K Fisher

What Happens to Unused Scholarship/Grant Funding?

K Fisher2 Comments

This may be a question a lot of students don’t realize they have a general say on how or when it comes to receiving a refund check in the mail or as a direct deposit to a student’s college bank account. Because it does happen and we are here to explain why, what can be done, how to save, and more.

Unused scholarship funding or grant funding has happened and it seems a bit strange to some. Whoever has excess funding because a typical U.S. 2-year education is an easy $50,000 feat. While a 4-year education is an easy $100,000 plus diabolic mess. F.Y.I the United States has the highest tuition amount required in the world. That’s just tuition, that does not count in equipment fees, housing fees, and more. That’s why it seems too funny to say that someone may have received a check for unused funding.

Let’s look at the Pell Grant, which is one of the most extravagant grants in the United States. First off, the Pell Grant is only available to low-income student facing Finanancial hardship, because grants do not need to be paid back by the student. Grants are not student loans, or a loan in general. The Pell Grant simply grants a student with a certain amount to cover their entire education, and that can leave students with left over extras.

The Pell Grant can be paid to a student in only two ways: directly to the college fund bank account that is issued to each new student or to the student’s personal checking account.

Students can only apply for the Pell Grant is they have applied for financial aid first. This is a requirement when filling out the Pell Grant information packet. First, after receiving the Pell Grant funding, the large amount will be applied to paying off the tuition in full. The other fees that are required to be paid off as per direction from the institution, that Pell Grant money that remains will be directed towards paying off extra fees.

It can take a bit of time to receive a refund that may be delivered as a direct electronic deposit or as a physical check to the student.

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes

After receiving a refund check from something as massive as a Pell Grant, the student has to report this refund check to the IRS when tax time comes around. Because this will affect the students’ taxes since essentially, they have received an “award amount” of money.

Sadly, students tend to forget or don’t know about this step. But if the students reports that they received a refund amount and do their taxes correctly, they will not be targeted to pay back more and receive less during tax season.

Do Dropouts Get to Keep the Award Amount?

Normally, if a student stop attending their university and they have a Pell Grant fund that was granted to them, that fund will be sent back to the foundation. Because under strict law and rule the reason that Pell Grant was funded to that student was to ensure their payment for a secure 2-year to 4-year education. If a student breaks that rule, then the Pell Grant money will be sent back to the foundation to be used for another student who will complete their college career.

This was deemed a myth for a while until recent college dropouts conducted a survey to see how many students had their Pell Grant funding revoked and taken out of their checking accounts.

Can the Funding Be Spent on Anything?

Absolutely not, unless that student has received that refund check… then yes, anything goes. But since the Pell Grant is in the college bank account issued to the student, only college-based necessities need to be paid in full first.

If a student ends up receives a refund check for the unused amount, then… yes, the student can spend that amount on anything they would like to. However, the student may want to save that remaining check amount to pay off the higher taxes they can expect the following tax season.

Although an alternative route students can take is asking (must have written authorization) the school to hold the funds until they can be spent on any other excess fees. This always that unused money to be safely kept and there will be no need to send in a letter to the IRS stating that as a student, you have received too much from the Pell Grant foundation.

Keep Track of What is Spent

The hidden rule to grant money is that the student should keep records (like a check book or online google spreadsheet of the spent amount) on hand. Because if the unused amount is taken out and spent on something that is deemed non-educational, then the IRS will need the receipts for that amount spent. It would be best to include a personal finance course within the first-year to account exactly how to keep track of grant fund spendings.

The Grey Areas that Are Considered Educational Spending and Not

  • Pay for car repairs if the student drives to campus
  • Buy new clothes for the upcoming school year – or replace clothing items
  • Pay bills, if living in off-campus housing
  • Pay the cell phone bill
  • Buy a planner or calendar to help manage activities throughout the school year – include study time for finals
  • Buy books that are not part of the school curriculum but aid in the subject matter that is being studied
  • Cover gasoline costs to drive to work or a volunteer position
  • Put it in a savings account to pay the following years taxes

Is there Ever a Time Grants Have to Be paid Back?

