Find Your Minority Scholarships

Along with every other economic problem these days, minority scholarships are in high demand. Due to our shrinking economy and fears of giving away money, it may be harder than ever for minorities to get the support they need for a good college education. What makes matters even worse is that the cost of going to college continues to rise. But are these kinds of opportunities really disappearing?

The truth is, getting a minority scholarship has never been easier, and many minority scholarships continue to go unrewarded because no one applies for them. This is a sham because applicants often do not need a certain grade point average or level of achievement to get the scholarship. And if awarded, almost all expenses are paid! Therefore, there is no reason why you cannot at least apply and be accepted for a minority scholarship.

There is a lot of competition for minority scholarships, but getting that application is half the battle. So where should you start?

The first step is to do your research. Visit local colleges and ask them about their minority scholarships. Pick up any applications or materials and talk to the staff about some tips and tricks for applying for each particular scholarship. You can also search online for remote colleges and scholarship opportunities. While these may seem more difficult to obtain, you probably have about as good a chance of winning them as a scholarship from a local university.

Regardless of the colleges you want to apply to, be sure to narrow down the list to five or ten and start there. That way, you’ll know you’re applying to the ones you’re most likely to win, and you can better focus on following up with those colleges on the status of your application.

Be sure to fully complete any minority scholarship application. Many of these packages come with a checklist to make sure you have all the pieces together before you pack them up. Once you have completed the package, go through it one last time and make sure you have everything signed and all fields filled out. Double-check your work, as many scholarship applications are thrown away simply because the applicant forgot to sign it, forgot to complete a section, or didn’t follow instructions.

If the college you are applying to is local, take a trip back to the college and return the packet in person. The best thing about applying for a minority scholarship in person at a local college is that you can meet college staff and easily move through the process if they want to interview you face-to-face. If the college you’re applying to is far away, be sure to send the return package UPS or FedEx so you can properly track the status of the package and get proof of delivery.

Another key step in winning a minority scholarship is following up. You can’t just submit your application and wait for that magical phone call or letter. You have to take fate into your own hands and make one or two phone calls every week to the colleges you’ve applied to. You can impress college staff enough to get your application to the front of the line. Your tenacity is an indication of how much you want the scholarship. Unfortunately, this step is one that most applicants miss when trying to win a scholarship.

You have your work cut out for you. Receiving a minority scholarship isn’t easy, but you’ll never know unless you apply and use good follow-up techniques to make sure your application has received the attention it deserves. Don’t give anyone a reason to move your application to the back of the line. With a little effort, you could be attending classes in no time!