A scholarship is an award that covers the entire cost of attending college. Cost of attendance (COA) is tuition, room and board, textbooks, fees, meals, and other things. College is a huge investment – you spend a lot of time, energy, and money to earn a degree. With a scholarship, all your college costs are taken care of. Instead of thinking about paying your bills, you could focus on passing your exams and being the best. Now we’ve defined scholarship, this article will go further to explain how it works, how to access them, and the necessary requirements needed to apply for them. Take a quick look at the table of contents below.
What Is scholarship?
A scholarship is an award that covers all expenses related to college. This includes tuition, books, fees, room, and board, and possibly even living costs. The goal is to remove any need for additional financial expenses. A scholarship attempts to make the student’s college experience as cost-free as possible. This scholarship offers a more comprehensive coverage of a student’s costs, including a stipend that could go toward food or other personal expenses, and coverage for an academic enrichment program. Unlike other financial aid options which many schools offer to students based on what they and their families can afford to pay for their educations, scholarships are based entirely on merit. SEE ALSO: Full Tuition Scholarships in USA
What Are The Different Types Of scholarships?
Anyone can qualify for a scholarship, depending on their background, skills, and expertise. Let’s take a look at the different types of scholarships.
Prestige
These scholarships are offered for students that have proved excellence in leadership, service, or another area. Sometimes, students that show great promise are also offered scholarships.
Athletic
Students who are good athletes can earn scholarships to some Division I or II schools. Full ride athletic scholarships are only offered to football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball, volleyball, tennis, and gymnastics.
State-sponsored
Some state programs sponsor the cost of college for students. These vary state by state and are often only usable at specific public universities.
Government
The government offers scholarships to some students. Some common full ride scholarships offered by the government are for ROTC students, or students studying at a military academy.
Merit Based
One of the most common types of scholarships, merit-based scholarships is reserved for students that have shown academic excellence. This is usually determined through GPA, SAT scores, ACT scores, or through a combination of the three.
Financial need based
Students from lower income homes can be eligible for scholarships at some schools. There are also private full ride scholarships that use prestige or merit and financial need to determine recipients.
Additional options
There are scholarships offered for a number of reasons. Some scholarships require a specific heritage, and others can be legacy based. Just about any incoming college freshman could be eligible for some type of scholarship. RELATED POST: Full List of Low Tuition Universities in Turkey for International Students
How Do You Qualify For scholarship? Eligibility & Requirements
Unlike a full tuition scholarship that covers only your tuition, a scholarship covers the entire cost of college which usually includes books, meal plans, room, travel and living costs, etc. To qualify for a full-ride scholarship which is granted on merit to the most talented and motivated students, there are certain requirements you need to satisfy. Full ride scholarships determine eligibility based on:
What GPA Do You Need To Get A Full Ride Scholarship?
The GPA you need to get a full ride scholarship differs according to school. While some schools may want a 3.5 GPA or a particular class rank (top 5% in your class). Nonetheless, you need to maintain a certain GPA and class position while in the scholarship program to keep it alive.
Can Transfer Students Earn Full Ride Scholarships?
Transfer students can earn full ride scholarships. Each school will have their own process for transfer students having the chance to land a full ride scholarship, so it’s best to check in with your school of choice.
Do All Schools Offer Full Ride Scholarships?
A good number of schools offer full ride scholarships with just an exception of few schools. Nevertheless, full ride scholarships can come from different areas other than the school. So, it’s possible for a student to benefit from the full ride scholarship outside his/her school’s own.
How Hard Is It To Get A Full Ride Scholarship?
Less than 1 percent of students get full ride scholarships. Out of 1000 applicants, only 10 persons are selected. What this means is that those that stand a chance to win the full ride scholarship are the best of the rest. In few lines to come, we’ll be sharing strategies on how to win a full ride scholarship. This strategies if well applied will triple your chances of landing a full ride scholarship.
