By Sara Mahuron Updated June 29, 2018
Financial assistance is a necessity for many college students, particularly those planning careers that require many years of education beyond the undergraduate level. Scholarships have unique benefits and are the most desirable form of financial aid. Many are merit-based or awarded as recognition for certain achievements. Like grants, scholarships do not have to be repaid. But grants are often need-based, so scholarships are more prestigious and can enhance your resume as well as help you pay for your education.
Financial Benefit
Many students graduate from college with enormous student loan debt or limit their education in an attempt to control costs. Because scholarships are free money, however, students can focus on their careers instead of thinking about how they will repay loans. This allows them to go into fields like law or medicine that require postgraduate training or to pursue careers in public service or other areas that don't pay high salaries. By removing financial barriers, scholarships make education and career goals easier to obtain.
Educational Benefit
Having a scholarship that pays for your education and living expenses can actually reduce your risk of dropping out and not getting the degree you want. You may even be able to consider a more selective institution or major. By reducing financial concerns, scholarships can also mean more time for studying and learning, which can lead to better grades and retention of knowledge and increase your chances for continuing on to graduate school.
Career Benefit
Earning a prestigious or merit-based scholarship can actually make you a more attractive job candidate. Employers who understand the competitive nature of the scholarship will recognize it as an accomplishment. Generally, a merit-based scholarship demonstrates to future employers that you have exceptional ability in the academic, athletic or artistic realm. Competitive scholarships are accomplishments worth listing on your resume and can help you stand out when you search for a job -- possibly helping you achieve the career you want.
Personal Benefit
A scholarship can make a big difference in your education. The money from a scholarship helps by allowing you to be more selective in how you spend your free time. You'll be able to maximize the college experience through service-learning, volunteer opportunities and internships. If your scholarship award is small, and you still need to work while going to school, use this time wisely. Make the most of it; instead of working at any minimum-wage job you can find to support yourself, select work that is meaningful and adds value to your degree.
FAQs
First, a scholarship can help you pay for school. It can allow you to focus on your studies and not worry about working a part-time job to pay for tuition. A scholarship can help you get into a better school. If you're looking to attend a prestigious university, a scholarship can give you the financial means.
How will a scholarship help you achieve your education and career goals? ›
Financial Benefit
This allows them to go into fields like law or medicine that require postgraduate training or to pursue careers in public service or other areas that don't pay high salaries. By removing financial barriers, scholarships make education and career goals easier to obtain.
How to answer what are your career goals for a scholarship? ›
Describe your educational goals. Explain your choice of career and what qualifications, skills, and talents you feel you have for your chosen field. Include your plans for financing your education. (If necessary, you may add one additional page for your educational goals.)
How do you answer what would this scholarship mean to you? ›
Receiving this scholarship will boost my self-confidence, knowing that I not only completed a very important task, but also took the responsibility of creating a foundation for getting me closer to my career goals. I believe in the importance of earning a college degree.
How do you answer why I am deserving of a scholarship? ›
Begin by sharing your story, focusing on your accomplishments, demonstrating how you're a hard worker, your leadership or volunteer experiences make you a deserving candidate for the scholarship.
How will this course help you with your goals sample answer? ›
The selected course will help with goals by providing detailed learning goals that aid in studying, understanding lectures, and determining important material to learn. The article discusses the importance of aligning student goals with course content to make the course more meaningful and relevant to students.
How do you start a scholarship essay? ›
Make your intro short and sweet. Don't simply restate the question or say how you'll be answering it. Get right into it. Whatever the overall tone of your writing — whether scholarly, casual or something else — you can engage the reader with either a pertinent story or a personal anecdote.
How do you write a 500 word scholarship essay? ›
The format of a 500-word scholarship essay is similar to a shorter essay. Each paragraph is about 75-125 words, and it consists of 3-5 well-written sentences. If you are writing a story or personal anecdote, the formatting can be more like a novel than a news article. It is ok to use 10% less or more words.
What is your greatest achievement sample answer? ›
"Throughout my career as an experienced professional, I have had the opportunity to work on numerous impactful projects and achieve significant milestones. One achievement that stands out is my leadership in spearheading a company-wide digital transformation initiative.
How will this scholarship impact your life and career answer? ›
The scholarship can help me further my professional training and certification goals that I have set for myself and will in turn help me start a true career in information system/technology management. This Scholarship can also be used to assist me pay for my courses this coming spring.
the position or status of a student who has been granted money or other aid to pursue their studies. a foundation to provide financial assistance to students.
What do you think that a scholarship is? ›
These financial awards differ from student loans because they don't have to be repaid. So, to answer a question we often hear, you do not have to pay it back if you get a scholarship. Students might receive the money directly as a check in their name. In other cases, the money is given to the student's school.
How will this scholarship help you essay examples? ›
I am planning to work during my undergraduate degree, but I do wish to focus a lot of my time on my studies. This scholarship will help by lowering the costs of college and the amount of hours I'll need to work throughout my studies. This way, I'll be able to continue with my academic achievements.
Why this scholarship is important to you? ›
Receiving this scholarship will boost my self-confidence, knowing that I not only completed a very important task, but also took the responsibility of creating a foundation for getting me closer to my career goals. I believe in the importance of earning a college degree.
Why do you deserve this role? ›
Think about any previous job roles or projects you have worked on that can still be related to this new role. Talk about specific examples of how you can help this company achieve their goals and highlight any relevant transferrable skills that will make you stand out as the right candidate.
Why is this scholarship important to you? ›
Explain how the scholarship money would contribute to your long-term goals. You're asking the scholarship committee to invest in your future. They want to ensure their investment goes to a worthy cause. Explain how your education will play a role in your career and overall goals after graduation.
Why should you give me a scholarship? ›
Talk about your Passion and Persistence
Letting your passion show through in your answer allows the committee to see your dedication. You deserve this scholarship based on your love of learning, your enjoyment of your field, or your passion for growth.
What you hope to accomplish as a result of receiving a scholarship? ›
By receiving this scholarship it would help me with books, rooming and board, and it will also make a big difference in my education. I can solely think about how to pay back student loans. I would not have to stress my mother and other family members out about how I will pay for college without financial assistance.
How can the careers or hobbies of your family members help you earn scholarship awards? ›
First, they may be able to provide mentorship or guidance in your chosen field, which can strengthen your scholarship application. Second, if your family members have connections or networks in your field, they may be able to help you find scholarship opportunities.
