Chances of getting scholarships. College Scholarships Statistics: Unveiling the Odds and Opportunities

What are the chances of getting scholarships. How many private scholarships are awarded annually. What is the total value of scholarships awarded each year. How do grades affect scholarship opportunities. What percentage of students receive full-ride scholarships.

The Landscape of College Scholarships: A Statistical Overview

In the realm of higher education financing, scholarships play a crucial role in making college more accessible to students across the United States. Each year, a staggering number of scholarships are awarded, providing substantial financial support to aspiring scholars. But just how prevalent are these opportunities, and what are the odds of securing one?

According to recent statistics, more than 1.7 million private scholarships and fellowships are awarded annually, with a total value exceeding $7.4 billion. These figures underscore the significant financial aid available to students pursuing higher education.

Understanding Scholarships and Fellowships

Scholarships and fellowships fall under the category of gift aid – financial assistance that doesn’t require repayment or work in exchange. While both are forms of non-repayable aid, they typically target different academic levels:

• Scholarships: Generally awarded to undergraduate students
• Fellowships: Typically granted to graduate and professional school students

It’s worth noting that these forms of aid are often funded by foundations, corporations, and philanthropists, operating independently from college-controlled financial assistance programs.

Scholarship Distribution: Numbers and Amounts

To gain a comprehensive understanding of scholarship distribution, let’s examine the data from the 2015-2016 academic year:

• Total number of scholarships awarded: 1,581,000
• Total amount of scholarships: $6.1 billion
• Average scholarship amount: $3,852
• Percentage of undergraduate students receiving scholarships: 8.1%

These figures demonstrate the substantial financial support available to students through scholarships. But how does this distribution vary across different degree levels?

Scholarship Distribution by Degree Level (2015-2016)

This breakdown reveals that students pursuing Bachelor’s degrees have the highest likelihood of receiving scholarships, with the largest average award amount.

Odds of Winning a Scholarship: What Are Your Chances?

For many students and parents, the burning question is: What are the odds of winning a scholarship? Let’s break down the statistics:

• Raw odds for a student in a Bachelor’s degree program: Approximately 1 in 8
• Percentage of Bachelor’s degree students receiving a “full ride”: 1.5%
• Percentage receiving enough to cover 90% of attendance cost: 2.7%
• Percentage receiving enough to cover 75% of attendance cost: 5.9%
• Percentage receiving enough to cover 50% of attendance cost: 18.8%

These figures indicate that while scholarships are attainable, full-ride scholarships are relatively rare. However, a significant portion of students do receive substantial financial support through scholarships.

Distribution of Scholarship Amounts

When examining the distribution of scholarship amounts across all undergraduate students:

• 0.1% received $25,000 or more in scholarships
• 97% of scholarship recipients received $2,500 or less

This distribution suggests that while large scholarship awards are uncommon, many students benefit from smaller amounts that can still significantly offset educational expenses.

Fellowships: Supporting Graduate and Professional Education

While scholarships primarily target undergraduate students, fellowships play a crucial role in supporting graduate and professional education. Let’s examine the fellowship statistics for the 2015-2016 academic year:

• Number of fellowships awarded: 189,500
• Total amount of fellowships: $1.28 billion
• Average fellowship amount: $6,752
• Percentage of graduate/professional students receiving fellowships: 5.3%

Compared to undergraduate scholarships, fellowships are less common but typically offer larger award amounts. This reflects the higher costs associated with advanced degrees and the specialized nature of graduate and professional programs.

Factors Influencing Scholarship Success: Beyond the Numbers

While understanding the overall statistics is valuable, it’s important to recognize that various factors can influence an individual’s chances of winning a scholarship. One significant factor is academic performance, particularly grade point average (GPA).

GPA and Scholarship Opportunities

A clear correlation exists between GPA and scholarship success:

• Students with a 3.5 to 4.0 unweighted GPA are twice as likely to win a private scholarship compared to those with less than a 3.0 GPA
• 17.0% of students with a 3.5 or higher GPA win private scholarships
• 13.1% of students with a 3.0 to 3.4 GPA win private scholarships
• 10.4% of students with a 2.5 to 2.9 GPA win private scholarships
• 8.3% of students with a 2.0 to 2.4 GPA win private scholarships
• 7.0% of students with less than a 2.0 GPA win private scholarships

These statistics highlight the importance of academic achievement in securing scholarship opportunities, even when GPA is not explicitly considered in the selection criteria.

Maximizing Scholarship Opportunities: Strategies for Success

Given the competitive nature of scholarships, how can students increase their chances of securing financial aid? Here are some effective strategies:

1. Start early: Begin researching and applying for scholarships well before college application deadlines
2. Cast a wide net: Apply for multiple scholarships to increase your odds of success
3. Utilize scholarship search engines: Take advantage of free scholarship search sites that match your profile with available opportunities
4. Maintain strong academics: As the statistics show, a higher GPA correlates with increased scholarship success
5. Develop a well-rounded profile: Engage in extracurricular activities, community service, and leadership roles to stand out
6. Tailor applications: Customize each application to align with the specific scholarship’s criteria and mission
7. Pay attention to details: Follow application instructions carefully and meet all deadlines

By implementing these strategies, students can significantly enhance their chances of securing valuable scholarship funding for their education.

The Impact of Scholarships on College Affordability

Scholarships play a crucial role in making higher education more accessible and affordable for millions of students. But how exactly do they impact overall college costs?

Reducing the Financial Burden

Scholarships can significantly reduce the out-of-pocket expenses for students and their families. Even smaller scholarship amounts can add up to substantial savings over the course of a degree program. For example:

• A $1,000 scholarship per year over four years amounts to $4,000 in savings
• Multiple small scholarships can collectively cover a significant portion of tuition or living expenses
• Larger scholarships can dramatically reduce or eliminate the need for student loans

Long-term Financial Benefits

The impact of scholarships extends beyond the immediate college years. By reducing the need for student loans, scholarships can have long-lasting financial benefits:

• Lower or no student loan debt upon graduation
• Reduced financial stress during the early career years
• Increased ability to save for other life goals post-graduation

These long-term benefits underscore the importance of actively pursuing scholarship opportunities throughout one’s academic career.

Beyond Traditional Scholarships: Exploring Alternative Financial Aid Options

While private scholarships offer significant opportunities, they’re not the only form of financial aid available to students. To create a comprehensive college funding strategy, it’s important to explore all available options:

Institutional Scholarships and Grants

Many colleges and universities offer their own scholarships and grants to attract and retain talented students. These can include:

• Merit-based scholarships for academic achievement
• Talent-based scholarships for specific skills or abilities
• Need-based grants determined by financial circumstances

Federal and State Aid Programs

Government-sponsored financial aid programs can provide substantial support:

• Federal Pell Grants for undergraduate students with financial need
• State-specific grant and scholarship programs
• Work-study programs that provide part-time employment opportunities

Employer-Sponsored Education Benefits

For working students or those with employed parents, employer-sponsored education benefits can be a valuable resource:

• Tuition reimbursement programs
• Scholarships for employees’ children
• Partnerships between employers and educational institutions offering discounted tuition

By combining private scholarships with these alternative financial aid options, students can create a robust funding strategy to support their educational goals.

The Future of Scholarships: Trends and Predictions

As the landscape of higher education continues to evolve, so too does the world of scholarships. What trends can we expect to see in the coming years?

Increased Focus on Diversity and Inclusion

Many scholarship programs are placing a greater emphasis on promoting diversity and inclusion in higher education. This trend is likely to continue, with more opportunities emerging for underrepresented groups in various fields of study.

Technology-Driven Changes

Advancements in technology are reshaping the scholarship application and selection process:

• AI-powered matching systems to connect students with relevant opportunities
• Blockchain technology for secure and transparent scholarship fund management
• Virtual interviews and portfolio submissions becoming more common

Emphasis on Skills and Real-World Experience

As the job market evolves, scholarship programs may place increased value on practical skills and experiences:

• Scholarships for students with entrepreneurial ventures
• Opportunities tied to specific industry certifications or skills
• Programs that combine financial support with internship or mentorship components

Rise of Micro-Scholarships

While large scholarships will continue to exist, there may be a trend towards more numerous, smaller awards:

• Micro-scholarships for specific achievements or milestones
• Cumulative scholarship programs that reward ongoing progress
• Crowdfunded scholarship opportunities

By staying informed about these trends, students can position themselves to take advantage of emerging scholarship opportunities in the ever-changing landscape of higher education funding.

College Scholarships Statistics

Each year, more than 1.7 million private scholarships and fellowships are awarded, with a total value of more than $7.4 billion.

