If you are thinking about applying for a college scholarship, you’re not alone. Millions of students rely on financial aid to help pay for their education, and it isn’t hard to see why; just one year at college can cost more than a BMW!
There are lots of scholarships available to both national and international students, and they don’t all require you to be academically gifted. The only downside is that applying for a scholarship doesn’t automatically mean you will get it, as many scholarships are quite competitive.
Do you want to boost your chances of getting financial aid? If so, here are six tips to help you.
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Apply for Finance at The Right Time
Some colleges and universities only consider financial aid applications from students they have already accepted, so you may need to apply to a few institutions before you can apply for a scholarship. However, scholarships are not only for freshmen, and even if you are entering your last year of school you can find scholarships for college seniors.
However, this is not always the case; some colleges require the student to apply at least a year before they start their course, so if you wait around, you may miss the deadline. For this reason, we suggest contacting your chosen universities as soon as possible to find out what finance options are available.
Apply for Lots of Scholarships
If you want to increase your odds of getting financial aid, you may want to think about applying for multiple scholarships. Doing this will take a little longer, but it does mean you are more likely to be accepted – and there are likely lots of different scholarships that you can apply for.
For instance, it is possible to look at a selection of different scholarships in Texas. All you need to do is look through the options to see which scholarships are eligible for you, and then you can apply for as many as you want.
Don’t Just Consider Your University
Universities and colleges aren’t the only institutions offering financial aid. You can also apply for funding from private foundations, including local government bodies and education departments. This is a very effective way to get funding; according to The College Board, last year, each undergraduate student received around $5,000 to fund their degree.
Avoid Scams
It is also essential to make sure you avoid scams, especially if you are applying for scholarships online. In 2018 the Federal Trade Commission received over 700 complaints regarding educational grants and scholarships, so they are out there – but it is fairly easy to avoid them by only using reputable websites. Avoid any financial aid that says it is a ‘guaranteed scholarship’, especially if they are asking you to pay a fee to apply. Many of these companies will stop contacting you once they have received the money, so you won’t hear back about a scholarship – and you’ll be a few dollars down, too.
Have A Plan B
Finally, you should have a plan B. There is no guarantee your application will be accepted, so you may need to consider other options (such as a loan from a family member or sponsorship from a company that wants to hire you when you graduate).
