school. When it comes to increasing your chances of winning a grant, colleges consider primarily a student’s need for financial aid in terms of their family annual income, health or living circumstances, and household size. Since grants are often awarded through filling out the FAFSA, it is recommended to apply for them early to be considered for financial assistance.
Conclusion
When you are considering attending college and getting a degree, it’s vital to consider the costs of attendance and the means to pay for the bills that come barrelling towards you not too long after you set up your semester course schedule. So, with the knowledge of the different ways to pay for college as well as ways to increase your chances of winning some, the idea of attending college will seem less intimidating in terms of the cost. Don’t know where to start? Our team came up with a list of resources on where to find and get scholarships. Good luck!
