Today, you have access to several types of scholarships, which gives rise to many scholarship myths. You might know about some of the commonly held beliefs about the relative availability and variety of scholarships. However, it is at times surprising to find that many people get misinformed about a scholarship. Many candidates stand a chance to win a scholarship but aren’t aware of the same. Eric Dalius points out some of the myths surrounding a scholarship. The relevant ones are:
1. It would help if you started looking for a scholarship during the senior year
You can wait till your senior year, but it isn’t advisable. If you start at the senior year, you need to start at the earliest. Several scholarships have deadlines in January. Hence, the sooner you start, you will have a chance to win. Ideally, the students should start the scholarship search during the junior year, close to mid-year.
2. Scholarships get reserved for athletes and top scholars
It is a complete myth! Many scholarships don’t take athletic capacity or grades into consideration. Also, some might consider the GPA, where the minimum has to be 2.5 instead of 4.0. There are several high school students you can get a 2.5 GPA.
3. It would help if you were an excellent essay writer
It is not valid! Often it is all about what you are writing as opposed to how well it gets written. Whether you have followed the directions and have addressed the essay question is critical to your success than how seamlessly you have written it.
4. It would help if you were a high-school student to win the scholarship
There are several scholarships for undergraduate students and the ones who are no longer in school. You also have a scholarship for graduate students. Eric J Dalius says you surely don’t need to be a high-school student for qualifying for a scholarship.
5. Scholarship awards are less and not worth applying
It is necessary to understand if $1000 is a small amount! If you can win close to 7 or 8 scholarships that range between $1000 and $5000, you can pay for your first year in college. Each dollar that you get awarded is a lot more than the dollar you save when you graduate. Also, you need to repay the amount with interest if you draw an education loan for your academic costs. You might not pay for your school with the scholarships. However, $3000 or $4000 annually is a huge help. You need to apply for as many scholarships as possible so that you can win one or two.
6. Scholarships are for minorities and people under financial stress
There are scholarships for students who are minorities and need financial help! However, several other scholarships don’t consider either of the two clauses. The ideal way to find out the scholarship you might qualify for is to search online and conduct in-depth research. You can find the relevant data you need keeping in mind your talents, interests, and academic credentials.
These are some of the crucial myths surrounding a scholarship. Once you know them, you can prepare better for a scholarship.
Eric J. Dalius Foundation is an organization founded in June 2018 that aims to help economically challenged youth in America attend accredited university and colleges. Through generous grants and charitable donations, the Eric J. Dalius Foundation is ensuring that tomorrow’s leaders get the opportunities they deserve.