No, however, a student should know the 4-type of grants available to college students. They are the Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants, and State-Issued Grants.

For the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant, individuals that intend to be teachers or who are teachers pursuing a bachelor’s or graduate degree can receive up to $3,000 plus per year provided that they agree to teach at a low-income school for four consecutive years.

Otherwise, if the teachers are teaching at a non-low-income school and skip out on the 4 years, the grant will convert into a loan, which must be repaid.

If a student drops out (the dropout rate while being awarded the Pell Grant is around 60%) will need to repay a portion back. Not the entire amount but the fact that free college money was to cover a tuition that would in return allow a student to not worry about paying tuition, let alone take out student loans… students will need to repay a percentage back.

State-Issued Grants

These grants differ from state to state; however, each state follows the same rules when it comes to eligibility. Individual students may submit applications for a funding opportunity on their own behalf (i.e., not on behalf of a company, organization, institution, or government). They must be registered with an individual applicant profile. This means individuals who sign up and submit on their own behalf can only submit to the grants that dictate that only an “individual person” can apply. Most of the funding opportunities involved with state-issued grants are for organizations, not individuals.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

These grants are awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need up to the amount of $4,000 per year. The amount of the award is determined by the college’s financial aid office, and depends on the student’s financial need and the availability of funds at the college you attend.

The FSEOG program is administered directly by the financial aid office at each participating school. Not all schools participate.

Be sure to carefully research and ask the admissions office if the university participates in Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, if not a different school will need to be considered when applying.

Does Financial Aid Work the Same Way as Grants?

When a student drops out and is certified as a financial aid student, and if that same student has taken out student loans…drop outs will immediately be notified that they must start paying back on those student loans. Oddly enough, being a  college student and on financial aid was covering the time frame for when a student did not need to pay back student loans.

Federal loans and most private loans give students this six-month grace period after entering repayment mode. When those six months are up, the student has to start making payments when they are notified to do so.

 

What About Scholarships? What About the Unused Amount?

Well, if a student receives the prize amount from a scholarship and that amount did not end up in a college bank account, a student can do what they would like with the amount.

However, if a student is considering dropping out because of financial hardship, the student needs to contact the scholarship foundation to ask for a larger amount. Which 80% of the time is granted to allow the student to stay in college or university. Why? Scholarships are only available to use if the student is a creditable college student. Otherwise, there is no reason for the scholarship to be paid to an individual who is not partaking in a higher education.

If a student drops out without any warning to the scholarship foundation, the foundation will ask the student to refund the money. Or repay.

The Right Time to Drop a Class and Keep the Grant

A clause with most universities and colleges is for all students right after school starts. For about 3 months into the year, students have a grace period where they can drop a class and switch subjects. This way a student can keep moving forward and it caters to a fewer dropout rate than the previous years before.

Unused Scholarship or Grant Funds Can Cost Students

This is why every student should fill out exact income information so they do not end up with an extravagant amount of left-over funds. At times the US Treasury as asked for excess funds to be returned so they can distribute to other individuals or programs that may have fell short on funds. Along with the probability an individual will have higher taxes if they received an excess amount from the government, since grants are government funded.

Scholarships are rarely refunded back to the foundation, however, there have been incidents where scholarships have been revoked based on the student’s higher income status. Since scholarships are meant for students who simply need the funds to graduate and pay for tuition. Students should always share their correct and current information to ensure there is no mess up or confusion.

Students Who Receive Grants/Scholarships

The students who end up receiving grants and scholarships are thankful for the funds to complete their higher education. Most of the funds is absorbed by the university or college to pay off any remaining fees like laptops, lab equipment, textbooks, calculators, uniform attire (if required) and daily lunches from the student café. The same goes for students who may have a free elective that involves playing an instrument, painting, drawing, sculpting, photography, graphic design, and more. Those fees will also be covered by either the grant or the scholarship.

