Major Scholarship and Grant Categories
Note: The most important characteristic of a scholarship or grant is that unlike a loan, the funds never have to be repaid. In essence . . . it’s free money!
The largest category is composed of general scholarships and grants. These are not necessarily limited to any specific major field of study, school, gender, ethnic group or minority. Many of these are based on financial need, and for some, the standard for grades and SAT scores is not set as high as for other awards. There is something to be found here for just about everyone.
Then there are scholarships based on specific major fields of study. The majority of these are directed to college upper classmen who have already locked in on their chosen career paths, but some of these are scholarships for high school seniors, who already have a solid idea of what area they would like to study. They are often awarded to good students to encourage them to enter a particular field that is under-populated by their gender or minority group. This particular category is quite broad, and you will notice that it really doesn’t matter which career path you’ve selected -- you’ll find specific scholarships for just about any career you can think of – and some that you haven’t even heard of yet!
Many scholarships are offered to members of specific ethnic or gender minorities. You’ll find numerous awards designated for those with your ethnic or cultural background. Some of these also require residency in a particular state or region of the country.
Speaking of states, one of the largest categories of scholarships for high school seniors are those based on your state of residence – and some of these are for students residing in particular cities in that state.
Don’t overlook the scholarships for high school seniors at your chosen college or university. These schools are rich in endowments and just looking for likely students to award.
Perhaps you are a woman who plays volleyball – and plays it really well. Football players are not the only athletes who go to school on athletic scholarships. There are just as many categories here as there are sports available.
And what if you’re not planning to attend a university or 4-year college? There are numerous grants and scholarships for high school seniors available for students entering 2-year community colleges and vocational/technical schools. You will find these listings in the same places as you find the others.
Application Process and Eligibility Requirements
Once you take the plunge and start digging, and then decide where to apply, it’s all about doing the work to ensure that yours is the best scholarship application they receive. Here are some of the standard items required in scholarship application packages.
- Scholarship application – It should go without saying that you should double check to be sure you are using the correct application form, and that everything is clearly written and spelled correctly. Pay close attention to application deadlines.
- Letters of Recommendation – Collect these from teachers – past and present, your minister, professional friends of the family, etc. This is not a step to be left until the last minute, especially with your teachers; give them time to reflect on your performance, leadership abilities, and to imagine your future potential.
- Grades - By your senior year, you have already established a track record of academic achievement and leadership ability. You will be required to submit up to date copies of your transcripts.
- College Entrance Exam Scores – An official copy of your SAT or ACT scores are a standard requirement.
- Admission Verification – If you already have been accepted as a student at a particular university or college, you will need to include a copy of the acceptance letter.
- Essays – Write carefully constructed essays based on the subject requirements of the selection committee. As an added measure, work with one of your teachers to review each essay before submission.
- Community Service - Hopefully you started contributing community service hours early in your high school career. Your record as a volunteer serves two purposes. First, it is often looked upon as your first real “job” even though you were not paid in dollars. It also indicates that you are personally capable of thinking of others enough to contribute to their well being.
- Verification of Financial Need – No matter what the financial situation of your family might suggest, you should fill out the FAFSA (Federal Student Assistance) application form on line. You will receive a SAR (Student Aid Report) based on the information you submitted. The SAR can be a very important item in your application package because so many grants and/or scholarships are based on need. You can find the necessary form at www.fafsa.ed.gov . There is no charge for this application. You can find more information on this subject at www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
- Verification Documentation – If you are applying for a VFW scholarship, you may have to attach verification of military service. Likewise, if you are seeking a scholarship for Native Americans, you will have to submit verification of tribal membership.
The single most important thing to remember about applying for scholarships or grants is to apply – and apply – and then apply again! Apply for every award you even think you may qualify for. There is a lot of competition out there, but keep in mind all of the unclaimed scholarship dollars each year – and all because no one made the effort to apply for them.
Ownership of stock use to be represented by a stock certificate. These days, when you buy a stock of a company, you usually do not get the actual stock certificates any more. Instead, your ownership is tracked electronically, making it easier to buy and sell shares.