Scholarships and fellowships are a form of gift aid, which is financial aid that does not need to be repaid or earned. Private scholarships are independent, non-college-controlled gift aid, often funded by foundations, corporations and philanthropists.

Scholarships are typically awarded to undergraduate students and fellowships are typically awarded to graduate and professional school students.

This article provides information about scholarships statistics. A different article provides information about student loan statistics.

Did you know that scholarships are taxable? Use our Scholarship Tax Calculator to figure out the taxable amount of your scholarships and calculate how much you’ll have to pay in taxes. Amounts used to pay for tuition and textbooks may be tax-free, but amounts used to pay for living expenses are taxable.  

Number and Amount of Scholarships

This table shows the number of scholarships and total amount of scholarships awarded to all undergraduate students. It also reports the average scholarship amount per recipient and the percentage of undergraduate students using scholarships to pay for college.

This table shows the data for 2015-16, broken down by undergraduate degree level.

There are more than a dozen free scholarship search sites that will match a student’s background against a database of scholarships. The typical high school senior will match 50 to 100 such scholarships, depending, in part, on whether they answer the optional questions in addition to the required questions.

Odds of Winning a Scholarship

The raw odds of winning a scholarship are about 1 in 8 for a student in a Bachelor’s degree program.

Very few of these students will win a “free ride.” Of students in Bachelor’s degree programs in 2015-16, only 1.5% got enough scholarships and grants to cover 100% of the cost of attendance.

2.7% got enough to cover 90% of the cost of attendance, 5.9% got enough to cover three quarters of the cost of attendance, and 18. 8% got enough to cover half of the cost of attendance.

Of all undergraduate students, only 0.1% got $25,000 or more in scholarships. 97% of scholarship recipients receive $2,500 or less in scholarships.

Number and Amount of Fellowships

This table shows the number of fellowships and total amount of fellowships awarded to all graduate and professional school students. It also reports the average fellowship amount per recipient and the percentage of graduate and professional school students using fellowship to pay for college.

Graduate and professional school students are less likely to receive fellowships than undergraduate students, but the average amount received is greater.

Characteristics of Scholarship Recipients

The odds of a student winning a scholarship vary according to student characteristics, such as grades, test scores, field of study and race.

Grades: Students with a 3.5 to 4.0 unweighted GPA are twice as likely to win a private scholarship as students with less than a 3.0 GPA. 17.0% of students with a 3.5 or higher GPA win private scholarships, compared with 13.1% of students with a 3.0 to 3.4 GPA, 10.4% of students with a 2.5 to 2.9 GPA, 8.3% of students with a 2.0 to 2.4 GPA, and 7.0% of students with less than a 2.0 GPA. So, even though most scholarships do not consider a student’s GPA, there is a strong correlation between academic performance and odds of winning a scholarship.

Test Scores: Students with above-average SAT and ACT test scores are more likely to win private scholarships. 12.9% of students with a SAT score of 1,000 or more win private scholarships, compared with 7.8% of students with a SAT score under 1,000. 12.4% of students with an ACT score of 21 or higher win private scholarships, compared with 7.7% of students with an ACT score under 21.

Field of Study: 16.2% of students majoring in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) win private scholarships, compared 11.5% of students pursuing non-STEM fields.

Race: White students are more likely to win a scholarship than minority students, 13.8% vs. 11.2%. Among students in Bachelor’s degree programs, nearly two-thirds (62.3%) are White, 11.8% are Black or African-American, 13.6% are Hispanic or Latino, 6.1% are Asian, 1.6% are American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.3% are Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 4.3% are more than one race.

Impact of Scholarships on College Affordability

Although correlations do not prove causation, a dose-response relationship, where outcomes improve with increases in the amount of private scholarships, is suggestive of causation. If the dose-response relationship is initially flat, that may be a sign of a dependency on having a critical mass of scholarships relative to costs.

When a student wins a private scholarship, their gift aid covers a greater share of the cost of attendance.

The net price is the difference between the cost of attendance and gift aid. It is the real cost of college, the amount the family must pay from savings, income and loans. This chart shows that the net price remains unchanged regardless of the amount of scholarships, an indication that private scholarships allow recipients to buy up to a more expensive college than they otherwise could afford.

Receipt of private scholarships causes students to shift their enrollment patterns to more-selective colleges. About two-thirds (67%) of students with private scholarships enroll at very or moderately selective colleges, compared with more than a third (36%) of students who do not have private scholarships.

This table shows other ways in which scholarship recipients “buy up” to a better college. Scholarship recipients are more likely to enroll full-time, more likely to enroll at a 4-year college, more likely to pursue a Bachelor’s degree, more likely to enroll at a private non-profit college, and more likely to enroll at an out-of-state college.

Receipt of private scholarships also has an impact on outcomes, as shown in this table. The graduation rates are Bachelor’s degree attainment rates for students enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program. Curiously, the difference in Bachelor’s degree attainment rates is about 15% for 4, 5 and 6 years.

Methodology

The data in this report is based on the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS), a large quadrennial study of how students paid for their college education. The most recent NPSAS, the 2015-16 NPSAS, surveyed 89,000 undergraduate students and 24,000 graduate students.

How Much Can a Student Win From Scholarships?

When your child is in high school, you’re likely to hear college counselors talking about the wonders of college scholarships, also known as grants. You may also notice stories in the media about college freshmen who won thousands of dollars in scholarship money. All that can make it sound like it’s not impossible to get a full ride to the school of your dreams, as long as you follow the right steps. However, most college applicants and their parents soon discover that winning big scholarships is not as easy as it can sound.

Key Takeaways

• Unless a student is an elite athlete, in the top 1% academically, or has accomplished some other notable feat, the likelihood of getting a full-ride scholarship is slim to none.
• However, good students can still earn need-based or merit scholarships to cover a portion of the bill.
• Don’t assume that you won’t qualify for scholarships because of your income, lack of stellar athletic skills, or ethnicity. Hundreds of scholarships are available, some small and some large.

How to Get a Full-Ride Scholarship

The full-ride scholarship is the ultimate wish-list item for college-bound students and their parents, but it’s only a reality for a few. A child who is making national headlines for athletic skills, musical virtuosity, scientific discoveries, or academic achievements may be on track for schools offering full rides, or at least very enticing award packages.

When it comes to full-ride scholarships, it is not enough for a student to have a 4.0 GPA or be captain of the soccer team. Universities look for diverse individuals who stand out among their peers. Most students will not meet the criteria.

That said, there are still plenty of partial scholarships, private scholarships, and other types of aid that can help defray college costs.

Unfortunately, many students never even apply for scholarships due to concern over their grades, lack of athletic skills, race, or family income. While there are many scholarships directed toward individuals with particular skills or specific ethnicities, there are hundreds of other scholarships out there. Beyond freshman year, there are also scholarships designed for transfer students and sophomore, junior, and senior-year students.

According to the most recent “How America Pays for College” report from the lender Sallie Mae Bank, 25% of college students received some amount of scholarship or grant money in 2019-2020.

How the FAFSA Can Help

For students with average athletic ability and academic performance, aid is still available, most of it through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Based on the information you supply regarding your income, assets, and other factors, the FAFSA computes your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) toward college. If your EFC is less than the cost of attendance at a particular college, the school’s financial aid office will attempt to bridge the gap with grants, subsidized or unsubsidized federal loans, and paid work-study jobs.

The FAFSA process will get simpler for the 2023–2024 academic year. The form has been trimmed from 108 questions to about three dozen.

It is also important to note that offers of full-tuition and partial-tuition scholarships will not always come from your student’s dream school. They may be from colleges you have hardly heard of, in states you have never visited. It is important to consider these scholarships, too, even if they were not on your child’s original college plan.

Grants and scholarships represent money that you never have to repay. Federal loans do have to be repaid, but they tend to have low interest rates and flexible repayment terms compared with money you borrow from a bank or other private lender.

While grants and subsidized loans are limited to students with “exceptional financial need,” unsubsidized loans are available to students and parents regardless of need.  So no matter how much money you earn or have in the bank, the FAFSA is worth filling out. State and local governments, private scholarship sources, and the colleges themselves can also use the FAFSA in determining their awards. 

For example, many colleges award so-called merit scholarships out of their own funds in order to compete for desirable, if not necessarily stellar, students.

$9,850

That’s the average scholarship or grant aid per undergraduate in 2019-2020, according to the College Board’s “Trends in College Pricing 2020” report. The number includes federal, state, institutional, private, and employer grants.