 

What Happens to Unused Funds Depends on the Person

Eventually extra funds can be used for a number of things, however, it’s about the person who spends it. Spend carefully and for the right reasons since all purchases need to be saved and reported to the tax revenue office the following year. All students should look up some research about unused grant or scholarship funds and ways to spend correctly. Or students can talk to their colleges’ financial aid admission office to ask what funds can be distributed and were.  This is the most careful way to use excess grant and scholarship funding.

Questions to Ask Before Pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree

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Pursuing a bachelor’s degree is serious stuff when it comes to knowing exactly what career field is being pursued for that degree. The why’s, how’s, when, how long, and what’s are needed to know what involves gaining and achieving a bachelor’s degree. Is it easy to obtain a bachelor’s degree? What classes do are needed? What type of G.P.A.?

There are fast tracks to obtaining a bachelor’s degree quickly more so than later in life.

First, what is a Bachelor’s Degree?

A bachelor’s degree is considered an undergraduate degree that a student receives after fulfilling their studies and passing with high marks to achieve a degree in that specific career field. A bachelor’s degree comes after an associate and before a master’s degree. Some master degrees do not need a bachelor’s degree present to receive a masters.

However, what can you get a bachelor’s degree in:

  • Bachelor Arts (Communication, Education, English, Languages, Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology)
  • Bachelor of Science (Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Nursing, and Physics)
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (Creative Writing, Theatre, Film & Photography, Music, and Visual Arts)

Do all universities/colleges offer bachelor’s degrees?

Specifically, universities, colleges, and liberal arts colleges do offer bachelor’s degrees. Typically, any higher education institution offers a bachelor’s degree program.

Universities – There are 2 variations when it comes to universities: public (or state) universities and private universities. Public universities are funded by the state in which they are located, while private universities are funded by endowment funds and tuition fees. The most common bachelor’s degrees offered by public and private universities are BA and BS degrees.

Liberal Art Institutions – Liberal art institutions tend to focus on undergraduate programs. Students take a variety of courses in the humanities, arts, sciences, and social sciences. Liberal arts colleges offer BA, BFA, and BS degrees.

Community Schools – Community schools, as called junior colleges, offer a limited number of bachelor’s degree programs. Generally, they award 2-year associate degrees designed to help students transfer to a four-year degree program.

What Is the Fastest Way to Acquire a Bachelor’s?

Did you know that students can test out of required classes for the first two years of college? Required classes are simply classes that covers all the basics like math, science, English, and languages. Students can be opted out of these classes since really, they will take up about two college years before the student starts classes for a bachelor’s degree.

This is where high school AP college courses come in handy. Another example is to satisfy general curriculum requirements by taking AP classes in areas like English, even if you intend to enroll in a STEM degree program because virtually all college students take at least a semester or two of English.

This ultimately means taking more classes to acquire the bachelor’s degree 120 credits. Yes, sadly only first year college students tackle a whole 12 credits. Taking on more classes will help to boost a student towards a better chance at securing a bachelor’s early.

The other handy plan in gaining a head start with reaching a bachelor’s degree quickly is to take summer classes if they are being offered.

What Classes are Needed to Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree?

The listed required classes will take up a full year, where required classes are needed to even think about obtaining this type of degree.

What is needed is this list below:

  • Complete a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit towards graduation – there is no variation to this
  • Satisfy the UI and CLAS residence requirements – otherwise there will be no real other way to acquire this level of degree
  • Complete the requirements of the CLAS Core General Education Program
  • Choose a major and complete that major
  • Meet the College’s academic standards which differs from college to college
  • Clear any “I” marks from your record (by completing any incomplete courses or allowing the “I” to lapse to an “F”) – If any incomplete marks are on your academic record this will mean that student needs to re-take an entire class from start to finish. No one has ever been able to have an incomplete and receive a degree.

Students who wish to earn a BA, BS, BFA, or BM degree from CLAS must complete the requirements of the CLAS General Education CLAS Core.

Can Students Transfer Credits to Fill-Out the Rest?

