What It Takes To Earn College Scholarships and Be Rewarded For Hard Work

Wed, Mar 6, 2024 11:30 AM

Let’s face it – the cost of college continues to increase every year and the only person who has the ability to reduce the price is your son or daughter. So where do they begin?

Colleges love to give scholarships to students who meet what they are looking for in their incoming freshman class each year. These merit-based scholarships are offered to students based on their talent, athletic ability, or academics. When it comes to academic scholarships, everything starts with a student’s GPA (often unweighted). Some colleges have eliminated the need for test scores (ACT or SAT) for scholarship consideration; however, this may not be the case if a student is hoping to qualify for the most competitive – big dollar scholarships where minimum ACT or SAT scores are sometimes still required.

Please understand that by eliminating test scores, colleges will use a holistic review process, and this puts a lot more emphasis on the rigor of the courses taken (AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, Early College) and other factors the college considers important in making their admissions decision. For example, an additional essay may be necessary plus great letters of recommendation and outstanding extracurricular activities, and so much more. Be sure to do your research and understand that the rules/requirements can change from year to year.

Focus on what your student can do to stand out in the competitive crowd, whether it’s a hobby they have done for years, extended club membership, leadership positions, extensive community service, or even a job. If your student hopes to get a scholarship for an extracurricular activity they do, then writing about their experience in an essay or getting a terrific letter of recommendation from a sponsor may increase their chances. But be sure to look at the scholarship requirements to ensure your student fits their guidelines. Have your student use their resume of activities and accomplishments both inside and outside the classroom to look for and apply for outside private college scholarships. Believe me, there are plenty of opportunities out there if your student is willing to do the work and focuses on what they have been doing in high school.

By choosing the right list of colleges early on in high school, your student can identify where they will be rewarded for all of their hard work. Encourage them to visit their high school guidance counselor or college and career readiness coach to see if there are any specific scholarships available only to graduates from their high school. It is always easier to go after the low hanging fruit where there is likely less competition and that starts with local scholarships.

If your student is stuck finding the right colleges or scholarships to pursue or you are tired of nagging them to take action, reach out to me, Dan Bisig, at College and Beyond, and Scheduling a FREE 15-minute Discovery Zoom Meeting with me today. I get results and my students get scholarships!