Don’t Write Off Smaller Scholarships

While far from full rides, smaller scholarships from local organizations, professional societies, and other groups can be very useful. Typically in the range of $50 to $500, they could cover a semester’s worth of textbooks or lab fees. Many times, a smaller scholarship will have fewer requirements and be less competitive. Also, these smaller scholarships are usually paid directly to the student rather than the school itself, which makes it possible to use them for a wider range of costs.

Ask your child’s high school college counselor for more information about local scholarships and to recommend some trustworthy scholarship directories. Also ask the potential schools on your list about their available awards and funding. Your local library and your city’s chamber of commerce might also have information about scholarships you can apply for.

Beware of Scholarship Scams

The confusingly-named Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be renamed the Student Aid Index (SAI) to clarify its meaning as of July 2023. It does not indicate how much the student must pay the college. It is used by the school to calculate how much student aid the applicant is eligible to receive.

Millions of dollars of scholarship money go unclaimed each year—or so they say. Don’t let scam companies use this dubious stat to entice you to use (and pay for) their services.

When researching scholarships, you will likely come across shady businesses that offer their “expert” services to help you find scholarships. Some may even guarantee that they can get you scholarships in return for a fee.

Never pay money for a scholarship search or to apply for a scholarship. Every legitimate scholarship is accessible through free means, such as the sponsoring organization’s website. And, whatever you do, never give your credit card number or other personal information to one of these outfits.

What are My Chances of Getting or Winning an ROTC Scholarship?

This is a common question we hear when candidates contact us. Our answer is always– “it depends”–because the criteria for Army, Navy, Navy-Marine Corps Option, and Air Force ROTCs are different in a number of ways.   This post will talk about each ROTC program and the most important elements to consider in order to determine your chances of success.

Army ROTC

Is probably the “easiest” scholarship to win.

For academic year 2020-21, 9300 high school senior applications for the scholarship were reviewed.
About 2500 applicants were awarded a scholarship. About 25% of those were 4-year scholarships and 75% were 3-year scholarships.

Army ROTC ranks applicants on a 1400 point scale using the following weights:

There is not much variation between candidates in Scholar, Athletics and Leadership, the CBEF, or the Physical Fitness test.

Most important criteria for Army ROTC:

Score above 1200 SAT combined or above a 24 ACT composite.  Army ROTC superscores the test so there is no penalty to retake the test.

Do well on the interview because it has points allotted to it and is also the most important part of the Selection Board Score.

Bottom Line:   Score above 1200 on the SAT or 24 ACT and have a good interview and you should at a minimum win a 3-year Army ROTC Scholarship.

Air Force ROTC

Probably the second “easiest” scholarship to win.

For the academic year 2018-2019, more than 5,000 high school senior applications for the scholarship were reviewed.
About 2,300 applicants were awarded a scholarship.

Air Force ROTC ranks applicants on a 1000 point scale using the following weights:

Most important criteria for Air Force ROTC:

The interview is by far the most important area to do well on for Air Force ROTC.  You won’t win a scholarship if you have a bad interview.

Your goal for the SAT is to score above 1300 combined or above a 27 ACT composite.  Air Force ROTC is best sitting and NOT superscored.  The average SAT score for a winner is around 1320/30ACT

If you don’t designate a major in the following areas, it is unlikely you will receive a scholarship. 80% of all offers were in technical majors.

• Aeronautical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Architectural Engineering
• Architecture
• Astronautical Engineering
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Meteorological/Atmospheric Science
• Nuclear Engineering
• Nuclear Physics
• Operations Research
• Physics

Bottom line:

Prepare extensively for the interview and work to score over 1300/27 composite best sitting.  Designate a “highly desired” major.

Navy ROTC

This is a more difficult scholarship to obtain than the Army and Air Force Scholarship.

For the academic year 2018-2019, more than 5,000 high school senior applications for the scholarship were reviewed.
About 1,500 applicants were awarded a scholarship.

The way Navy ROTC chooses scholarship winners is opaque and there is not a point total that they use.   All Navy ROTC winners are chosen by an officer board that evaluates the scholar, athlete, leader credentials of each candidate.

There seems to be little variation for athlete or leader credentials for Navy ROTC.

Most important criteria for Navy ROTC:

Score a 700 or above on the Math SAT.  Navy ROTC superscores the test.

Designate either a Tier I or Tier II Academic Major.  Approximately 85% of Navy Option Navy ROTC scholarships offers will be awarded to students interested in completing a Tier 1 or Tier 2 academic major

Tier I:

• Aerospace
• Aeronautical
• Astronautical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Naval Architecture & Marine/Naval Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Ocean Engineering
• Systems Engineering

Tier II:

• Agricultural/Biological Engineering & Bioengineering
• Architectural Engineering/Architectural Engineering Technologies
• Astrophysics Biochemistry
• Biophysics & Molecular Biology
• Biomathematics & Bioinformatics Biomedical/Medical Engineering
• Biotechnology Cell/Cellular Biology & Anatomical Sciences
• Ceramic Sciences & Engineering
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Programming
• Computer Science/Info. Tech.
• Construction Engineering
• Electronics & Comm. Engineering
• Engineering Mechanics
• Engineering
• Physics
• Engineering Science
• General Engineering
• General Science
• Industrial Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Materials Engineering
• Mathematics
• Metallurgical Engineering
• Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
• Mining & Mineral Engineering Nuclear & Industrial Radiologic Technology
• Oceanography
• Petroleum Engineering
• Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Physics
• Physiology, Pathology & Related Sciences
• Polymer/Plastics Engineering
• Quantitative Economics
• Statistics
• Textile Sciences & Engineering

Bottom line:  Score a 700 SAT or above on Math and designate a Tier I or II major.

Navy ROTC- Marine Corps Option

By far the hardest scholarship to obtain because there are so few of them and it is so personalized.  However, that can be an advantage to those candidates who have the motivation (and time) to work towards this scholarship.

For the academic year 2017-2018, more than 2,500 high school senior applications for the scholarship were reviewed.
About 336 applicants were awarded a scholarship.

Like Navy ROTC, the process is opaque and there is not a point total that they use.   The Marine Corps awards scholarships by Recruiting District so it is important to have a good reputation and be known within your District.  The following is a map of the districts:

You must be a solid performer with very good SAT/ACT Scores (goal is above 1300 SAT/27 ACT–the average SAT is 1240), with a good high school GPA.   Navy ROTC-Marine Corps option is best sitting.

Most important criteria for Navy ROTC- Marine Corps Option:

Participate actively in physical fitness and other sessions with the local Marine Corps recruiting office in your area within your district.  Be known, be seen.

Score above 265 on the Marine Corps Fitness Test.  Retake it in order to score higher. For Male scholarship awardees, the average PFT score was 270. For Females, it was 262.

As you can see, there are different standards and criteria in order to win a scholarship.   We have boiled this down to the bare essentials so you have an idea if you have a chance of winning a scholarship.  We wish you the best of luck in your quest to become a military officer!

ROTC Scholarship Consulting has an unparalleled record in helping candidates win ROTC Scholarships. Please take a look at our services for more information. We also have books on ROTC Scholarships as well as West Point admissions on Amazon!

15 Expert Tips on How to Win College Scholarships [2021 Edition]

College application season is upon us! We here at Scholly want to help you get ahead of the game when it comes to funding your education. Luckily, we have plenty of scholarship winning tips to share.

With college tuition higher than ever and national student loan debt at crisis level, scholarships are one of the ideal ways to help pay for college. The best part is that scholarships provide FREE money towards your education; you don’t have to pay them back!

Our Founder and CEO Christopher Gray earned $1.3 million in scholarships to fund his education and Scholly has already helped students win over $100 million in scholarships… so we KNOW there’s money out there for you! 

Now, we’ve come together with expert intel to compile the ultimate list of scholarship winning tips anyone can use to win big. Take a look!

1. Create a List of Your Unique Traits

Did you know that there’s a scholarship out there for practically everything? There are scholarships offered based on nationality, personal interests, GPA, languages spoken, extra curricular activities, and so on! There are scholarships for swimmers, pianists, fantasy football players, students who grew up with certain hardships, first-generation college students, LGBTQ individuals… you get the picture!

And here’s the key. Scholarship winners don’t take a shotgun approach to applying for scholarships; they find ones that fit them.

So we recommend that you start by making a list of all of your unique traits. You might be really surprised by the number of scholarships out there that fit your individual skills and qualities, so don’t leave anything off! (If you’re not sure where to begin, sign up for Scholly and answer our scholarship-matching questions. We’ll help identify your unique traits and find scholarships that match!)

