There are a lot of false assumptions floating around in the scholarship world. Many students leave money on the table because they are misinformed and believe in myths. The following are actual statements I have had to address with students and parents:
Myth #1 Scholarships are only available to students with GPAs of 3.0 or higher.
Truth: The higher the GPA the better but scholarships are available to students with a 2.0 GPA and some with no GPA requirement.
Myth #2 I can’t apply to school X because it is too expensive.
Truth: The more expensive a school, the more money you may be eligible to receive. Do not let the price tag keep you from applying.
Myth #3 I make too much money; only low-income students can get help paying for college.
Truth: There are an equal number of scholarships that are not based on income but merit, talent and circumstances.
Myth #4 I will have plenty of time to look for scholarships in my senior year.
Truth: Your senior year may be busy and stressful. If you wait until then, you may miss 50% of scholarships that you qualify for. Your search should begin in your freshman year, and you should continue to look for scholarships while you are in college.
Myth #5 I’ll just apply for one or two scholarships.
Truth: Applying for scholarships is a numbers game. The more you apply for, the more you are likely to receive. Check out the variety of scholarships my son received.
Myth #6 I don’t have time to apply for scholarships. I have a busy schedule.
Truth: First of all, perhaps a reassessment of what is most important is needed. I have seen highly qualified students miss out on scholarship opportunities because they are too busy. The hardest part is getting started with the process. Once you have 2-3 good essays, they can be tweaked and reused.
A good website to further debunk these myths is jlvcollegecounseling. A listing of scholarships is provided that come from various criteria. Scholarships are available for students from elementary to graduate school.