With all of the financial troubles that are affecting the economy these days, one of the key goals of most consumers is to get the best deal possible. College students and their parents can save loads of money by applying this same saving attitude to college education fees. One of the best ways to get a good deal on college education is to get a scholarship. If you think that you are not eligible for a scholarship, check out these top three myths on scholarships and think again:
You cannot get scholarships if you’re not an A student
You don’t have to be a straight-A student to get a scholarship. Many schools are willing to give scholarships to students who show gradual improvement in their grades and other areas.(1) If you want to bring attention to how you have improved over the years, you may want to do so in your admission essay. Check out some personal statement examples to see how other people have discussed their academics by highlighting the positive aspects and downplaying the negative.
You cannot get scholarship if you’re not financially incapable
Another common myth when it comes to scholarships is that only people who are financially incapable are able to get scholarships. Schools are obliged to assess scholarship applications based on the student’s records, personality, and abilities, and not just based on their financial status. Before you count yourself out just because you are financially capable, try applying for a scholarship and see what happens.
It’s best to pay and let some organizations secure the scholarship grant for you
A lot of companies offer services and products based on searching for and acquiring scholarship grants for you. While some of these services can be helpful, it is not advisable to pay for them. You can get loads of information for free straight from the Internet and from the college or univeristy that you want to get admitted to. Use what you have, and avoid spending extra money just to get the information that you can otherwise obtain for free.(2)
Before you get caught up thinking of what to do about your scholarship situation, make sure that you write a winning personal statement to get you into the college of your choice. Make use of personal statement examples to help you think of ideas and topics to write about. Examples of personal statements can also help you get an idea of what colleges and universities expect from their students. You may want to find a personal statement example that was written specifically for the school that you are applying to.(3)
(1) http://ia.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=23038
(2) http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/NR/rdonlyres/EE349C5B-E995-484D-9860-C39321F211E6/0/ScholarshipMyths.pdf
(3) http://www.public.coe.edu/wac/samples.htm