Yes, students that have extra credits may transfer those credits to pretty much, create a full complete academic record. The only way a transfer credit can be redeemed is by the admissions office who over sees all academic records from each student.

The initial rule of thumb for transferring credits is a 90/30 rule that all colleges follow. This is 90 hours to be eligible for a college credit transfer. Afterwards this requires that a student must complete no less than 30 credit hours in a single program in order to earn the bachelor’s degree at hand.

What About Transferring Credits from or To an Online School?

Yes! But this depends on the online schooling and the in-person university who will accept those credits. If a student started out as a traditional on-campus student, they can opt to transfer to an online education. This is far easier for these students, rather than the opposite. Where students who previously started out their bachelor degree program via online and then decide to transfer to an on-campus college.

How Difficult Is It to Achieve a Bachelor’s Degree?

Ah, the difficulty standard when it comes to studying and pursing a bachelor’s degree depends on the individual. On average from statistical studies, it takes a single student 52 months to reach their bachelor’s degree. This does not disregard the difficult waters they may face.

The standard dropout rate when students are studying for this degree is around 40%. From 4-year institutions on average for each year about 56% student’s dropout without finishing their degrees. The percentage for students successfully reaching their bachelor’s degree is 60%.

Since there is a fairly even consideration between dropping out and reaching that degree level, it’s seen as a fairly difficult degree to reach. Nevertheless, everyone is different and has different college experiences that may influence their decisions to dropping out.

The only real way to earn a bachelor’s degree is to fully commit one’s self to the process. For a full-time student they will earn 30-hours a week or 30 full credits when it comes to working towards a bachelors. But a lot of students can rush a 2-year span to earn that degree.

Things to consider to move quickly towards a bachelor’s degree:

  • Bachelor degree completion programs
  • College courses during high school
  • Transfer credits
  • Accelerated degrees
  • Take summer semesters
  • Take night classes
  • Military or applicable training
  • Testing out
  • Existing credits available for transfer

Earning this degree faster can save time, money, and general savings. Hardwork is needed dearly for this otherwise, slackers will not achieve this in a 2-year span.

 

What Subjects Can Students Decide to Not Receive a Bachelor’s Degree On:

  • Stockbroker
  • Mining Construction
  • IT
  • Commodities trader
  • Offshore oil-platform worker
  • Digital Marketing
  • Nuclear technicians
  • Air traffic controller
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse
  • Medical Records Clerk
  • Massage Therapist
  • Patrol Officer
  • Firefighter
  • Insurance Sales Agent
  • Plumber
  • Maintenance and Repair Technician
  • Ophthalmic Technician
  • Dental Assistant
  • Esthetician
  • Physical Therapy Aide
  • Computer Security Analyst
  • Phlebotomist
  • Computer Programmer

Oddly enough certain specific jobs do not require a bachelor’s degree only the proper training for that career position is needed.

What Bachelor Majors Make Easy and A lot of Income?

This is a normal question to ask especially if a student is looking to have a steady income with their career. The top jobs for this purpose would be any accounting jobs, along with medical professions. Then especially any criminal justice careers that can easily turn into the student going back to school for law, and passing the bar exams which all lawyers have to pass to become a real lawyer in the eyes of the state.

 

Let’s Look at the Disadvantages of Having a Bachelor’s Degree

The cost can be well… costly. Some people work hard and find that even though the spent a ton of money on having a Bachelor’s Degree… depending on what study field that student has chosen, there may not be a huge job market for it right now.

When a specific field for example nursing is always in need of students to go to college to earn the right degree to become a certified nurse. Because nurses are always in demand no matter what. That has been proven these last 3 years. However, a career in interior design has such a low demand because of what the world has been through with the pandemic and closing down cities and entire countries.

Students will need to look at the job market growth to see in 2 years’ time what their field will be in demand of. It’s not to say that students shouldn’t go for a degree in something they are passionate about, it’s more about being smart about the decision in the long run. And asking “how will I be able to use this degree to its fullest?”