You can start with this list of traits about who you are, including:

• Personal interests and passions
• Extracurricular activities
• Hardships you or your family have endured (e.g. cancer, loss of a parent, a natural disaster, etc.)
• Career interests or goals
• Academic accomplishments
• Heritage
• Sex/gender
• Personality traits (e.g. strong sense of leadership, great sense of humor)
• University you currently attend or the universities you’re applying to

2. Search for Scholarships Based On These Traits

Once you’ve got your list of unique traits handy, you can start searching! There are literally tens of thousands of scholarships out there. Many are easy to find, such as popular, high-competition scholarships like the Gates Millennium Scholars Program and the Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarship. These are big names offering big rewards!

But many thousands of others can be hard to find, especially specialized ones and those with less competition (when their hard to find, they have less competition!), so you’ll want to be extremely diligent in your research. Don’t be afraid to ask teachers and counselors for advice, they can be great resources!

Want help finding the best scholarships for you, including those with less competition? Scholly Search, our award-winning scholarship matching app, will find them instantly for you. Zero research required.

3. Develop a Prioritized List of Scholarship Opportunities

As you’re searching for scholarships, keep a list that prioritizes opportunities based on several factors: due date, unique fit, and scholarship amount. Obviously the closest approaching deadlines should be top priority, followed by the type of scholarship (how uniquely it matches you), and then the dollar amount.

Everyone’s list will look a little different, but the goal is to apply for all of the best scholarships in a timely manner.

When it comes to prioritizing scholarships, don’t discount what seems like a huge, too-good-to-be-true scholarship or payoff opportunity, assuming you’ll never win it. Go big or go home, right? For example, at Scholly, we frequently offer HUGE scholarship and student loan payoff opportunities that are super simple to apply for! High dollar scholarships are often competitive, but it can’t hurt to try for them because there are always winners.

On the other hand, don’t dismiss smallish scholarships either! There are tons of scholarships out there in the $500-$2,000 range. This may not seem like a lot, but every dollar counts and these scholarships add up!

4. Implement a Scholarship Schedule

It may sound obvious but apply for as many scholarships as possible! Don’t skimp.

Searching and applying for scholarships should be a regular part of your college preparation routine, much like standardized test prep. 

Carve out time to dedicate solely to scholarship applications, and even consider making a scholarship schedule. For example, every Monday, spend an hour searching and saving scholarship opportunities and every Wednesday, spend an hour applying to them. Choose what works best for you and stick to it. We’re all busy, but if you make the time for scholarships, you’ll be thankful later! 

We highly recommend that you apply to 10 scholarships per month to drastically increase your chances of winning scholarship money. If this sounds overwhelming, think of it this way: that’s 2 or 3 scholarship applications a week, which is totally manageable. The more you apply for, the greater your chances of winning. These are just the facts.

And by the way, there are plenty of scholarship opportunities out there that don’t take long to apply for at all, with some taking as little as 15 minutes. In your scholarship schedule, try to stagger shorter and longer scholarship applications, so you’re never too loaded up.

5. Build a Scholarship “Toolbox” (And Save Time Later)

What, you might ask, is a scholarship toolbox? Basically, it’s just all of the resources and knowledge you’ll need to slay the scholarship application process!

By gathering all of the (potentially) necessary items and information you’ll need for scholarship applications ahead of time, you’ll be able to crank out more scholarship applications in less time. These items include:

• Letters of recommendation
• Scholarship essays you’ve written in the past
• All of your school’s information (name, address, your graduation year, the 6-digit high school code etc.)
• Most recent transcripts (high school and/or college)
• Personal information (name, address, email address, your parents’/guardians’ information and employers, etc.)
• Parents’ most recent federal tax return (if you’re a dependent)
• Completed FAFSA and SAR report (which is generated after you complete the FAFSA)
• Your student loan lender information (if you’ve already taken out student loans)
• A recent, non-blurry photo of just you (think “headshot” style from shoulders up and without your friends in the frame)

Will you need ALL of this information for every scholarship? Not likely. But the idea is to gather all of these resources and documents ahead of time so that if you do need them, you won’t lose time searching for them.

6. Don’t Rush Your Scholarship Applications!

Make sure you’re giving each application the necessary time and consideration to be a strong contender. You want your application to stand out, to reflect your ability to be thoughtful and hard-working. 

Taking the appropriate time to apply for scholarships involves:

• Reading all directions (including fine print) thoroughly
• Familiarizing yourself with the organization offering the scholarship
• Reflecting thoughtfully on any questions or essays
• Writing and proofing a strong scholarship essay, if applicable (more on this shortly)

In a nutshell: don’t phone it in and you’ll increase your odds of winning that free money for college.

7. Track Your Scholarship Applications 

The more organized you are, the better, and if you’re applying for a lot of scholarships (as we recommend) then organization is key.

Scholly Search allows you to save upcoming scholarships, stay on top of due dates, and keep track of the scholarships you’ve applied for (including your wins!), but a spreadsheet also works well.

Whatever your preferred method, keeping a master list of scholarships and tracking them ensures that you won’t miss out on any great opportunities. It also helps with college budgeting, since you can see how much you’ve earned and how much you’ll still have to cover.

8. Follow The Directions to a Tee

Are you required to provide your GPA? A letter of recommendation? A photo of just your face? A 250-word essay? Then do precisely that! Don’t deviate from the scholarship’s guidelines and risk being disqualified for a silly reason.

It sounds obvious, but it’s so important to make sure you submit everything necessary in order to avoid being disqualified. Triple check the requirements and that you’re submitting them correctly!

9. Always Do The “Optional” Work

Okay, listen, no one really wants MORE work to do, we get it. But if a scholarship has any “optional” requirements (e.g. an essay, a letter of recommendation, a joke—yep, that’s something that’s actually come up before on an application) we urge you to consider it “mandatory” and do it. 

Here’s why: completing the additional work shows your initiative and drive, and will make your application stand out from other candidates who perhaps didn’t provide the extra materials. Go above and beyond!

10. Write a Killer Scholarship Essay

Ah, the scholarship essay. Not every scholarship requires one, but many do, and this is really your chance to shine. Your essay allows you to show the more dimensional aspects of yourself—things that can’t be reflected in just your GPA or test scores. 

This is our complete checklist for how to write a scholarship essay that will help you win big, which is fully of pretty much everything you need to know about writing the best scholarship essay possible.

Here are some highlights…

Stick to the prompt

Answer the specific prompt at hand as clearly and concisely as possible. If the prompt is asking about a time you achieved something despite a setback, don’t write about what you’ll do with the scholarship money if you win. If you’re asked to discuss what you want to study in college and why, don’t write about the day your baby sister was born (unless that directly pertains to your college and career goals!).

You don’t have to repeat the prompt or question in your essay, but you do need to stick to the subject at hand, stay focused, and stay within the character or word count.

Tell a story with your essay

Your essay can have a traditional introduction-body-conclusion format like may of the essays you’ve probably written in school, but it doesn’t have to be quite as academic.

Keep it professional, of course. No cursing, “text speak,” or highly controversial stances is usually a good rule of thumb. But also make sure to paint a vivid picture for the reader by showing not telling.

For example, if you’re describing how the scholarship money will help change your future for the better (a fairly common scholarship prompt), avoid cliches and platitudes like, “it would mean the world to me to win” or “winning would be real game-changer.” The scholarship essay readers know this!

Instead, try to describe what life would look like for you with the financial assistance, being as specific as possible. For instance, you could say something like:

“This scholarship will allow me to take an unpaid internship at a veterinary clinic where I can help care for sick and wounded animals, which is an important step in preparing to be a veterinarian.”

In other words, try to be precise, providing the readers a clear picture of your passions and aspirations.

Don’t just repeat your resume

Instead of just listing your accomplishments (boring) show the readers something new about you! The idea is to provide another layer of who you are as a candidate. This is particularly important if you’re also including your resume with your application, to avoid being redundant.

Submit a proofed and polished essay!

Listen, it’s ALWAYS a good idea to get another set of eyes on your written work to help you catch any content or style errors. So share your scholarship essays with a trusted friend, parent, or teacher for feedback before submitting.

Or, better yet, use Scholly Editor to proof and improve your essay! Scholly Editor is an AI-powered proofreader that provides detailed edits to spelling, grammar, word choice, flow, and more. The best part is that you’ll also learn why your errors are wrong.

No matter what, even when you think your essay is ready for submission, give it one last proof before sending it off. It would be a huge bummer to miss out on some serious cash on account of a typo!

“Recycle” your essays

While every scholarship prompt will be a little different, many of the same themes and topics will repeat. For example, essay prompts will often ask you to discuss an accomplishment of which you are proud or to discuss your career and life goals.

