A scholarship is a type of financial aid award that a student is not expected to pay back. Contrary to popular belief, a student does not have to have straight A’s, be a star athlete, or demonstrate exceptional musical or artistic talent to qualify for a scholarship. In fact, scholarships can be awarded based on a number of reasons, including a student’s:
• State of residence • High school or school district • Ethnicity or race • Gender • Financial need • Religious affiliation • Community service | • Military participation • Parent’s place of employment • Unions • Disability • Academic performance • Academic subject being studied • Talent: athletic, artistic, musical • Contest driven-creative skills, essays
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Many people tend to think of scholarships and grants as the same thing. However, grants are generally awarded based on a student’s financial need and scholarships make a broader assessment of eligibility based on a student’s merit, financial need, or relationship with a certain group or organization.
Additionally, the popular perception of a scholarship is that it will cover all of a student’s college costs. In reality, the “full ride” actually happens only in rare instances. So if you are counting on the student getting a scholarship, remember that you may still need to pursue additional methods of college funding. This could include a mix of savings, loans, grants, and other scholarships.
For a list of scholarship resources and search databases, make sure you check out our Resources page.