Scholarship Questions and Answers

These are real questions gathered during Scholarship Success Boot Camps. If you learn better by listening please visit blogtalkradio online and listen to: Scholarship Advice whenever you want.

You will notice that many answers include phrases such as, “it depends,” “sometimes,” and “most likely.” That’s because for every situation, there are unique circumstances to consider. Gather information and use your best judgment. You should also know that these are my independent answers because I no longer work at a university, I don’t work at a student loan company, and I’m not employed directly by a scholarship provider.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Q: Where should I start with all of this?

My advice is twofold. First, start where you are most comfortable. That could be your guidance counselor’s office, the library, the Internet, a conversation in your family, or in a book. (Hint, Hint: Scholarships 101: The Real-World Guide to Getting Cash for College.) Taking the first step can actually relieve a lot of anxiety. Second, before you start filling out applications like crazy, get your thoughts together, get organized, and complete a scholarship worksheet where you write down everything about yourself. This will help you no matter which resources you use.

Q: Would I have to pay a lot of money for college even if I do have scholarships?

How much you pay out of pocket for college depends on your family’s financial situation and your eligibility for grants and loans. If you win enough scholarships to cover the entire cost of your tuition, books, housing, food, misc., then you won’t have to “pay a lot of money” for college. Keep in mind, though, that people who win tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships are the exception and if they attend a higher-priced college, they may still owe money in student loans.

Q: Where does the money come from?

I love this question! Too few students seem to care about how and why someone else would give away money to a complete stranger for college.

Most often the money comes from sources such as a college’s foundation or endowment, a business, a professional association or civic group, a charitable fund, or individuals. Some of these groups engage in other business (manufacturing company, engineering association, women’s club, etc.) and the scholarship money is allocated by the business owners, donated by members, or raised through special events like a banquet. The scholarship is just one part of what they do. In other cases, the money comes from charitable organizations that are in the business of allocating scholarships. Lastly, some individuals might decide on their own that they will contribute money to a specific school, organization, or cause and they will sponsor a scholarship. Too often in our quest for scholarship dollars we forget that there are people on the other side of the application process who are devoting their time and money to make someone else’s dream come true.

Q: What can I do to increase my child’s odds of getting a scholarship? (Question from a parent of a high school student)

At the most basic level here’s what parents can do to improve the odds:

	Know your child and know your family. What are your child’s special interests, talents, hobbies, limitations, disabilities? In what ways are you involved in the community or at work? Keep your eyes and ears open about scholarships - you may be connected in more ways than you know to organizations or groups that allocate scholarships.
	Based on that knowledge, help them find scholarships and look closely at the odds of winning. Many people overlook this step and spend countless hours applying for scholarships that draw 10,000 or 20,000 applications and only allocate two awards. Do the math and focus your child on scholarships that are well-matched and have reasonable odds of winning.
	Support your son or daughter in community engagement, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, etc. not only so he or she can become a well-rounded student but because the competition will have experience in these things as well. DO NOT force them to sign up for volunteer work in which they have no interest or aptitude. Scholarship judges want meaningful/altruistic activity and leadership roles when possible (if leadership is part of the criteria).
	IF you are good at spelling and grammar, proofread your child’s materials. DO NOT re-write anything or put your own spin on it. Not only is this unethical but it will make your child’s work sound like it was written by a parent, not by a student. If you are so-so at grammar and spelling, read the essay and offer general advice about the structure, the most interesting point, or something that could be improved.
	Encourage your son or daughter so they don’t give up. Successful scholarship winners devote a significant amount of time to research and application for scholarships. They master their essay, refine their résumé and more. Nudges and hugs work better than nagging.

Q: Do you have to know which school you are attending?

It depends on the scholarship, the criteria, and what information is requested on the application. If you just completed your college applications you might share the top three schools at which you applied. If it is the second semester of senior year, you should have more clarity in your answer. Look at the criteria. If it is only for students who attend particular colleges, and you have no plans to attend those colleges, don’t apply. If it says “preference given to students who attend xyz college,” then you should still apply as it is only a preference. Who knows, maybe no one else attending that college will apply and you have a chance. If it is a scholarship directly from the college limited to incoming freshmen, then you must attend that college to be awarded the scholarship.

APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Q: When is the best time to apply?

Before the deadline. Seriously, some students have been lead to believe that they can ask to turn it in late, and maybe you can, but you are immediately jeopardizing your place amongst the competition.