Because of this, it’s good to have a “template” essay that you can essentially re-use for more than one prompt. You’ll likely have to make small tweaks to it each time, but if it’s strong to begin with, you can likely “recycle” it for multiple submissions.

11. Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute

We recommend applying as early as possible for scholarships. Why? 

For one, some scholarships do prioritize early applications.

And even if you don’t get bonus points for applying early, you’ll give yourself enough time to make sure there are no glitches with your scholarship application. We’ve all waited until the last minute to submit something online only to find out the website is down or there are other “technological difficulties.”

Plus, if you apply early you won’t be rushed and you’ll deliver your best work. And you’ll free up more time to apply for more scholarships!

12. Beware of Scholarship Scams

Scholarships exist to GIVE you free money, not to take your money! So if you see a scholarship with an alleged “submission fee” look elsewhere!

Additionally, bold claims like “you’ve been pre-selected” or “it’s guaranteed or your money back” are evidence of shady business.

Here’s more information on how to avoid scholarship scams but the gist is that any REAL scholarship opportunity will not ask for any sort of payment or confidential information.

13. Clean Up Your Public Social Media 

Okay, this is a biggie. Just like prospective employers, scholarship committee members will often vet their candidates, so make sure your social media is exuding professionalism.

In fact, many scholarships actually ask for a link to a social media profile (sometimes of your choice, sometimes not), so make sure you provide a working, accessible link.

14. Check Your Spam Folder

You’ll likely be notified by email if you win a scholarship, so be on the lookout for updates. We all know that important mail can get stuck in the good ol’ spam folder though, so make sure to check that regularly too.

15. Don’t Give Up! Scholarships Are Life-Changing and Worth the Effort

This is perhaps the most important of all the scholarship winning tips. Realistically, you’ll face some rejection. That’s okay! College is expensive and some scholarships are competitive, but just keep applying! That scholarship money is bound to rack up eventually.

BONUS Tip: Scholarships Are Not a One-Time Deal

Many students don’t know this but you can keep applying for scholarships even once you’re in college. That’s right… you can apply for scholarships for years and keep getting more free money for college.

In fact, the students who win the most scholarship money typically apply every semester. Obviously it’s important to get a jump start on applications before the school year starts (especially if you’re in high school), but huge sums of money are available throughout the year.

Looking for More Scholarship Opportunities?

Give Scholly Search a whirl! It’s the boldest, baddest scholarship-matching app out there with an ever-expanding database of scholarships tailored just to you!

Happy applying and good luck!

The Ultimate Easy Scholarships List for 2021 (even your dog could do it!)

What characterizes “easy scholarships” or “no essay scholarships” other than the obvious fact that it requires minimal application process and is open to a diverse group? For those pressed on time, easy scholarships are a sensible choice. Scholarships already help provide tuition assistance for college or grad school, but easy scholarships go beyond to make this process even simpler. Also, don’t let a low GPA scare you away from applying as these scholarships don’t look at your grades.  Hopefully, the process will be gratifying, and that you will have a good chance at winning easy scholarships.  Here’s our list below (hopefully your dog can type- albeit not that much!

Are you a United States citizen and a high school junior or senior, college undergrad, or grad student? Then you can win $500. Nope, no other qualifications. Just be what you already are.

The $500 “Because College is Expensive Scholarship” is open to all students and those planning on enrolling within 24 months. The winner will be determined by random drawing monthly and then contacted directly and announced on the Scholarship Winners page. One entry per person is all that is necessary.

It truly doesn’t get easier than that.

This $10,000 Scholarship does not require a GPA or an essay, Great thing is it takes about 2 minutes to enter.

The nice thing about the Scholarship is that it’s quarterly and you can apply every quarter.

And the application is as easy as can be. In fact, you could have filled it out probably 10 times already since starting to read this blog. If you’re a current or incoming college student and know basic information about yourself (name, address, etc.), then you can win $10,000. Winners are drawn at random.

The You Deserve It Scholarship is one one of the tops when it comes to easy scholarships. When you create an account, you will automatically have a single application submitted on your behalf to apply to enter the monthly Scholarship. As a bonus, without any further effort,  you can apply to hundreds more  scholarships automatically.

Students just need to register for the CollegeXpress Scholarship.  You do not need to complete an application for this scholarship. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing.

Enter the $10,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship no-essay scholarship. It will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile.

Sign up takes about 2 minutes and there are 2 scholarships awarded every month. Complete your profile and enter to win!

The Christian Connector Scholarship, which is worth $2,500! This scholarship is a cinch to apply for and allows students to connect with 80+ colleges and universities that have partnered with the Christian Connector.

Simply register to enter this $2,000 monthly scholarship. Open to high school seniors and current college students.

50 Days of $1,000 Scholarships Giveaway (each day!). Just register online and leave a comment on their Instagram post.  Must be 18 years old or older.

Register to enter the $1,000 monthly sweepstakes.  Plus make some extra cash to pay for school, books & food by answering a couple of questions! 

If paying for college tuition is not your thing, give this easy scholarship a try!

The Cappex $1,000 Easy Money Scholarship  is a no brainer and offered every month! There is no GPA requirement and no essay to write.  In fact, all you have to do is create a profile and fill out what you do in your free time.

13. $1,000 Survey Sweepstakes

Take short surveys and make some money to help pay for school and books.  Easy to enter and complete! Open to students, parents, and recent alumni.

14. Sallie Mae $1,000 Monthly Sweepstakes

Entrants only need to register online to enter this monthly sweepstakes.

15. $1,500 Do-Over Scholarship

To enter, write in 250 words or less-  if you could get one ‘do-over’ in life, what would it be and why?”

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Frequently asked questions about easy scholarships

Are there any drawbacks to applying for easy scholarships?

The biggest downside of applying for easy scholarships is that many students can enter. This means that your chances of winning are lower than scholarships with essays and other specific criteria. The truth is that many of these scholarships are more similar to contests than a “true” scholarship competition based on merit or an essay.

Can I improve my chances at winning an easy scholarship?

Generally, these is no additional effort to help you win an easy scholarship other than applying when additional entry dates become available. They are dissimilar to a traditional scholarship where perhaps you can write  “better” essay or perhaps have someone proofread your application.

What is the best strategy for applying for easy scholarships?

We suggest that you apply to as many scholarships as possible, both easy and traditional. However, given that easy scholarships are more difficult to secure, you should cast a wide net and also apply to scholarships with more specific criteria which applies to you (bonus- there will be less competition).

Bottom line for applying to these quick and easy scholarships:

Easy scholarships should not be your only focus when applying for scholarships.  Just be sure that you are also applying to other scholarships with more specific and substantial criteria. Statistically, these scholarships may prove easier to attain, because there are less applicants and the candidate may be a perfect fit for that specific scholarship criteria.

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Before reaching out for student loans, exhaust all possible resources. We have given you some easy ones to think about and should take advantage of.

If you strike out on these easy scholarships, remember to exhaust your federal student loans first before turning to private students loans. Check out Cedar Ed Private student loans for quick and easy loan comparisons.

5 ways to boost your chances for a college scholarship :: WRAL.com

By Monica Laliberte, WRAL executive producer/consumer reporter

Hundreds of thousands of students are enrolled in colleges in North Carolina, and many would be thrilled to get free money to help pay for it. Here are five ways to boost the chances of getting a college scholarship.

Experts say the chances of winning at least a partial scholarship is pretty decent — 3 in 5 students will receive one or more. Students should act quickly, though, as applications for many remaining scholarships have May deadlines.

Marilú Duque applied for scholarships much earlier than her peers.

“I started in 8th grade,” Duque said. “Most people don’t start in 8th grade.”

Experts say applying early is a definite strategy to maximize your chances of getting free money. Others include:

Look to your school: Colleges are one of the largest providers of scholarships. Find out if your academic record can earn you a merit scholarship. Many also offer money based on your intended major.

Be strategic: Apply for scholarships that match your experience and interests. Free websites, such as Cappex, The College Board, Fastweb and Scholarships.com allow a student to fill out a profile and identity potential scholarships.

Go big — and small: Apply to both national and local scholarships. Churches, non-profits and civic organizations have fewer applicants.

Make your essay stand out: For example, a compelling personal story can catch a judge’s attention more than a list of accomplishments.

Focus on your career: Some professional organizations offer scholarships to students entering their field.

As for Duque, her hard work paid off. She got enough funding to take her through graduate school.

“I cried,” she said. “I cried so hard. I was like, this is everything I ever wanted.”

Finally, if you find scholarships with deadlines that have already passed, get a head start on next year.

More On This

Mind-blowing Scholarship Stats for 2021

How are athletic scholarships divided?

