Applying for a Minority Scholarship
A minority scholarship can make the process of attending college a lot easier for those who qualify. These are funds that are specifically given to a particular group of people. Some people assume this means that the money for college is awarded based on the color of one’s skin but this is not completely accurate.
Fitting the bill of a minority is what the scholarship criteria are, but it’s not what the final decision is completely based on. How can you find out if you qualify for a minority scholarship?
You’ll have to check the rules that the scholarship is based on. Some of these scholarships are aimed toward women and think of women as a minority simply for the reason that for years women were denied the same opportunity for higher education that men received.
This type of scholarship can be geared toward those who are from other countries and nationalities. There are Latin American scholarships as well as ones for other ethnic groups.
A minority scholarship isn’t based solely on the receiver’s income. The application will be reviewed for things like need, grades, volunteer work, and involvement in school activities. These scholarships are also awarded based on religion and the type of work the recipient intends to go into after graduation.
Are Graduate Scholarships Easy to Come By?
Though they don’t seem to be as plentiful as other scholarships, graduate scholarships are still available. If you know how to work a plan to get one, they’re fairly easy to obtain. The first is to figure out where you’ve been.
What have you accomplished that would make you an ideal candidate for this extra educational help? Do you plan to enter a field that’s in high demand? An example of that would be teaching – are you after a master’s degree in education?
There are graduate scholarships that are aimed toward students who plan to enter careers where there’s a high need for people to fill the void. If you graduated from college and have become a job or internship, ask your employer what the company offers workers who want that extra schooling.
Opportunities abound for those who are willing to take the time to seek them out. They won’t come knocking on your door – you have to go after them. Graduate scholarships are plentiful in areas like nursing or other health fields. One of the best places to get information about programs to help continue education is through the college you’ve graduated from.
Many schools seek to help alumni in any way they can so begin your search there. Search through professional associations for scholarships. If you graduated with a business degree, search for business organizations.
College Scholarships Are Easy to Find
Don’t give up on a dream of attending college if you don’t have the money because you can get college scholarships to help fund your future. This money that will pay for someone’s educational goals is already available and waiting. Sadly, not many people know how to find the scholarships and the ones that do, aren’t sure how to make their application stand out above the thousands of other applicants.
You can locate college scholarships by word of mouth. You have to ask. If you’re still in high school, check with your school – your principal, your guidance counselor, etc. Are you a member of a local club? A church?
Ask the people who run those organizations about scholarship opportunities. Visit college campuses in your area and ask them about funds for attending college. Call or write colleges you’re interested in and contact someone in the financial aid office.
Finally, when looking for college scholarships, polish up your writing skills for the application process. A generic application will sound just like the rest of them. Put yourself down on paper.
What you’ve accomplished in school is okay, but who ARE you? Put down your heart – what makes you different. Think of it as a USP…a unique selling point. You want the committee to pick you and the application is your way of getting their attention.