You may be feeling that the cost of continuing your education is getting out of control as college and university tuition fees continue to rise each year. In fact, between 1988 and 2017 the cost of attending a private institution increased by 129% and the cost of attending a public university increased by 213%. For a public university, the estimated annual tuition fee is $9,970 and for a private university the estimated annual tuition fee is $34,740.

Getting a scholarship is one of the best ways to ease the burden of paying for education. Applying for scholarships will not only help you save a lot of money on tuition fees, but it will also boost your confidence before starting college.

The best part is that almost every possibility is covered by scholarships. The scholarship possibilities are endless, ranging from being left-handed to using your skills on the football field to making a duct tape prom dress. The money you receive from scholarships pays for your college tuition, as well as sometimes books and living expenses. Repayment of scholarship awards is never a matter of concern.

How to Find Scholarships ?

Thousands of scholarships are accessible for you to find and apply for in a matter of minutes, thanks to the internet and its many search engines and online tools. We’re analyzing well-known sites that you (and your parents!) can use to find scholarships to apply for.

Scholarship-related websites

Websites are often the first places to look to apply for scholarships. There are thousands upon thousands of scholarships available on these easy-to-navigate websites. Scholarship websites have improved significantly over the years, with easy sign-up options, filter options (like college major, gender, race, and school year), and search results tailored to each student’s specific profile.

One disadvantage of scholarship websites is the fierce competition. Links to external, national scholarships, some of which are given out by lottery, can be found on a number of these websites. Scholarship programs that have ceased are still listed on some websites since they aren’t updated or examined in-depth.

Applications

A practical way to look for scholarships is through mobile apps and websites that are optimized for mobile devices. One big advantage is being able to apply while on the go and keep track of scholarships. Your search options are personalized by most apps. You may view scholarships you’re eligible to apply for, make a list of the universities and scholarships you love, and narrow down your scholarship search by using Going Merry’s mobile-friendly scholarship application. By early 2020, we’ll also be releasing mobile apps for iOS and Android!

Publications & Noticeboards

It’s crucial to think about employing conventional search techniques! Excellent local scholarship opportunities may be listed on your neighborhood’s bulletin board or newspaper. Look for newspapers or notice boards in places of worship, cafes, community centers, and schools. These scholarships have the advantage of being less well-known or requiring you to meet local conditions that may not be present in national applications.

How to Apply For Scholarships ?

Step 1: Start looking for scholarships

You Could Be Eligible for Searching for scholarships to apply for has already completed the challenging portion. Go ahead and segment your search for scholarships by need and merit. Need-based scholarships are contingent on your or your family’s capacity to pay for school, and they are only awarded to applicants who genuinely need a little additional help with their finances.

Merit-based scholarships are awarded to applicants based on their qualifications or achievements. They might place a strong focus on education, the arts, or sports. There are a lot of situation-based scholarships out there, such as ones for minorities, women, journalism majors, and gamers. Scholarships from private organizations, individuals, or your college may be awarded based on merit or need. Consult your university’s financial aid office.

Step 2: Find the Application Guidelines and Understand Them

It is essential to research the requirements for the scholarship you are applying for because each one will demand you to complete a different set of tasks or submit a different set of documentation. The following are the most common documents and materials needed for a scholarship application: Scholarship Application Verify the accuracy of all the information and fill out the scholarship application form entirely. (By using the information on your profile to automatically fill out your scholarship application forms, Going Merry saves you a ton of time.)

Step 3: Create a Calendar

Time is of the essence when applying for scholarships. It’s a good idea to start applying right away. Deadlines can ambush you without warning! List all the scholarships you would like to apply for, their deadlines, and the necessary paperwork and essays, either on paper or in an Excel sheet. Additionally, Going Merry gives an approximate time for every application.

To be ahead of the game, start your scholarship applications as early as possible. Some applications will ask you to produce a media piece, like a film that explains your merits for the scholarship. This can take a lot of time, particularly if you’re already occupied with schoolwork, classes, and occasionally extracurricular activities! You may submit your scholarship applications with confidence if you start early and give yourself enough time.

Step 4: Submit Your Files

The next stage in the scholarship application process is to simply submit your materials and paperwork once you’ve gathered them all. Make sure to verify the conditions since many scholarships demand online submissions, while others must be applied for by mail. Assuming you asked for a letter of recommendation, make sure the recommender is aware of the deadline. Additionally, give them a stamped envelope with the correct destination address or the email address.

Step 5: Be patient and check the status of your scholarships

The majority of scholarships will indicate when you might anticipate hearing back. After submitting your scholarship, you can check its progress to make sure all the necessary information was included. Once your application has been submitted, relax and inhale deeply. As you wait to hear back from the scholarship sources, remain upbeat. Additionally, we advise you to maintain a well-organized record of all the scholarships you have applied for so you can calculate the total amount you have applied for. You can update this list once you receive the results of your scholarship application.