The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) groups colleges and universities into three groups and supplies some funds that schools offer to their students.  

1. Division I – colleges and universities with the most competitive athletic programs.
2. Division II – smaller colleges and universities with less competitive programs.
3. Division III – colleges and universities that are more academically focused yet still offer academic opportunities.

How much is the average athletic scholarship worth?

The NCAA awards more than $3.6 billion in athletics scholarships annually to over 180,000 student-athletes.

Students could receive financial aid in the following forms:

• Full ride scholarship
• Partial scholarship
• Tuition and fees scholarship
• Room and board scholarship

The actual amount awarded depends on the school’s cost of attendance; however, the percentage of expenses covered will be the same.

The average athletic scholarship amount is around $17,142 per student. However, not every student receives this much. Most athletes are awarded around $5,000. 

What percentage of students receive athletic scholarships?

Skilled athletes should consider having a backup plan when it comes to paying for college. Only around 2% of high school athletes are awarded some sort of an athletic scholarship. Compared to what percentage of students get scholarships in general, the number is very low. 

How many students receive a full ride athletic scholarship?

If only around 2% of high school athletes receive a certain type of scholarship, then we can only assume that the number of athletes receiving a full ride is less than 1%. To be exact, 1.3% receive a full or partial scholarship according to statistics from the NCAA. If we look at academic scholarships vs athletic scholarships statistics, college applicants have a higher chance of receiving aid based on academic merit. 

How to increase your chances of receiving an athletic scholarship?

Having outstanding athletic performance is not the only deciding factor. While it can be considered the most important one, there are other ways to increase your chances of getting a college sport scholarship.

For instance, choosing the right sport can boost your chances of receiving financial aid. Some of the easiest sports scholarships to get are those aimed at track and field athletes. Playing a second sport also increases your chances significantly. 

That being said, there are some age restrictions, too. Applicants need to be between the ages of 17 and 24 in order to receive an official license for playing sports at college or university level.

Of course, maintaining a high GPA should be a top priority for high school students, as academic achievement is also taken into consideration. Committees need to select applicants with good grades, as there is a limit on the scholarships they can award.

According to scholarship statistics from 2018 regarding the amount of scholarships that schools can award, the maximum number is usually no more than 30 students per sport. 

What are your chances of getting a soccer scholarship?

In the school year 2018-19, there are 493,631 male high school soccer players and 410,526 female high school soccer players. In the same school year, the number of male college soccer players is 40,233, and the number of female college soccer players stands at 39,520.

According to scholarship stats, soccer teams in Division I get around a dozen scholarships per year. The women’s team gets 14, and the men’s team gets 10 scholarships. 

However, these are the maximum scholarships allowed, so the number may be smaller if the school has budget limits. The percentage of male high school soccer players who compete the NCAA Division 1 level is only 1.3%. 

What are the baseball scholarship stats?

There are only around 5,400 scholarships for college baseball players.

Division I schools have a limit of maximum 11.7 scholarships per year. These scholarships can be divided between a maximum number of 27 players. The players need to receive a minimum of 25% scholarship. Division II schools offer an even lower number of scholarships, with a limit of maximum nine scholarships per year. 

Getting a full ride baseball scholarship is very rare. Coaches usually divide the amount between their players, giving them a partial scholarship. 

What are the golf scholarship stats?

Much like baseball, golf is an equivalency sport. This means that coaches split the amount of money intended for scholarships between players. Likewise, a full ride scholarship for a golf player is rare. 

In the school year 2018-19, there is an estimated amount of 169,367 male high school golf players and 96,577 female high school golf players. At college level, there are 12,223 male golfers and 7,306 female golfers. 

If we look at statistics, scholarships in 2019 for golf players weren’t plentiful. Division I schools have a maximum limit of 4.5 scholarships for male players per team and a maximum limit of 6 scholarships for female players per team. There are 298 male teams with an average team size of 10 golf players and 266 female teams with an average team size of 8 golf players. 

What are the volleyball scholarship statistics? 

In the school year 2018-19, there are 476,640 female high school volleyball players, and 66,908 male high school volleyball players. At college level, the number of female volleyball players is 27,582. The number of male college volleyball players is 3,192.

Division I schools have a maximum limit of 12 scholarships for female players per team. The maximum limit of scholarships for male players per team is 4.5.

Volleyball is considered a headcount sport, so all of the student athletes will get a full ride scholarship.

How many track scholarships are given each year?

In the school year 2018-19, there are 600,097 male track and field athletes, and 488,592 female track and field athletes. At college level, there are 33,013 male track and field athletes, and 32,026 female track and field athletes. 

There are 287 male track and field teams, and 338 female track and field teams. The average team size is 34 players for the male teams, and 33 players for the female teams. Division I schools have a maximum limit of 12.6 scholarships for men, and 18 for women. 

Does track offer full ride scholarships?

Most track and field scholarships are partial. Coaches usually divide the amount of money available among players, in order to increase the number of top athletes in their team. 

Full ride track and field scholarships are considered to be very rare. The deciding factor for offering a scholarship is how big of an impact a potential scholarship candidate can have on the team. 

90,000 Study Abroad Scholarships

How the scholarship differs from the grant

As a rule, a scholarship is awarded to pay for study programs, and a grant for research.

Scholarships are usually intended to fund university education, for programs consisting primarily of classroom studies and practice. They can cover part or all of the student’s expenses – including tuition, accommodation and personal expenses.

Scholarships are awarded for outstanding academic merit and personal achievement: excellent study, high sporting achievements, successful work in the arts, sciences, volunteering and any socially useful work, etc.d.

The term “grants” is most often associated with research and often includes funds to pay for laboratory work, attending conferences, posting scientific publications, and training in research master’s or doctoral programs.

Grants are awarded primarily for achievements in applied and basic science, as well as for excellent academic performance. The personal qualities of the young scientist are also of interest to the commission that considers the grant application.

How to get a scholarship to study abroad?

Receiving a scholarship occurs in parallel with admission, since all scholarships are allocated for specific programs in specific universities. The criteria for selecting scholarship holders are set by universities and can be very different, but perhaps the most important of them is a motivation letter, much like what you create when you enter a university. Make your story clear, persuasive and consistent about yourself, your life goals and career plans, and how education can help them – will dramatically increase your chances of getting a scholarship.

Grants for study abroad

Grants for study abroad for foreigners are offered by many universities and scholarship funds. One of the largest and most famous grant programs for foreigners, in which students from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, etc. can participate.

Yana Drapkina talks about scholarships for Russian-speaking students applying to UK universities.

Scholarship Package – StudyInFocus

Artem Bishev

Entered and is studying at TUM, Munich

“Having clearly set myself the goal of studying in Germany, I had no idea at first how important it is to choose the right narrow specialization from the many different programs that are represented by German universities.

Communication with StudyInFocus is an incredible opportunity to understand what opportunities await you in Germany, what specialties in demand in Germany are combined with your knowledge and skills and how to choose a direction for development so that you will never regret it later. Thanks to the StudyInFocus team, whose professional experience helped me to reveal myself, learn my skills and preferences, and in accordance with them make an important choice – the choice of my future education. “

Bolor Dorderem

Studying in Augsburg

“I have been working with StudyInFocus for 2 months now and preparing to enter Germany.What I can already be proud of our work is the choice of the program. I am very pleased with this, because they fit me perfectly, this is what I wanted! It seems to me that this is the most important task when applying anywhere, because this is what you will teach and practice for the next 2-3 years. I chose a program related to environmental management. The guys from StudyInFocus offered me programs and told me in great detail about them, and in general about what I will be doing from the moment of admission to the moment of defending my thesis.This was very important for me, as I need to clearly know and see what I am striving for. “

Anastasia Gruzinova

Studying at Kleve

“For the last 7-8 years I seriously thought about studying in Europe, but did not dare to take such a serious step. I made a decision and turned to the head of StudyInFocus Victoria – this decision was the right one! I have only positive emotions from working with StudyInFocus: the team has an individual approach to each client, everything is structured and professional! Now I am a first-year student at a German university, the third month I am in this beautiful country, I found new friends, new hobbies, and finally, I enjoy what I do.Guys, thanks for making your dream come true, you are real magicians! “

90,000 How to get a grant to study abroad?

So, what’s next? If you’ve done your research and put together a list of international scholarships you can apply for, now is the time to apply!

Many students find this to be the most difficult step, but not necessarily.

Most study abroad scholarships have very specific application criteria. Consider how competitive you are, make sure you follow all the instructions, and double check your application.

A great first impression is the first step towards making your study abroad dreams a reality.

1. Make a Checklist

The first thing to do is to collect your thoughts. Make a list of all the scholarships you plan to apply for, then write down what is required for them.

