It’s that time of the year where every student gets a well-deserved break from the 7 hours, 5-days a week routine. If that didn’t at all make any sense, its summer and school is out. And for those who are fresh out of High School, let me applaud you on your huge achievement. It took some of you 12 years, longer for some people but now that you’ve made it here I’m sure a majority of you are scoping out a higher education.

For those of you who are heading down that path, now comes the next step of figuring out how to pay for your education. You have a multitude of different methods but some are considered better then others. One of those I’ll ultimately rule out right now is student loans. Simply because student loans require re-payment. But why re-pay when there are 2 other methods of receiving money for your education and both do NOT require paying back.

On the Same Page with Grants and Scholarships

Both are equally fair and don’t require you to pay anything back.

One way these two compare is that both have requirements. The standard of maintaining a leveled GPA is one requirement needed in terms of a scholarship. But this shouldn’t be looked at as a downfall if your serious about your education. I’d say look at managing a well-maintained GPA as a challenge to keep you focused.

Just like scholarships, college grants also have requirements as well. Grants are what some call free money, but you must meet certain requirements in order to obtain these. Financial status, physical status and many other factors are brought into play when it comes to deciding whether your qualified for a grant. So before applying for a grant, make sure you understand the terms and conditions to each grant.

Based off the research I’ve done for the writing of this article and the few bits of information I’ve soaked up, I think its safe to say that scholarships are a bit more easier to obtain then are grants. Now that is not saying that grants are obsolete when it comes to trying to obtain one.

Quick Look at Grants and Scholarships

I understand many who are reading this want a quick overview of how grants and scholarships compare and don’t compare so here is a quick re-cap.

How These 2 Compare:

Both have requirements and standards in order to obtain money

 

Both are provided by private AND public parties

 

Both only disburse a MAXIMUM amount per semester. This is based off a Careers-And-Education blog I read

 

Both require filling out an application

 

Both DON’T require you to pay back money

How These 2 DON’T Compare:

Scholarships require you to maintain a GPA level

 

Grants require you to meet certain requirements in order to obtain one

 

Scholarships are easier to obtain compared to grants

1, 2, 3 Step to Finding Scholarships and Grants

There are thousands of ways to locate scholarships and grants. Not to mention, the amount of grant money and scholarship money out there is very high. We’re talking in the 5-figure numbers. Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit but there really are countless numbers of grants and scholarships to help you pay for college.

As I usually close out all of my articles, it only takes a small amount of research to find a mountain amount of information.

 



Thanks to Dustin Verley for contributing this article to our Grants blog:

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ips are tricky things. Everyone wants one. Few people get them. Apparently, there are millions out there that go unused on an annual basis. Because scholarships differ from loans in that they are free money, they are coveted beautiful things. They are also brilliant resume boosters and look fantastic on any resume.

Now, there are so many types of scholarships, it helps to be abreast of the types, time ranges, amounts, and places to find them. Some high schools give away scholarships prior to attending college. Some scholarships are merit based, others need based, others interest based, other cultural based. The list goes on.

The best way to begin seeking scholarships is to do your research. Every college and university will have a dowry with various scholarships. Usually they will be listed on the school’s website; however, you can always inquire as to their prevalence. When you learn about them, you can find out how much, many, and reasons behind them. Essentially, scholarships don’t usually just get handed to you (although some lucky people do find this fortuitous world). You must do your research.

Here are some types of scholarships.

Merit Scholarships - Scholarships typically revolve around this type of award. People who excel in academics are awarded a scholarship on the basis of their overall academic achievement. This may come in the form of top GPA, excellent SAT scores, and so on. These are highly competitive and may come in various forms. Need-Based Scholarships - This type of scholarship is given purely on financial means. They are designed to fund the less-fortunate students in their academic pursuits. Scholarship committees look at various reasons for this hardship: Parents’ income, number of siblings in school simultaneously, expenses, cost of living, etc. Athletic Scholarships - Scholarships are popularly given to star athletes by universities to recruit them for the athletic teams. Many athletes complete their education free of charge, but also pay the price of overworked team sports. Usually full-scholarship athletes are recruited by "scouts" while in high school. You don’t usually pursue this type of scholarship; it is given to you. School-Based Individual Scholarships - Every school offers specific scholarships relevant to specifics from the university: donors, individual name scholarships, personal scholarships, and so on. Sometimes you have to apply directly to the scholarship, and other times, just by being accepted, you are placed in the bowl for possible scholarship awards. Full/Partial Scholarship - Many people look at scholarships as a whole and think that they sometimes cover everything. If you are lucky enough to receive a full scholarship, then yes, they cover living, books, and tuition. However, many scholarships are partial, meaning they may cover simply living, simply books, or part of the tuition. If you are awarded any type of scholarship, take it and run! They are prized, wonderful gifts, and you should feel honored to receive one.