Sacrificing time with family, yourself, and friends. This is very high on the priorities list, because many first-year students start to realize that they have left their family home and they haven’t yet made friends with anyone at university. This can add to students’ anxiety and depression if they have already experienced this set of illness before.

Not being able to hold a full-time job for 4-years is the reality of the degree pursuing situation. Students who go to university for a 4-year stint don’t understand that they will not be able to have a full-time job unless it involves teaching or a job that is situated within the university itself. Otherwise, a part-time job is all that student will be able to handle for 4-years.

Students may not gain technical and common-sense skills. Oddly enough this is what employers are looking for when hiring employees. That want an employee who can make a rash decision if necessary or a team leader who knows how to deal with conflict in the office. It is best of students can find a part-time job possible in an office or work space where they can learn these skills quickly to add to their resume.

It may not need to be talked about but the real debt situation in the United States is outstanding. Less than 50% of students graduate with a bachelor’s degree that includes not needing to pay off any school loan debt. The other 60% will spend 10 years or more paying off school loan debt. Just for a 3-year span at college and accumulate around $90,000 of student loan debt. And the interest rates continue to skyrocket.

The Pro of It All

Typically, after reading the disadvantages a student may be persuaded to do something else. However, the other reality is that a lot of students complete the financial aid packet and receive a grant to cover 75% of the full cost of attending a 4-year university. This in itself becomes highly rewarding. Allowing students to continue their higher education and graduating with a top grade point average.

The old saying goes, choose what works for you, and that is true. Everyone should create a detailed life map to see what their budget will be able to handle (ask help from family too) to see what year span can be completed. A lot of students who thought they could not finish college end up doing so just out of sheer determination and typically end up being the top 15% in their class with highest grade point average.

The Untold Truth About the First Year of College

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What is the so-called untold truth about the first year of college? Doesn’t everyone know that it’s not like the movies or television? Well, it’s a bit more about how many lectures will you attend in a single day? How many hours a day are you sitting in a classroom, study hall, and then studying some more? What is cramming for finals really like?

All of these questions will be answered and then some. What hasn’t really been discussed is the elements of education where students may wane away from certain study subjects because they find them boring or uninteresting. This is when students start to figure out their major if they hadn’t had an idea before. If a student can test out of these classes, this means they have proficiency in those subjects and do not need to take any classes.

First Things First… Finals

Who has not seen at least one episode on t.v. where a bunch of college kids are cramming for their finals, right? Well, that’s the one thing they are not wrong. The truth is that college finals last for a rough 3-4 hours per class. That means if a student has 4 classes in a day, that’s a total of 12-14 hours in one day of taking tests. That’s why everyone makes a huge deal about finals.

This is how a lot of freshmen have the crash source introduction to what college is really like. Because it’s not just one day of finals, it’s a whole week depending on how many classes that student is taking at the time.

Studying for Finals Should Start When You Arrive

Each class taken throughout the year should have a subtle 1-hour study time set aside. Because college finals are nothing to laugh at, since students are being tested from literally the beginning of that subject until the last class taught. Which is a whole year worth of information.

If a student fails an exam or a test, that means they have to retake the class over. This also means this student does not graduate and will have to repeat the entire year over. That means a full year of tuition is lost and fees along with it.

College Freshmen Find Themselves More Busy

The first year of college is filled with a world of possibilities. Whether it’s the school of your dreams or a university you picked as second. Multiple reports remain the same, students find themselves even more busy with extracurricular activities than the academic schooling. This is because if the student has not opted out of testing for a class, then the first year of college is pretty much a repeat of the senior year in high school.

The Amount of Studying Is No Joke

Who said someone couldn’t study for 3 hours per day? That’s the typical minimum time frame freshmen students will use to study for their first year. While it’s information that may be repetitive depending on the classes they are taking or if they happened to have skipped a grade in high school, studying is crucial.