If you know in advance what you will need to receive each scholarship, it will be much easier for you to collect all the necessary documents.

Often different scholarships for study abroad require similar things, such as:

– information about your progress
– letters of recommendation
– motivation letter
– resume

2. Collect the necessary documentation

Extracts from the statements academic performance, letter of motivation and letters of recommendation are the main components of an overseas scholarship application.

However, double check to make sure nothing else is needed.Also, keep in mind that it can take a long time to request documents, plus it takes time to write a motivation letter, so start this process as soon as possible to meet the deadline!

Motivation Letter
Almost every international scholarship requires an essay to be written. Instead of worrying about it, try using an essay to explain to the commission why you really need financial help.

But first, pay attention to whether they gave a specific hint about what exactly to write about, or asked for any specific information.If so, be sure to answer the question posed and provide any information that is requested from you.

If you’re just being asked to explain why you need financial assistance to study abroad, don’t worry. Follow these steps to convince the commission:
– Explain why studying abroad matters to your education
– Tell us why you chose a particular place to study.
– Write why you need their financial help to make your dream come true.
– Explain how you plan to properly allocate funds.
– Showcase your personality, talents and previous experience.

Do not forget to check the work again before handing over. If possible, it will be great if someone looks at your essay, especially a professor or someone who has already written such an essay.

Chance to receive CAD 4,000 scholarship to study in Canada

Canada’s popularity among international students is growing every year. More than 220,000 foreigners study in the country, almost 2,000 of them are Russians.

Together with students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, we have compiled a list of 5 top benefits of studying in Canada.

Quality of education . Universities in Canada are among the best in the world. Each of the 97 state universities is distinguished by high quality education, modern equipment and a strong teaching staff. Teaching here is practice-oriented and inextricably linked to the industries.

Cost. With comparable (and often superior) quality, education in Canada is noticeably cheaper than in the USA or Great Britain.Also, the cost of accommodation and food is lower here. In addition, students have the opportunity to combine their studies with part-time work – as a rule, even the minimum wage is enough to cover the basic costs of staying in the country.

Programs . In Canada, the choice of study programs is not limited to bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Graduates of Russian schools can apply for both four-year bachelor’s programs and Diploma programs, which last only 2 years, but at the same time allow them to receive a diploma of higher education and find a job in their specialty.

Outlook . After graduation, a university graduate can stay in the country for 1-3 years (the period depends on the duration of study). In the case of employment, you can obtain a residence permit and stay in Canada.

Employment . Universities in Canada work closely with local and international companies that accept students for internships and subsequently for work. The number of places at each faculty is calculated based on the needs of the market, therefore, after graduation, employment is practically guaranteed.

Culture. Canada is a country that openly welcomes immigration. Many local residents either moved here from other countries, or are descendants of immigrants. As a result, there is no division into “friends” and “aliens”, the attitude towards visitors is extremely friendly, students receive sincere support and all the necessary help in adapting to the new environment.

90,000 Scholarships and grants in Germany

Numerous foundations are involved in providing scholarships to students of European universities, whose task is to financially support gifted students.

Scholarships and grants are awarded on a competitive basis with an application procedure and subsequent selection. Evaluation criteria are different, decisive are good language skills, academic or scientific success, high motivation.

Many of today’s young scientists will occupy key positions in public and political life in the future. Therefore, the provision of scholarships to foreign students and graduate students is in the sphere of interests of the funds of political parties.

Unfortunately, it is widely believed among foreign and German students that it is extremely difficult to get a scholarship from a higher education institution.It must be said that it is precisely this false belief and passivity of students who do not apply for financial support that is the main reason that the money of political parties, various religious communities, charitable foundations, private and public organizations lies in the accounts and is not used properly.

We will list the names of some organizations, contact details and additional information about them so that you can, under certain conditions, receive financial support for studying in Germany.It should be noted that scholarships are provided free of charge, that is, after their presentation, students are not required to return these funds or part of them.

It must be said that students who receive a scholarship enjoy other benefits as well. For example, they can take part in seminars, various cultural events for free, do internships abroad and relax with other students from the fund in camps. All activities are carried out by the organizations themselves with the aim of developing culture and for teaching youth.The main criteria that influence the decision to issue a scholarship are the student’s good academic performance, potential, talent, desire to participate in the life of the foundation and active social activities. The economic situation of the scholarship applicant is also taken into account.

In addition to the most famous scholarship fund DAAD , there are other organizations that provide financial support to students in Germany, which are not known to everyone:

Scholarship for International Students (Deutschlandstipendium)

This scholarship has been awarded since 2011.It is partly provided by the state, as well as by private firms and foundations. The amount of the scholarship is 300 euros monthly for two semesters or even throughout the entire study program, which is decided by the educational institutions themselves.

German and foreign students studying at universities in Germany are eligible to receive this scholarship. When calculating the scholarship, preference is given to students who show academic success. If we talk about our compatriots, then we take into account the presence of a certificate of obtaining a complete secondary education with a medal and good grades when studying at a university in the homeland.The presence of certificates, recommendations or letters of thanks that have been issued by various government agencies significantly increase the chances of receiving this German scholarship.

To receive a scholarship, you need to apply to the educational institution in which you plan to study. This can be done even before arriving in Germany, immediately before the start of training or during its duration. The list of required documents and rules for filing an application can be found on the official website of the selected university.Make sure that this institution participates in the program regarding the provision of German scholarships to foreigners.

You can submit your application and all the necessary documents by mail or by contacting the student assistance department of this educational institution (Studentenwerk). We advise you to be sure to apply for the Deutschlandstipendium. To date, it has become much easier to obtain such a scholarship, in addition, it is a tangible financial support for the period of study.

Heinrich Boell Foundation – Heinrich Boell Stiftung

The scholarship is issued to university students of any direction, regardless of citizenship, as well as students of specialized higher educational institutions (Fachhochschule).Conditions necessary for obtaining a scholarship: good academic performance, initiative in research work or in the socio-political sphere, as well as participation in the activities of the foundation, especially in the field of human rights, democracy, ecology of peace, equality, justice.

Student Foundation of the German People – Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes

The scholarship is awarded to students whose studies are related to art, music or research work.A special feature of this scholarship is that students are not allowed to independently apply for it. You need to be recommended by associate professors or other teachers of a higher German educational institution.

State Fund named after Rosa Luxemburg – Bundesstiftung Rosa Luxemburg

The scholarship is awarded to postgraduate students of educational institutions in Germany who are actively involved in public life and advocate for social justice, democracy and human rights.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

The scholarship is awarded to German students, as well as to students from developed countries who study in graduate school. To receive a scholarship, you need to actively participate in the seminars of the foundation, in its educational and cultural events.

Friedrich Naumann Foundation – Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung

The Foundation finances German students from semester 3 and international students who have successfully passed the Zwischenprüfung, which is a midterm exam.

Hans Seidel Foundation – Hans-Seidel-Stiftung

The Foundation provides funding not only for university students, but also for those who study in other specialized higher educational institutions in Germany. Citizenship doesn’t matter.

Konrad Adenauer Foundation – Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

This fund pays scholarships to university and Fachhochschule students of any direction, regardless of citizenship

Gottlieb Daimler Foundation – Daimler und Benz Stiftung

This foundation supports students who are developing their own research project.In most cases, this scholarship is paid to students who hold German citizenship.

Hans Böckler Foundation – Hans-Böckler-Stiftung

This fund finances students who are pursuing a second higher education in Germany or employed in research and development.

German Economy Foundation – Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft

This foundation finances university students and other higher education institutions.Particular attention is paid to future teachers, as well as other representatives of the educational sphere.

In order to receive this scholarship, the student must be an active member of the foundation and constantly participate in various cultural and educational activities.

90,000 Academic Scholarships in the USA | Global Dialog

Academic scholarship is an opportunity for free or almost free of charge to get higher education in a foreign university.This practice has become especially widespread in the United States: it is here that the largest scholarships are awarded to students. Sometimes they cover up to 100% of the cost of education – that is, a student showing good results can study for almost free. At the same time, there is no need to “work out” this type of funding – you just need to be a diligent student.

The reason for this generosity is that American universities are interested in attracting strong students. It is the achievements of students that make up the glory of a particular university.Therefore, many US educational institutions use part of their income to pay academic scholarships to children they would like to see within their walls.

The average academic scholarship in the United States is 15,000-25,000 USD . This amount allows you to fully or partially cover the student’s tuition costs. The amount of funding is determined for each applicant individually, depending on the level of performance that he demonstrated at school (GPA), scores on language and academic tests (TOEFL and SAT, respectively), as well as his personal qualities, such as initiative, focus on results, leadership ability.Simply put, a student who is actively involved in the social life of the school, who is involved in sports and creativity, is more likely to receive a good scholarship than an excellent student who is not interested in anything other than the study itself.

