Scholarship 101
This type of scholarship is awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, athletics, or talent rather than financial need.
What is a merit-based scholarship?
This writing technique at the beginning of an essay is used to immediately grab the reader’s attention.
What is a hook?
This document contains your grades, GPA, and completed coursework.
What is a transcript?
This document summarizes a student’s education, work experience, skills, and activities.
What is a resume?
Unlike scholarships and grants, this type of financial aid usually must be repaid.
What is a student loan?
This federal application determines eligibility for grants, loans, and many scholarships.
What is the FAFSA?
Scholarship essays are usually stronger when they focus on specific examples instead of this.
What are vague/general statements?
A student whose parents did not complete a four-year college degree is commonly called this.
What is a first-generation college student?
Scholarship committees often value this type of work because it demonstrates service to others without pay.
What is volunteer work/community service?
This term refers to the total estimated cost of attending a college for one year.
What is cost of attendance?
Students should avoid these scholarship opportunities that require payment or guarantee winnings.
What are scholarship scams?
This common essay mistake happens when students repeat their resume without adding personal insight.
What is listing accomplishments without reflection?
SAT and ACT are examples of these.
What are standardized tests?
This quality is demonstrated by organizing events, mentoring others, or serving as a club officer.
What is leadership?
Grants are most commonly awarded based on this.
What is financial need?
This term refers to money awarded based on a family’s financial situation.
What is need-based aid?
Scholarship committees often look for this quality when students discuss challenges they have overcome.
What is resilience?
This person at school often helps students with college applications, schedules, and scholarships.
Who is a counselor?
Being heavily involved in a few activities rather than slightly involved in many activities often shows this.
What is commitment/dedication?
Local scholarships are sometimes easier to win because they usually have this.
What is a smaller applicant pool/less competition?
Many scholarships require students to maintain this after receiving the award.
What is a minimum GPA?
This is the process of carefully reviewing an essay for grammar, spelling, clarity, and organization.
What is proofreading/editing?
Colleges often consider academics, leadership, service, and this quality that shows dedication outside the classroom.
What is extracurricular involvement?
Scholarships often ask students to describe how their activities prepared them for this next stage of life.
What is college/career success?
This financial aid term describes the difference between college costs and what a family is expected to contribute.
What is financial need?