What are Scholarships?
Scholarships are free money you can use for college. But there is some work involved. Most of the time, you won't be able to get scholarships unless you go out and apply for them!
What types of scholarships are available?
Academic or Merit Scholarships
These scholarships are typically based on your academic accomplishments, like your SAT score or GPA. These scholarships may ask for an application or may be automatic depending on the college you are attending. If you are applying for an academic or merit scholarship that is not from a college, you will likely have to submit an application with information about yourself, a personal statement or essay, letters of recommendation, and your high school transcript. However, this varies from scholarship to scholarship.
Talent or Skill-Based Scholarships
These scholarships are based on a talent or skill you have and often require you to demonstrate this skill somehow. This could be a video of you performing an original song, footage from a sports game, a portfolio of photographs, or a piece of creative writing. Talent or Skill-Based scholarships exist for pretty much everything, so if you have a special talent, start searching!
Contest or Raffle Scholarships
There are a lot of these ones out there! They typically have a short application (name, grade, email address) and are often used by scholarship sites to convince you to sign up for them. These are often big-ticket scholarships, but it's unlikely you'll win them because a lot of students are entering.
These scholarships are typically based on your academic accomplishments, like your SAT score or GPA. These scholarships may ask for an application or may be automatic depending on the college you are attending. If you are applying for an academic or merit scholarship that is not from a college, you will likely have to submit an application with information about yourself, a personal statement or essay, letters of recommendation, and your high school transcript. However, this varies from scholarship to scholarship.
Talent or Skill-Based Scholarships
These scholarships are based on a talent or skill you have and often require you to demonstrate this skill somehow. This could be a video of you performing an original song, footage from a sports game, a portfolio of photographs, or a piece of creative writing. Talent or Skill-Based scholarships exist for pretty much everything, so if you have a special talent, start searching!
Contest or Raffle Scholarships
There are a lot of these ones out there! They typically have a short application (name, grade, email address) and are often used by scholarship sites to convince you to sign up for them. These are often big-ticket scholarships, but it's unlikely you'll win them because a lot of students are entering.
Where can I find scholarships?
Local Scholarships
Local scholarships are the ones you are most likely to win. This is because the applicant pool will be much smaller than pretty much anywhere else. If only ten people apply for a particular scholarship, you already have a one in ten chance of winning! Find a list of all Carson City-Crystal and Central Montcalm 2019-2020 Scholarships here (A note: this will not be updated with current scholarship deadlines until January of 2020).
Institutional Scholarships
These scholarships come directly from the college that you're planning on attending. Most of the time, you can't apply until after you've been accepted by that college and will need your new student account to access these scholarships. Most colleges use a universal scholarship application that applies you to every scholarship that you're eligible for. This can save you a lot of time, so be sure to apply for these! Here's a list of the scholarship pages of all colleges in Michigan. Find your college and start applying!
Third Party or Online Scholarships
These scholarships come from businesses, charitable foundations, random rich people, and more! Be sure to read all of the requirements to make sure that you are eligible for these scholarships! You can search for these scholarships at any of the following websites:
Local scholarships are the ones you are most likely to win. This is because the applicant pool will be much smaller than pretty much anywhere else. If only ten people apply for a particular scholarship, you already have a one in ten chance of winning! Find a list of all Carson City-Crystal and Central Montcalm 2019-2020 Scholarships here (A note: this will not be updated with current scholarship deadlines until January of 2020).
Institutional Scholarships
These scholarships come directly from the college that you're planning on attending. Most of the time, you can't apply until after you've been accepted by that college and will need your new student account to access these scholarships. Most colleges use a universal scholarship application that applies you to every scholarship that you're eligible for. This can save you a lot of time, so be sure to apply for these! Here's a list of the scholarship pages of all colleges in Michigan. Find your college and start applying!
Third Party or Online Scholarships
These scholarships come from businesses, charitable foundations, random rich people, and more! Be sure to read all of the requirements to make sure that you are eligible for these scholarships! You can search for these scholarships at any of the following websites:
When should I start applying for scholarships?
Local Scholarships: Local scholarships for Carson City-Crystal and Central Montcalm High Schools are open from January through March.
Institutional Scholarships: Institutional scholarships vary from college to college. Most college's institutional scholarship applications are open November-January or January-March. Check your college's websites early so you know when their scholarship window is!
Third Party or Online Scholarships: The deadlines with these vary from scholarship to scholarship. You can start applying for these as early as your Junior Year of high school!
Institutional Scholarships: Institutional scholarships vary from college to college. Most college's institutional scholarship applications are open November-January or January-March. Check your college's websites early so you know when their scholarship window is!
Third Party or Online Scholarships: The deadlines with these vary from scholarship to scholarship. You can start applying for these as early as your Junior Year of high school!
Tips and Tricks
- Be sure to apply to as many local scholarships as possible. You are most likely to win these!
- Read the requirements of all scholarships carefully. Don't waste your time applying for scholarships that you're not eligible for.
- Be proactive about deadlines. If you miss one, most scholarship providers will NOT accept late applications.
- If you need letters of recommendation, ask for them early so that whoever is writing your letter has enough time to write a good one.
- If you have to write an essay for a scholarship, see this presentation for advice.
- Recycle your scholarship essays if you have to write them - most scholarship providers will have no idea that you've used that essay before!
- See your College Adviser if you need help!
I need help with scholarship applications. What can I do?
See your College Adviser for help!
If it's a question about a specific scholarship, contact the scholarship provider!
If it's a question about a specific scholarship, contact the scholarship provider!
I was awarded a scholarship! Now what?
Each scholarship will have different steps you will need to take in order to collect your scholarship. Upon winning one, the scholarship provider will give you your next steps. If you don't follow their instructions, you may lose your scholarship! See your College Adviser if you need help.
How are scholarships awarded?
This will depend on the scholarship!
Most scholarships are sent directly to the college that you are attending and are deducted from your tuition bill. You never actually see the money if this is the process the scholarship provider chooses to do!
Some scholarships will send you a check in your name "in good faith" that you will use it for college expenses and not for that new video game you want.
Most scholarships are sent directly to the college that you are attending and are deducted from your tuition bill. You never actually see the money if this is the process the scholarship provider chooses to do!
Some scholarships will send you a check in your name "in good faith" that you will use it for college expenses and not for that new video game you want.