In this day and age, going to university opens many opportunities for you career-wise when you graduate. Not only will you be equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your dream profession, but college also serves as a networking conference that lasts for a couple of years.

However, one significant hurdle for most high school students is the rising cost of tertiary education. Aside from having to worry about educational expenses, you also have to consider your accommodation and other daily necessities if you live in-campus.

Fortunately, you can apply for a scholarship to help ease this particular financial burden. Here are ways to get a scholarship for your chosen course:

1. Verify Your Options

You should be aware of the scholarship choices available to you and the course that you’re planning to take. With today’s technology, these pieces of information can be easily retrieved at the touch of your fingertips.

There are plenty of free sources where you can find details on educational grants and other funding opportunities, such as:

  • Your High School – You can approach your school’s financial aid office or counselor for guidance on the nearest options that you have.
  • Federal Agencies – The Federal Student Aid is a government agency that’s dedicated to providing assistance to high school students who are looking for sponsorships. The US Department of Labor also has a free search tool.
  • Local Libraries – You should also visit your local libraries to find out more about financial aid opportunities that are available to you.
  • Community Organizations – If you’re part of a religious group, you can inquire about possible grants and scholarship options provided by your community. There are ethnicity-based organizations as well, which may help you apply for schools, such as historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Check out this excellent guide to HBCU scholarships to learn more.
  • Your Network – Your parents’ workplaces may have employee programs specifically for education-related financial aid, so take advantage of the opportunity if it’s there.

2. Research The Requirements

There are a lot of scholarship options available for high school students. Nonetheless, each organization that provides grants or funds also imposes its own set of eligibility criteria and requirements.

Your application will never be considered unless you pass the basic criteria by the school or institution that’s offering the scholarship. Check official websites and research on reviews so that you know what to prepare and expect.

3. Learn How To Write Winning Scholarship Essays

Be ready to write a lot of essays when you apply for college. You’ll have to express yourself in writing when you submit your application to your target university. Plus, you may also be required to craft an essay for your scholarship request.

If you find that writing is difficult for you, take heart and remember that you can overcome essay writing challenges through practice. You must hone this skill since you’ll be doing a lot of writing in college.

Here are some tips to help you when creating essays:

  • Understand the question – Know what the question really means, including the implications of the keywords used. 
  • Dig deeper – You should also identify key themes and understand what they mean below the surface. For instance, with leadership, an organization may expect you to provide detailed evidence of how you manifested this trait.
  • Expand your vocabulary – Using synonyms from the words in the scholarship statement will show evaluators that you’re addressing the question at hand.

4. Know Your Timeline

Do your research and determine the institution’s deadline for submission of the requirements, as well as other schedules that you should know about. This way, you can create a timetable for yourself on the things that you should do to complete this objective.

5. Work Toward Your Goal Relentlessly

The preparation for your tertiary education takes years. Equipping yourself with the knowledge and skills that will help you succeed in university begins during your first year in high school.  In senior high, you must, then, work double-time to increase the chances that you’ll get into your dream school and be granted scholarships for your chosen course.

Conclusion

Getting into college is the most straightforward choice after high school. With the rising costs of tertiary education, however, it’s prudent to apply for scholarships to ease this financial burden.

You must know your options and research on the eligibility criteria, as well as other requirements. You also have to be ready to write compelling essays that will make you stand out among thousands of applicants. Lastly, know your timeline and work toward your goal relentlessly until you succeed.