Key Strategies For Winning A Full Ride Scholarship
Ideally, the things you do to make yourself a strong college applicant will also put you in a pole position for the full ride scholarship. While it’s of great importance to prepare for scholarship applications early, you need to be aware of the conscious factors that will greatly increase your chances of winning the scholarship. To optimize your chances of winning the full ride scholarship, you need to be academically sound with proof of being amount the best 5% in your class, have strong leadership and community service record. It will also be a plus if you build and maintain strong relationships with your instructors and mentors.
What you need to do to win a full ride scholarship
Here are the key steps you need to follow in order to win a full ride scholarship:
Demonstrate Academic Excellence
This goes beyond maintaining a high GPA and perfect test scores. You need to take challenging courses and stand out in a positive way. To get to the point of academic excellence, you need to be among the top 10% in your class.
Develop leadership skills
Most scholarship opportunities go to future leaders. Full ride scholarship wants to invest in future leaders who will go on to lead in various capacities in life. The only way scholarship committees can evaluate your leadership potential is by looking at your past record. To stand a chance of winning the scholarship, you need to enhance your leadership skills by taking active part in-class activities, volunteers, extracurricular activities, etc.
Invest in community service
Investment in community service is a good show of social responsibility. Private scholarship programs and schools alike want to invest in students who will “pay it forward” or students who will do good in the world. Show funding sources that you’re this type of person with a history of community service.
Develop a good relationship with mentors and instructors
Begin building these relationships by showing respect for your class, sports team, club, or activity. Show potential mentors and instructors that you are willing and able to actively participate. Follow up by seeing leaders for extra help and showing interest in the relevant subject area. This step is important for a couple of reasons:
It’s valuable to have mentors who can offer you trusted professional, personal, and academic advice.You should have people on your side who are willing to write strong letters of recommendation
Lastly, you need to be aware of the scholarship application timelines, deadlines and plan ahead. Don’t forget that the only way to win a full ride scholarship is through sweeping academic excellence.
Full Ride Scholarship Opportunities
We’ve covered what full ride scholarships are and how to find them. To let you know what some of the full ride scholarships available are, here are some specific examples.
Schools that Offer Full Ride Scholarships on Merit
Merit can mean different things, but generally a merit-based full ride scholarship requires excellence in academics, leadership, or service. Some schools recognize merit by offering full ride and full tuition scholarships.
#1 Boston University: Trustee Scholarship
Available to students with exceptional academic credentials, most of the Trustee Scholarship recipients have a perfect 4.0 GPA in high school. Students who earn this scholarship also demonstrate creativity, experience, and achievement. This scholarship is offered to about 20 students each year and is renewable for four years. Deadline: Early December APPLY HERE
#2 Loyola Marymount University: Trustee Scholarship
Available to all incoming freshmen, the trustee scholarship is offered to ten students over four years. Included in the scholarship are full tuition and room and board. This scholarship is awarded based on academic merit. Deadline: Early February APPLY HERE
#3 Texas Christian University: Chancellor’s Scholars Program
Along with being offered a full tuition scholarship, Chancellor’s Scholars are invited to special retreats, luncheons and dinners, social activities, and more. There are no minimum requirements, but students who earn this scholarship generally have SAT and ACT scores of 2150 and 33, respectively. Deadline: Early December APPLY HERE
#4 Vanderbilt University: Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship
Named after the founder of the school, the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship offers full tuition as well as a one-summer stipend for immersion, such as studying abroad. This is awarded to students who show a combination of academic and leadership achievement. Deadline: Early December APPLY HERE
#5 Wake Forest University: Nancy Susan Reynolds Scholarship
The Nancy Susan Reynolds Scholarship covers tuition and room and board, as well as offering $3,400 annually for personal expenses. This award is offered to students that take the hardest courses available and have among the best GPA and/or test scores in the nation. Each year, up to five recipients are selected. Deadline: Mid-November APPLY HERE
#6 Washington University in St. Louis: John B. Ervin Scholars Program
The John B. Ervin Scholars Program combines intellectual, leadership, and service achievement with Washington University’s commitment to diversity. This scholarship offers full-tuition as well as a $2,500 stipend, and it is renewable each year. Deadline: Early January APPLY HERE