While several scholarships are school based, others are based on almost every other personal element that can exist. Several websites and books are designed purely for the existence of finding scholarships. Here are some websites and books that serve as search agents and listings of all the scholarships that exist. If you try hard enough, you are likely to find at least one or two that match your interests and qualifications. It takes much patience and time, but you are bound to find a scholarship for you.

Website: www.escholar.info

Books:

How To Go To College Almost For Free by Ben Kaplan

The Scholarship Scouting Report: An Insider’s Guide to America’s Best Scholarships by Ben Kaplan

The College Board Scholarship Handbook 2004: All New Seventh Edition by Joseph A. Russo

Winning Grants: Step by Step, 2nd Edition by Mim Carlson

Scholarships, Grants, and Prizes, 2004 by Peterson’s

Complete Idiot’s Guide to Financial Planning for College by David Rye

Thanks to precious for contributing this article to our Grants blog:

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Can you answer licsempire’s question about Grants?:

I am extremely talented in both sports being an attacking midfielder, pitcher and outfielder. Due to scholarships restrictions I understand it would be difficult to get a full-ride in either sport. I am mainly trying to add the scholarships for me to make college affordable.

Education Grants For Teachers

There are many different kinds of scholarships programs available for college students to apply and win some free money to fund their college study. Each scholarship program has a different goal it wants to accomplish by awarding scholarship money. So, even you do not have the best grades, the higher scores in your school examinations or the most outstanding on the athletic field, you shouldn’t give up scholarship search. Chances are that you are uniquely qualified for scholarships that you never even considered. Here are the major types of scholarships that you can search for.

Academic Scholarships

Academic scholarships are awarded to students who have demonstrated a good talent in their academic. These scholarships go to the students with the best grades, the highest test scores, and the most challenging course loads. While some private organizations sponsor academic scholarships, most are awarded by the colleges themselves and by state governments. If you have outstanding academic qualifications, you should apply these scholarships.

Contests

Have you heard about scholarship sweepstakes? Like other type of contests, it is a type of contest that award scholarships as prizes. There are many themes of contests, some contests may award to best essays or speeches written on a particular subject. Others reward students for science, technological, or internet projects. If you have talent in any of these areas, you should seek out contests that award scholarships.

Career & Academic Interest Scholarships

The career & Academic Interest Scholarships normally sponsored by academic organizations, professional associations, industry groups, companies, and academic departments within a college. To be eligible, you often need to declare a major or otherwise demonstrate to the scholarship judges that you are serious about pursuing the field of study that the scholarship supports.

Athletic Scholarships

These scholarships are particularly dedicated for sport men and women. Athletic departments of colleges and universities sponsor most athletic scholarships. Big schools will woo the best jocks in the most popular sports; if you can’t compete in that arena, look at smaller colleges and universities with ambitious sports programs. Though you skills may not have gotten you far at Big State U, the smaller college may be happy to have you and willing to supply scholarship money to entice you to attend.

Community Service Scholarships

While you are in high school, volunteer yourself to serve in local hospitals, animal shelters, retirement homes or libraries or any places that need volunteer workers. You are certain to find opportunities for community service that match your particular interests. And all your hard volunteer work is likely to pay off in scholarship money. Many scholarship programs seek out students with strong backgrounds in community service.

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

If you have disability or a long-term medical condition, you may likely eligible for scholarships specially dedicated for this group of students. The best source of information about such scholarships is the office of disability support services at your college or university.

Summary

Scholarships are not just for the best students. There are many scholarship reward programs which may fit your qualifications. You shouldn’t give up the scholarship search just because you do not have the best grades or the most prowesses on the athletic field.



Thanks to Amelia Turner for contributing this article to our Grants blog:

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