Tip to Get Money for College 1: Recognize They Want to Reward You

Saturdays we share tips and cautions to help you do better at getting the money for college

Christy got decent grades but not great (3.6 GPGA). She participated in school clubs, choirs, and activities. She donated her time to the local food bank, nursing homes, and caring for people with disabilities. The trouble? Christy was shy. She didn’t stand out or call attention to herself. She qualified for 145 scholarships. She didn’t believe she deserved them. She doubted herself. She understated all of her accomplishments in the four applications she submitted. She accepted the rejections as confirmation that she was not good enough. She never applied for anything else.

What Scholarship Committees Seek to Reward

Committees seek to reward  people with scholarships. They give the awards based on two main criteria:

• Subject specific criteria rewards students based on certain requirements important to the sponsor. For example,
  • Duct tape rewards people who use duct tape to create prom outfits
  • Calgon Bath Oils rewards people who use Calgon bath oil products
  • Professional associations reward children of members of the association
  • Many scholarship want to reward 3.0 GPAs
  • Fewer scholarships want to reward 2.5 and lower GPAs
• Personal qualities criteria rewards students who demonstrate character traits important to the sponsor. For example they want to reward,
  • Integrity and honesty
  • Hard work
  • Overcoming obstacles
  • Teamwork
  • Perseverance
  • Individual initiative
  • Passion & enthusiasm
  • Responsibility
  • Civic duty
  • Purpose
  • Character

You will notice that GPA is included as a specific subject criteria. They want to reward you if you qualify for either or both of the criteria.

Believe They Want to Reward You—and Act on Faith

You have to believe they want to reward you to

• Act with confidence and faith
• Prepare your reusable materials
• Describe what you have done honestly without understating or downplaying 
• Persevere to submit 60-150 applications

Take a test:

• Look at the list of personal qualities above.
• Write down the ones you do not possess.
• If you write down fewer than 3—committees want to reward you!!
• Just accept the fact!

Tuesday we review how the web site ScholarshipHelp.org can help you get money