Taking 6 courses for the first time will show a huge amount of work and that’s a lot for a new kid in college. If a student finds themselves not able to handle the work load, they need to drop a course, otherwise their GPA and grades in general will take a nose dive.

Attendance is Important

Students should not take this as the time to be late for classes. Some professors will shut their door and lock it if a presentation of lecture is happening that day. Or simply the student will be seen as nonconstructive about their academic education. A few studies from 2018 showed that when students started arriving late to class, their grades dip about half a letter grade or more.

What Classes to Take for the First Year

Typically, classes will look like this:

  • Mathematics (Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 and Algebra 2)
  • English (British and American literature)
  • Science (Advanced Placement)
  • History (U.S. and World History)
  • Foreign Language (Spanish, French, Korean, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and more are available to take)
  • Arts (Painting, drawing, media, sculpting, design, text tile, studio)
  • Electives (Picking a study of the student’s choice)

But wait, what is it that no one tells first year students about electives? No matter what, only take electives after you’ve taken the required courses. This always so much room to explore more electives afterward.

Students should create an Academic Plan where it should line up like this:

  • General Education Requirements
  • General Education Electives
  • Area of Study Requirements
  • Area of Study Electives
  • Free Electives
  • Other Courses

It all comes down to understanding which credit goes where, because something like math would fall in the first two tiers. While anything outside of the required realm of classes would fall in the last few tiers presented.

Take Classes to Build Up That Passionate Endeavour

If a student is attracted to an art class like mixed media, they should also think about taking various art classes as well. Because taking surrounding classes can up build up the passionate determination a person has for one subject, which equals to a better learning experience. Also consider electives that will build or increase a specific skill set. For example, if you are pursuing a business degree, well doesn’t public speaking go hand in hand with business?

This is how a freshmen college student will need to think for the long run of their higher education career.

Free Electives

Free electives are courses that fall outside of the “required” courses and area of study, or are not needed under any other section of your academic evaluation. Any credits that are not required for the intended degree program will apply as free electives.

Consult Academic Advisors

It’s hard to believe that a lot of college freshmen don’t visit their academic advisor when it comes to picking free electives. When in reality that academic advisor has been down the same path, where they either chose the wrong elective and didn’t like the class or succeeded and enjoyed the class. Ask for their advice and see how they can steer a student in a different direction that just happens to be the better field study class.

Academic advisors are there for the student population for really everything. That’s also why colleges of former students that are R.A.’s that live on one floor with a certain number of students. To aid their college experience and help with any student who may be facing some challenging coursework.

Types of Classes That are Optional

  • Core course – is a course required by the picked college, and every student must take it in order to obtain a degree. This is also referred to as the general education course. Collectively, core courses are part of a core curriculum. Core courses are always essential to an academic degree, but they are not necessarily foundational to a degree major.
  • Major required course – this essential course to directed towards a student’s specific field of study. For example, as business student you would probably have to take classes like business management or introduction to business. The academic adviser can help any student to learn which courses within their selected major is required.
  • Elective – student will choose electives from a number of optional subjects. Elective courses tend to be more specialized than required courses. They may also have fewer students than required courses.

Only electives are considered optional class course choices. Although students will pick their field study and ultimately choose whether or not to attend certain required classes, they should not be looked at as optional. Instead, the general education courses should be seen as required classes.

Deemed the Best College Electives

  • Public Speaking
  • Fitness
  • Creative writing
  • Art history
  • Business Management
  • Marketing
  • Psychology
  • Nutrition
  • Physical education
  • Foreign language

Low-stress Electives that All Students Should Take

  • Improv
  • Music
  • Pottery
  • Painting
  • Drawing
  • Yoga
  • Cinema studies
  • Anthropology
  • Photography
  • Graphic design
  • Interior design
  • Sign language

These classes can help students to feel a lower stress levels by taking a class they enjoy rather than feeling like it’s a required course.

Taking More Classes Can Excell a Student’s GPA

This is true, and if that student can deal well with a bunch of classes, then why not, right? The more classes a student takes the great risk they employ that maybe their grades will start to fall. If not, this means they can actually increase their overall GPA in college.

