It's complicated.
When considering paying for college, one of the first things families think of is scholarships. The allure of money that does not need to be repaid drives the question Where do I find scholarships? and might even dissuade some people from applying because they think they do not qualify due to their grades are not good enough or thinking their families make too much money, but the answers to scholarship questions are more complex than one might expect. Read on to quiz yourself on the reality of the scholarship search, then utilize the resources below to begin your scholarship search.
Scholarship Pop Quiz!
True or False: Your greatest chance to receive a scholarship is for your academics.
True. Most scholarships will be tied to your academic record, meaning GPA and test scores. Other criteria may include an essay, an academic competition, etc. Even scholarships based on leadership, extra-curricular and athletics have a minimum GPA cut off.
True or False: You have a better chance of getting a scholarship if you put all your effort into one huge national scholarship.
False. If you are competing for a large, national/international scholarship, the odds aren’t quite in your favor. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply; it just means don’t put all your eggs into one scholarship basket. If you cast a wider net, you are more likely to get some money. Apply for as many scholarships as you can! Local, community based scholarships tend to get less competition than a national Coca-Cola scholarship, for instance. Apply for a wide range of scholarships – national, regional and local.
True or False: Having a certain GPA and test score may qualify you for an institutional scholarship, but you will have to attend a competition to earn the scholarship.
Both. Some colleges and universities (such as Oakland University and Wayne State) have automatic awards, meaning if you have certain grades and test scores (and apply by the deadline), you will automatically receive money. These awards are sometimes capped, or awarded indefinitely. However, some colleges and universities (such as Central Michigan’s Centralis competition or Western Michigan’s Medallion competition) hold a scholarship competition, where you first qualify based on grades and test scores, but then compete in leadership exercises, essays, group work, etc. These awards are usually capped, meaning the award only goes to the top 20 students, for example. Be sure to check each school’s information.
True or False: Paying for a scholarship search is part of the process.
False. While it sounds odd to pay for a service that wants to give you money, many students and parents fall victim to scholarship scams. You should NEVER pay for a scholarship, scholarship search, etc. There are numerous free resources available to students and families – you should never pay for these resources (this includes the FAFSA form). See below for some favorite (and trusted) scholarship search sites.
True or False: I should check my email for scholarships at least once a week.
True. First, set up a separate email just for scholarships. Then, be sure to check it often for updates, approaching deadlines and new scholarships you could be eligible for!
True. Most scholarships will be tied to your academic record, meaning GPA and test scores. Other criteria may include an essay, an academic competition, etc. Even scholarships based on leadership, extra-curricular and athletics have a minimum GPA cut off.
True or False: You have a better chance of getting a scholarship if you put all your effort into one huge national scholarship.
False. If you are competing for a large, national/international scholarship, the odds aren’t quite in your favor. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply; it just means don’t put all your eggs into one scholarship basket. If you cast a wider net, you are more likely to get some money. Apply for as many scholarships as you can! Local, community based scholarships tend to get less competition than a national Coca-Cola scholarship, for instance. Apply for a wide range of scholarships – national, regional and local.
True or False: Having a certain GPA and test score may qualify you for an institutional scholarship, but you will have to attend a competition to earn the scholarship.
Both. Some colleges and universities (such as Oakland University and Wayne State) have automatic awards, meaning if you have certain grades and test scores (and apply by the deadline), you will automatically receive money. These awards are sometimes capped, or awarded indefinitely. However, some colleges and universities (such as Central Michigan’s Centralis competition or Western Michigan’s Medallion competition) hold a scholarship competition, where you first qualify based on grades and test scores, but then compete in leadership exercises, essays, group work, etc. These awards are usually capped, meaning the award only goes to the top 20 students, for example. Be sure to check each school’s information.
True or False: Paying for a scholarship search is part of the process.
False. While it sounds odd to pay for a service that wants to give you money, many students and parents fall victim to scholarship scams. You should NEVER pay for a scholarship, scholarship search, etc. There are numerous free resources available to students and families – you should never pay for these resources (this includes the FAFSA form). See below for some favorite (and trusted) scholarship search sites.
True or False: I should check my email for scholarships at least once a week.
True. First, set up a separate email just for scholarships. Then, be sure to check it often for updates, approaching deadlines and new scholarships you could be eligible for!
Find Scholarships
The Community Foundation of St. Clair County
CareerOneStop
MI Student Aid
FinAid
BigFuture
Scholarships.com
Unigo
Michigan Center for Nursing
CareerOneStop
MI Student Aid
FinAid
BigFuture
Scholarships.com
Unigo
Michigan Center for Nursing
More scholarship information
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There is more great information about scholarships and financial aid in this year's Money for College presentation.
For more specific information about FAFSA and the financial aid process, call the Financial Aid Office at SC4 at 810.989.5530 or visit their website at www.sc4.edu/financialaid. |
This year's event was held February 6, 2020
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