pay the way
scholarship search
HOW TO FIND SCHOLARSHIPS
Start before senior year.
Get some advice!
Talking to your high school guidance counselor can be a quick way to get
informed about what scholarships are available to you. And local businesses
usually tell local high schools first about any scholarships they may be offering.
Check college websites.
Most colleges have a page on their website listing scholarship opportunities.
Since most of these are college specific, make sure it’s somewhere you’ve applied
to and are considering attending. However, some colleges also list outside
scholarships that are typically offered by a local business.
Visit the financial aid office.
If you know which college you’re attending, go to the financial aid office to look
for applications for local scholarships or scholarships sponsored by the school.
Ask organizations and businesses.
Businesses and organizations related to your field often offer scholarships to
students who’ll be majoring in a field that could be useful to them in the future.
Check with local foundations.
It never hurts to ask. See if charitable foundations or groups in your area offer
scholarships. Many foundations do, and since they are typically only awarded
locally there is less competition.
Search the web!
An internet search for scholarships will yield many diverse options. There are
several scholarship-specific search engines that make finding them that much
quicker. Just keep in mind that there will be more competition.
Be specific!
When searching the web, it is important to look for scholarships that apply
directly to you. Try searching for scholarships based on your field of study, your
area, your state, your gender, etc.
Don’t forget non-academic scholarships.
If your grades aren’t perfect, there’s no need to worry. Non-academic scholar-
ships are available to a wide variety of people. They can be based on community
service, leadership, extracurricular activities, and many other things.
Don’t give up.
Finding scholarships can be a long, time-consuming process, but it is worth it.
To win a lot of scholarships, you have to apply for a lot of scholarships. Many
scholarships even require the same material, so keeping materials from each
application can be a huge time-saver.
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| Spring 2020
www.potentialmagazine.com
AUDRIANA OSBORNE
DOLLAR
Getting an early start on the scholarship search increases the number of options
you have and prepares you for applying. Many scholarships are specifically for
seniors, however there are some that are available for younger students.
Scholarships often have a minimum GPA requirement, so getting an early start
gives you an opportunity to work toward a higher GPA if necessary.
Audriana, a graduate of Loveless
Academic Magnet Program (LAMP)
in Montgomery, earned $933,404 in
college scholarships last year.
In the 10th grade, she scored high on
the PSAT and was named a National
Achievement Semifinalist, a title that
positioned her to be awarded a full-
ride, four-year scholarship at Florida
A&M University (FAMU), estimated
as a $105,940 value.
Other scholarship dollars came from
a mixture of organizational and insti-
tutional scholarships. Osborne says
she began applying for scholarships in
August of her senior year and didn’t
stop until graduation.
“I didn’t really have a plan, I just went
for it,” she said, and pointed out that
most of the scholarship applications
involved writing an essay.
KENNETH LEVENS
Through the Military: Kenneth, a
graduate of Prattville High, was also
able to rake in over $930,000 in
scholarships. He started applying for
scholarships during the second
semester of his junior year.
Kenneth knew he wanted to go into
the Navy after graduation, so he began
looking at scholarships offered at
various military academies. He was
offered $400,000 from the U.S. Naval
Academy, $350,000 from West Point,
plus an $180,000 ROTC scholarship,
even though he did not take ROTC in
high school.
He was evaluated through academics,
a medical screening, and a fitness test.
“I made a 26 on the ACT, but I ranked
2nd in my class so that helped,” said
Kenneth.