Scholarship Essays- Question/WWYD

[AnnShh]

I'm filling out lots of scholarship applications, mainly ones awarded only to kids at my high school or kids in my county (I feel I have a better shot at those than national ones). The ones I am filling out are not specifically 'need based scholarships'. I'm lucky enough to not need scholarships in order to afford tuition, but it can't hurt to apply, and I know first hand that there are a lot of school/county scholarships that have not yet been applied for.

On a few, there is a portion asking for a paragraph on "why you feel you need or would benefit from this scholarship". I don't need this scholarship, it would benefit me because it's less money my family will have to pay. Soo for the essay, would you specifically say "I am lucky enough to not need this scholarship but it would help because..." or would you not even mention anything about needing it and only state why it would benefit?

 

[3CsMommy]

I wouldn't mention not needing it; it's college, it's going to be expensive as heck and you *will* need it, whether it's just for books or to actually pay part of your tuition. Saying you don't need it, if I were reading the application, would tell me to consider more heavily someone who has the forethought to acknowledge how expensive college can/will be, or has a 'first in the family' 'single parent home' 'disability/disorder' reason they need the help. Technically, everyone "needs" help paying for school; some just need it more than others.

Good luck!

 

[Sasha]

I know there are certain scholarships here that won't even consider you if you don't need it. The priority of most scholarships go for the people who do need it. My family also helped me pay for school, so I only ever qualified for one scholarship, because all the rest wouldn't have considered me.

I heard they also consider your family's income too, and pick based on that. Or that's how it is up here in Canada.

 

[TillyChinchilla]

Maybe you should leave the scholarship to somebody that may otherwise not be able to afford tuition? It seems like the cost isn't something that may effect you, whereas another student may be paying there own way and end up with student loans for the next 10 years.

 

[AnnShh]

Maybe you should leave the scholarship to somebody that may otherwise not be able to afford tuition? It seems like the cost isn't something that may effect you, whereas another student may be paying there own way and end up with student loans for the next 10 years.

I thought of that, but I work closely with the person who runs our high school Career Center (they deal with scholarship stuff) and she has given me a list of ones people have not yet applied for (not specifically need-based scholarships). These scholarships are advertised everywhere throughout our school, so it's not like they are hard to get info on/hear about- and IMO, if people who need them won't even apply, well then I will and they can decide whether to give it to me or not.

Like I said, I am not applying for need based scholarships (those are listed elsewhere). A lot of scholarships do consider the financial reports as one aspect but aren't totally focused on that aspect. The people who award the scholarship can choose whether or not to give it to me based on what other applicants, if any, they receive.


Sasha- we're required to fill out a government form based on our family's income and taxes. Most scholarships require a report from that, whether or not they are need based.

 

[TillyChinchilla]

Well, that makes more sense. If you write a really nicely done essay, you deserve a little help with the cost of the school.

My best guess would be to write about giving back to your college of choice via a program or tutoring or volunteering since you'd have a little extra to expend.