How to Receive Money For College

How to Receive Money For College
Written by: Melissa C.

As many of us, students are going to graduate high school in the near future, college is becoming an imminent topic in our life. Not only are we discussing what college we want to attend or what we want to do in college, but how we are going to pay for college. One vital way that assists many college students is scholarships. Some people aren’t aware of scholarship importance or how to attain them, but they make a tremendous beneficial impact on finances in college.

People don’t always recognize the importance of scholarships, but they can be significantly beneficial to a college experience. According to Scholarship America, “One quarter of the U.S. population—70 million people—owe a collective $700 billion in student loan debt.” This is a large amount of the population that is living with college debt. Not only is large amounts of debt evident, but according to a report by College Board, “Since 2000, public four-year tuition and fees have increased more than 5 percent annually above inflation” (Scholarship America). These two pieces of data combined make it evident that paying for college is not easy and has only become increasingly difficult over the years. These are reasons that represent why it is essential to apply for scholarships: they will help get out of these mass amounts of debt. Many students believe that scholarships won’t actually help them because they won’t get a lot of money, however, it is important to remember that every amount can help in the future. As the topic of post-college begins to be discussed, it is important to take into consideration that even a $1,000 scholarship can make the difference in being able to afford furniture, an apartment, or more once college is over.

This then brings into question exactly how to get scholarships. The biggest recommendation that can be made is to apply for as many scholarships as possible. There are countless ways to find different scholarships, this can be through high school career centers, libraries or bookstores, scholarship search sites, ethnic organizations, or friends and family (How to Get College Scholarships in 2020 (+ Mistakes to Avoid)). It is also crucial to pay attention to any fees associated with a scholarship; you should not have to pay for scholarships or scholarship searches. After discovering all opportunities possible, it is time to fill them out and pay attention to certain details. Online article Sallie Mae gave these tips in order to be on the road to success: be thorough, honest, proactive, diligent, and on time (Scholarship Applications - How to Apply for Scholarships). While it might seem like a long list to be successful, it isn’t too difficult to achieve. They recommend that through the process, you stay honest to yourself and don’t exaggerate grades, skills, or qualifications. It is also imperative that you fill the scholarships out in a timely matter in order to get them turned in when needed and have a coherent application. It can seem like a daunting idea to apply to an abundance of scholarships, but it is key to keep the end goal in mind: saving money for yourself and your family.

Works Cited

“How to Get College Scholarships in 2020 (+ Mistakes to Avoid).” I Will Teach You To Be Rich, 19 Mar. 2020, www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-get-scholarships/.

Sallie Mae. “Scholarship Applications - How to Apply for Scholarships.” Sallie Mae, Sallie Mae, 1 Jan. 1970, www.salliemae.com/college-planning/college-scholarships/apply-for-scholarships/.

Scholarship America. “5 Reasons Why Scholarships Are Essential.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, 7 July 2011, www.usnews.com/education/blogs/the-scholarship-coach/2011/07/07/5-reasons-why-scholarships-are-essential.

“Why Are Scholarships so Important Anyway?” CommunityForce, 14 Nov. 2014, www.communityforce.com/the-impact-and-importance-of-scholarships/.