In terms of timing, peak season for scholarships is winter and early spring of your senior year of high school. The best time in your college career is when you are an incoming freshman (high school senior), then again after you declare your major in college. Why? Because colleges recruit freshmen - not sophomores, not juniors and not seniors. That is your best shot at getting an institutional-based scholarship directly from the college. They are trying to lure and recruit the students that they want. Later, once you declare your major, prospects pick up again because you can then apply for scholarships specifically designated for your major.

Q: Where is the best place to look for scholarships other than the internet?

Local sources. This might include last year’s graduation bulletin or a listing in your guidance office. It could be the local newspaper archives or a community bulletin. Networking with your extended family, neighbors, employers, youth leaders, etc. are all important, too. This is covered multiple times in the book, Scholarships 101: The Real-World Guide to Getting Cash for College.

Q: How often should I apply for scholarships? When?

Students who are successful at winning multiple scholarships do so on an ongoing basis. They apply until they tire out or until they raise enough money to offset the cost of college at a level that is comfortable to them. You should follow the academic calendar and know that most scholarship applications are due in the semester, and sometimes the year, before they are awarded. For example, if you need money for Fall 2009 enrollment, you will probably apply for most scholarships in Winter/Spring 2009. If you wait until June to look for scholarships for August, you will have missed the majority of deadlines.

Q: If you look at past winners and you think they are overachievers compared to you should you still apply since they might reflect your competition? Good question. I’m glad that this student is measuring the competition. This question bears the mark of a savvy scholarship seeker.

This is a “that depends” answer. Sometimes scholarship sponsors want to promote the talent, beauty and merit of their past recipients, so they will put those students on their website or in a brochure. These might only be the best of the scholarship recipients or they may truly reflect all of the winners. I recommend that you look at the judging criteria, not just the eligibility criteria. Perhaps the scholarship recipients appear to be overachievers because of their extensive volunteer experience, but maybe volunteer experience was required to apply and is not used as part of the judging process. It can be confusing. What if the sponsor allocates a certain percentage of awards to students from a particular high school that happens to be a highly competitive college prep high school, and they feature these students in public, but the rest of the scholarships are awarded to students that more closely resemble you?

Lastly, maybe the past winners are overachievers but maybe you can write a compelling essay that compensates for your average-achieving profile. Should you apply? Think about the competition but also think about how closely you match the criteria, how much time you are willing to invest, how many scholarships are awarded compared to total applicants, and how you are different than those students. That might help you make your decision.

Q: What topics or themes are written about scholarships?

Traditional essay questions revolve around your financial need, plans for the future, hardships overcome, or intended major or career. Sponsors may also pose a question and expect your response on an issue that is important to them or the nation or the world. I’ve seen essay topics on everything from world affairs to fire sprinklers. Beyond the content of your answer, the sponsor is looking at your writing skills too. Can you write a coherent essay with proper grammar that is free from typos? If you can, then you will most likely fare better than someone who cannot.

SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS

Q: Do scholarships transfer?

If they are private scholarships that follow the student then the answer is probably yes, but you should check with the sponsor. If they are scholarships awarded directly from the college or university to the student, the answer is most likely no. One exception, for example, would be if a private sponsor allocated a scholarship to specific colleges and students could choose among those specific colleges.

Q: How many scholarships can you get?

As many as you need to offset the cost of attendance at your college. Formally speaking, grants, loans, and scholarships cannot exceed the cost of attendance, but I have never personally met a student who had to turn down a scholarship because they won too much money. In the rare instance where that might happen, you should ask the sponsor if they are willing to defer the money until the following year.

Q: How realistic are full-ride scholarships?

Not very realistic for the average college student but a little realistic for highly coveted students that are being sought by multiple colleges. It depends on the college and the student, and how badly that college wants that particular student. In an increasingly competitive college marketplace it’s very difficult to win a four-year, full-ride scholarship. Students who win these types of scholarships developed into desirable students long before they ever applied for a scholarship.

Q. Does the money have to be used for tuition or can it go for other college costs?

It depends on the scholarship. Some will restrict the scholarship “for tuition only” or “for books only.” Those that are not restricted can be used for any legitimate cost for college which includes tuition, room and board (rent and food), books, travel, and misc. personal expenses.

DON’T SEE YOUR QUESTION answered here? Try the book or the blog, or sign up for the Scholarship Street News, where I blast out the freshest information.

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