You can show yourself as a responsible, purposeful and active person through the text of the essay (Statement of Purpose). And in order not to be unfounded, it is worth attaching to the application all available documents confirming the student’s extracurricular activities – from prizes at sports competitions to publications from the school newspaper.

How do I get an academic scholarship?

Almost every American university has an academic scholarship fund. However, their size, as well as the requirements for applicants, can vary greatly. Some of the scholarships allow you to compensate for a very small part of the cost of studies, others offer full financial coverage, but under extremely strict conditions for the selection of candidates. And one of the most important questions facing the applicant is to choose the right university. The one that will meet the requirements for the quality of training, the size of the scholarship, and in which it is actually possible to enroll.Only professionals can understand the variety of offers, find the most profitable option and comply with all formal requirements. Such as the specialists of Global Dialogue.

For over 10 years we have been organizing training abroad. Our experience allows us to help both students planning to get an education at their own expense, and with the involvement of third-party funding. In particular, we organize admission with the simultaneous receipt of academic scholarships for Russian applicants – students in grades 10-11 of the school and students in 1-3 courses of Russian universities.

The academic scholarship process includes the following steps:

* If the applicant is in Moscow, the Global Dialogue specialist will fill in and send the documents. If the student lives in another region, then the company manager advises the client on sending papers.

We strongly recommend that you start looking for a scholarship 2-3 years before the planned admission – having a certain amount of time left, you can safely prepare for passing the tests and find the most suitable funding option.

Some of the US universities, our partners providing international applicants with academic scholarships:

Accommodation typeResidenceApartmentsFamily

Program TypeBachelorMasterMBAUniversity Preparation

SpecialtyBusiness AdministrationManagementPoliticsPsychologyNursingInternational RelationsInternational BusinessLawArchitectureBusinessEngineeringPharmaceuticalsVeterinary MedicineEconomicsLiteratureArt HistoryMusicMarketingHealthcareComputer TechnologyScience and TechnologyFinanceBiology

Changes in the amount of the scholarship and other expenses

Upon admission, an academic scholarship is allocated for all 4 years of study under the bachelor’s program.However, if a student’s academic performance falls below a certain level – say, he does not pass one of the exams – he may be deprived of funding. Conversely, if a student demonstrates excellent academic success, even falls into the Dean’s List (the dean’s list is a list of students who have excelled in their studies), the scholarship can be increased.

I must say that even the most complete academic scholarship, as a rule, does not cover the cost of living, food and medical insurance. These costs (12,000-14,000 dollars per year) are borne by the student.

US PROGRAMS

90,000 How to Get the German Sponsorship Fund Scholarship

Not every foreign student has enough funds to pay for their studies in Germany out of their own pocket. There is a way out: apply for scholarships from German foundations, try to pass the competitive stages and wait for an answer.

In order to obtain a student visa, the German embassy requires confirmation that the student has sufficient financial resources to live in Germany for at least a year. To date, the required amount on the account of a future student of the university should be about 8 thousand euros. However, not every student has that kind of money.

You can try to close the holes in the budget while still at home by applying for a scholarship from one of the German foundations. Whether it is the German Academic Exchange Service, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation or the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, there are more than 20 large organizations and foundations in Germany that support promising international students.Including immigrants from Russia.

Which student can qualify for the scholarship?

You can receive a scholarship for various types of educational and academic activities, for example, to study at a German university, write a qualification or graduate work (bachelor’s, master’s or PhD), carry out a research project, undergo an internship or intensive study of a language.

Scholarships also exist for establishing professional contacts; funds for this purpose are provided, for example, by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Picture: emilysway.com

Since there are usually more scholarship applicants than available funds, not everyone is selected. To qualify for sponsorship, a student must prove to the foundation that he is worthy of the scholarship and that the money will not be wasted. The selection criteria for students are, firstly, good academic performance at the university and the results of final exams at school.

Students with the highest scores are selected. The second important criterion is a carefully thought out motivation letter.Thirdly, the applicant should receive one or two good characteristics from university teachers or employers and, fourthly, prove knowledge of the language – German or English, depending on the scholarship.

In addition, for the vast majority of scholarship programs, you must have 2-4 successfully completed university courses. It is better if you already have at least a bachelor’s degree, since there are many more scholarships for graduates than for very young students.

There are, of course, several programs for school applicants, for example, the DAAD program for graduates of schools with in-depth study of the German language. However, scholarships for high school students are the exception rather than the rule.

Well-thought-out motivation

The highest chances of getting a scholarship are for self-motivated applicants. Without a well-thought-out motivation, you don’t even need to apply to funds.

From scholarship applicants, sponsoring organizations expect a relatively detailed motivation letter with a clear indication of the purpose of the trip, an explanation of the value of this goal from a scientific point of view and a thoughtful plan for its implementation.

It is also necessary to try to answer the question why the applicant chose Germany to achieve this goal. In addition, in motivation, you can talk about your own achievements and personal qualities. However, only the facts from the biography that are most relevant to a particular scholarship should be cited.

And yet – the purpose of the internship, stated in the motivation letter, must really be fulfilled during your stay in Germany, since at the end of the scholarship payments, the sponsoring organization may require you to present the results of the work.If there are none, if you please return the entire amount back, and even in disgrace.

My tongue is my friend

As noted, a scholarship requires proof of good command of German or – depending on the scholarship and purpose of the trip – another foreign language. However, according to DAAD secretary Wilfred Bergmann, language is not the most important aspect. “It is easier for a good physicist to learn German than it is for a person with excellent knowledge of the language to thoroughly study physics,” he notes.

In most cases, you just need to know the language at a good level. However, a potential fellow should be aware that he is traveling abroad, and the level of language proficiency should be sufficient to complete the task.

A good recommendation is the key to success

Particular attention should be paid to scholarship applicants and a characteristic from a university teacher, since it is the second most important document after clearly justified motivation. It is assumed that the teacher knows the student well and is able to assess his academic and professional qualities.

Picture: jobdiagnosis.wordpress.com

In the characteristic, the professor must assess the student’s activity in the classroom, and also characterize him according to the degree of academic preparation and independence in scientific research.

An important role is played by the teacher’s opinion about whether the student is able to find a non-standard approach to solving problems.

It is worth mentioning the student’s participation in university life, as well as his membership in public or political organizations.This is due to the fact that many German foundations are partisan.

For example, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation is organized by the Free Democratic Party of Germany (FDP), and the Heinrich Böll Scholarship is organized by the Green Party.

Therefore, future fellows are advised to look in advance in the party program and inquire in which organizations it would be desirable to be a member and in which spheres of public life to participate.

Often, one characteristic is not enough, and therefore many foundations ask for several characteristics: from a professor, employer or representative of any other field of activity in which the student is engaged.

Separate scholarship funds located in Germany arrange additional interviews with candidates. Often, program curators are invited to such interviews, who during the conversation also make up the characteristics of the applicants.

The interview decides the battle for the scholarship

The final and decisive stage of the scholarship competition is the interview with the committee. Attendance is a must, so you need to find out in advance where the interview will take place.

Most often interviews take place in the official representative offices of scholarship funds located in Moscow or Germany. Therefore, it is necessary to find out in advance who will pay for the flight to the interview site and hotel accommodation.

For example, according to the conditions for the distribution of scholarships at the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the interview is held on German territory, and all the costs of the flight are borne by the organization.

“For those applicants who, for certain reasons, cannot come, or whose arrival is time-consuming, there is the option of a telephone interview or interview at a foreign mission in Moscow,” says Ula Siebert, Head of the Scholarship Distribution Department of this fund.

But the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), one of the largest scholarship funds in Germany, pays only half the cost of travel to the interview site, and even then not in all cases.

However, DAAD in this case is rather an exception, since almost all other German foundations are trying to attract foreign students with guaranteed compensation for travel expenses. The cost of living is often borne by the scholarship applicant himself.

Scholarship amounts

University students can expect a monthly scholarship of 450 euros and more.For example, the average amount of DAAD scholarships is around 750 euros, and the total scholarship budget of this organization is 18 million euros per year.

As a rule, the scholarship is not taxed. But the scholarship holder is either prohibited from earning money at all, or allowed with great restrictions – it all depends on the conditions of the scholarship. Even if the recipient of the scholarship has the right to additional earnings, then the amount of his income should often not exceed a certain amount, otherwise the scholarship will have to be waived.