Schools that Offer Full Ride Scholarships on Financial Need
With the rising costs of college, financial need-based full ride scholarships are becoming more common. Some schools, like Harvard and Yale, even offer full ride scholarships to all students from low-income households. For other schools, here are some financial need-based full ride scholarships:
#1 Agnes Scott College: Goizueta Foundation Scholarship
Focused primarily toward Hispanic/Latina women who demonstrate significant financial need, the Goizueta Foundation Scholarship has a four-year value of $208,000 – more than enough to cover tuition, room, and board. Preference is also given to students that show academic and/or leadership achievement. Deadline: Mid-January APPLY HERE
#2 Davidson University: Charles Scholarship
Covering everything from tuition to personal expenses, the Charles Scholarship is awarded to up to three students each year. These are available to academically excellent graduates of Chicago public schools who demonstrate significant financial need. Deadline: Early January APPLY HERE
#3 Soka University: Soka Opportunity Scholarship
Covering up to the cost of tuition, the Soka Opportunity Scholarship covers any additional costs of education after other grants and scholarships are taken into consideration. This scholarship is for students whose families make less than $60,000 per year and have never gone to college. Deadline: Late March APPLY HERE
#4 University of Miami: George W. Jenkins Scholarship
Awarded to students that have overcome adversity to succeed, the George W. Jenkins Scholarship places an emphasis on financial need. The scholarship covers tuition, room and board, health insurance, a meal plan, and a laptop stipend, as well as the potential for additional stipends for books, transportation and personal expenses. Deadline: Early December APPLY HERE
#5 University of Rochester: Alan and Jane Handler Endowed Scholarship
Students that have shown academic excellence and strong character are considered ideal candidates for the Alan and Jane Handler Endowed Scholarship. Given to students with financial need, this scholarship covers all costs of college, down to travel and personal expenses. Deadline: Early December APPLY HERE
Private Full Ride Scholarships and Awards
Full ride scholarships are available privately as well. These scholarships often require students to study in a specific state or specific school and may require students to study in a specific field.
#1 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Gates Millennium Scholars Program
Students who want to study in computer science, education, engineering, math, public science or health are eligible for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program. A 3.3 minimum GPA is required, and applicants must be diverse. This award covers all costs of tuition, including graduate school. Deadline: Late November APPLY HERE
#2 Flinn Foundation: Flinn Scholarship Program
Students that plan to attend a public university in Arizona are eligible for the Flinn Scholarship. The program covers tuition and room and board, as well as any study abroad experiences students are interested in. Students must be Arizona residents – beyond that, all students are welcome to apply. Deadline: Late October APPLY HERE
#3 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: College Scholarship Program
While the award varies from student to student, the goal of the College Scholarship program is to cover most or all the cost of education. Applicants must have a 3.5 GPA or higher, and family income must be lower than $95,000. Deadline: Late October APPLY HERE
#4 JP Morgan: Thomas G. Labrecque Smart Start Program
The Smart Start Program gives New York City high school seniors a full ride scholarship to school, along with a paid internship at JP Morgan. Applicants must be from New York City, and they should have an interest in a career at a financial services firm. Deadline: Mid-January
#5 The Society for Science: Regeneron Science Talent Search
There are multiple awards offered through the Regeneron Science Talent Search, and the top award is $250,000 – more than enough to cover education. Applicants must compete in the Regeneron Science Talent Search to be eligible. Deadline: Varies APPLY HERE
Conclusion
Going to college comes with a level of financial commitment that goes beyond tuition fees. With a full ride scholarship, you have all expenses paid for. A full ride scholarship is an award that covers all expenses related to college. This includes tuition, books, fees, room, and board, and possibly even living costs. The goal is to remove any need for additional financial expenses. To optimize your chances of winning the full ride scholarship, you need to be academically sound with proof of being amount the best 5% in your class, have strong leadership and community service record. It will also be a plus if you build and maintain strong relationships with your instructors and mentors. The GPA you need to get a full ride scholarship differs according to school. While some schools may want a 3.5 GPA or a particular class rank (top 5% in your class). Nonetheless, you need to maintain a certain GPA and class position while in the scholarship program to keep it alive.
