I really have Lisey to thank for this she bought several scholarships that assisted her get her aviation mechanic college costs compensated, and observing her built me recognize scholarships are attainable.
This woman of mine even gained a Mike Rowe scholarship! I’m so proud of her.
Ok.
So, when I very first went back to faculty, I didn’t know I was gonna get divorced, and I figured I did not need to hassle with scholarships I needed to go away them for persons who wanted them much more.
But when I got separated, I was like, “Hmm. Potentially I now fall into the category of people who could definitely use a scholarship!”
So I stuffed out my FAFSA, utilized for a entire bunch of scholarships, and I obtained sufficient to fork out for my to start with two semesters moreover $1300 truly worth of publications.
(And I just received another $1000 scholarship this semester. Woohoo!)
I have figured out a couple strategies that have assisted me so far, so I imagined I’d share them listed here in case any of you are in scholarship method (for you or for your youngsters!)
1. Glimpse for incredibly specific scholarships
I experimented with to implement for scholarships that were being incredibly niched-down.
For occasion, alternatively of a scholarship for learners in the clinical area, I seemed for anything like a scholarship for center-aged gals heading to nursing faculty (applying google!)
I applied for a scholarship for girls in my county, just one from my delegate (even smaller than county-huge!), my senator, and so on.
And Lisey obviously utilized for scholarships directed at women in aviation!
The extra niched-down the scholarship, the much better your prospects.
2. Do the tougher scholarships
At times I worked on a scholarship application that questioned for factors like a resume or a few essays and I’d have a brief instant of wanting to near out that tab and quit.
But I determine that if I really feel like that, most other persons do also. And if I can be just one of the couple who pushes as a result of the tricky procedure, possibly I will be in a modest pool of people who are qualified.
Lots of people today will use for all those, “Click one particular button to post your application”, but not so several will go via scholarships that call for a ton of techniques.
(Incidentally: if you are a individual who is very good at leaping by way of the hoops to fill out rebate submissions, use people techniques for scholarships. It feels the same!)
3. Utilize even if you never really fulfill the standards/deadline
I utilized for a delegate and senator scholarship even while I hadn’t gotten my FAFSA finished rather in time for their deadline, and I was awarded both of those of those people scholarships in any case!
I’m super happy I submitted them.
4. Make a folder for scholarships on your computer
I have a folder with essay drafts, my resume, my transcript, my nursing university acceptance letter, and other frequently-questioned-for documents and that makes the application approach way speedier.
5. Tweak and re-use essays
When I’d used to many scholarships, I experienced a pair of great fundamental essays in my folder, and I was in a position to acquire them and tweak them to meet up with particular prerequisites.
I mean, most programs question you versions on the very same questions…like, “Why do you want to go into this area?” and “What are some troubles you have had to triumph over to pursue your degree?”
As soon as you’ve answered these issues a handful of moments, you commonly have a great skeleton to do the job with. Tweak to match the distinct query and to meet the duration specifications, and you are carried out!
6. Do not quit soon after a person or two
As soon as you have finished 2-3 scholarship purposes, you could as nicely continue to keep on going.
The 1st couple are the ones that take far more time and work but soon after that, you’ve got your paperwork in a row, you have received essay drafts, and YOU are just quicker for owning experienced some follow.
And the additional applications you deliver out, the extra probable it is that you’ll be awarded a pair.
The two Lisey and I used to way additional than we won, but I have to visualize that the sheer quantity of purposes elevated our odds of getting money.
6. Really don’t forget lesser scholarships
People today have a tendency to be attracted to bigger scholarships, but profitable several small scholarships can net you just as substantially.
For instance, the delegate scholarship I gained pays me just $250/semester, but hey, which is $1000 in excess of 4 semesters that I do not have to address on my personal.
7. Fill out the FAFSA
I know it is form of a mess this yr (so several delays), but filling out the FAFSA is generally important in purchase to be eligible for other scholarships (apps generally ask for you to post element of your FAFSA).
So, if you haven’t finished the FAFSA for the reason that you imagine, “I’m under no circumstances gonna qualify for nearly anything other than financial loans!”, perfectly, go and fill it out in any case. It’s a stage along the way to qualifying for a zillion other offered scholarships.
8. Count on rejection
You will not acquire each individual scholarship you implement for, and you have to bear in mind this so that you do not get discouraged. It is ok no 1 gets everything they apply for.
But if you place adequate niched-down applications out there, odds are superior that some will get awarded to you.
9. Consider the hourly charge for your time
Let’s say you put in six hrs applying for scholarships, and you bought awarded a $1000 scholarship.
That’s a amount of $166/hour (pretty wonderful) and it is tax-absolutely free dollars.
If you obtained $2000, your hourly fee is up to $333/hour. Totally worth it. 🙂
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I’m not a environment pro on scholarships, so….