If a student does this, then more times than not, the college representatives take notice of this student and they could be awarded a merit award.

Why Do Freshmen Take Business Classes the First Year

How else will freshmen make a little extra money on the side without having a full-time job? It has been figured out that a lot of first year freshmen take business classes so they can start up their own mini business. A few students have started Etsy pages, YouTube pages, and influencer accounts to pay for a bit of the extra cost that comes along with being in college.

This is where Marketing and Business courses go hand in hand. They complement each other while being able to help the other out. If a student is taking marketing, then, they are better able to learn about creating brands and sustaining them. Then with business classes a student can be taught how to not only run that business but see through to the personal finance of the situation.

In all respect, this is such a clever way of utilizing time and money while a college freshman on a budget.

But What Is the Best Way to Prepare for the First Year of College?

  The biggest point to remember is to read as much as possible. Even though first year students may be forced to read the latest textbook assigned to them for a certain class… the fact is, the more someone reads the easier it becomes for them to take in the information given to them. If a student suffers from ADHD or Dyslexia, they should contact the student advisor because now colleges have learning programs to breakdown everything.

Time Management Apps will be a student’s gift to their first year. Have all of your classes set to a certain time for either 15 minutes before that class starts or for when you choose to arrive to that class. Time management will take the number one spot for all first-year students.

The first-year job, weigh out the possible options and real identify what the time schedule per week looks like. The job can only be part-time and be as flexible as possible. Normally, college campus’ will have a bulletin board that has possible short-term job offers to help out some freshmen who are paying for college out of their pocket.

Academics comes first. Period. Academics will take up a lot of a students first year, second year and so on. This way students should pick if they wish to continue with the college or university, they are currently at… or if they may want to transfer after their sophomore year. Some people opt to transfer to a different university after their academic record has massively improved and now their dream college very well may accept them.

Picking a Major

It goes to be said that students should wait until they are in college to pick a direct concrete major. This way the student will know what classes a readily available for them to take in the first year. Start researching what major would suit the student best. Asking for assistance from family, friends, or the student advisor will help with making a permanent decision. No matter what though, picking a major should not be a decision made overnight, take the time to see what universities have the upper hand and courses available.

What are the 15 Most Asked Scholarship Essay Questions? And How to Answer them Efficiently

K Fisher4 Comments

When it comes to scholarship essays there are several unanswered questions that all students face. Anywhere from what font to use, to is it single/double space, and etc. The questions are a long list but we wanted to sort out a few for you here.

Beforehand, always research what the scholarship foundation is and what their mission statement says. These qualities are a key hint at who they are looking for when selecting receipts for their scholarship award. If someone happens to write down the complete opposite of those values, then it’s easily suspected that, that person will be passed up in pursue of a student who shows more of what the foundation stands for.

If something seems to be unclear or if a student wants to add a different aspect to the essay, contact the email they always leave as “for additional information use this email to ask questions.” Because some scholarship foundations will ignore a scholarship essay if it doesn’t outright answer what they have presented as a question.

Question 1. What format do you use to write an essay?

It’s amazing how we can forget the essay format from high school so quickly, but that’s because a scholarship essay requires a bit more effort. Formats follow the traditional introduction, paragraph body, conclusion… although some essays call for a minimum word count that can easily become lost in the vast experience of writing an essay. So, do not forget about how many words are considered the minimum before turning in the essay.

The traditional essay format goes:

  • standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper
  • A header
  • 1-inch margins all around
  • Times New Roman, size 12 font
  • Title
  • Left Alignment
  • Double-spaced
  • Make indents
  • Introduction
  • Body of the essay
  • Conclusion

Depending on if there is a word limit, some students opt for 5 parts of an essay which is, introduction, 3 body essays, and the conclusion.

Always check if there is a word limit because if there is less than, then the application will be thrown out. But if there is more than the maximum number, students have a better chance at not having their application thrown out.

Question 2. What do you write about?

A lot of students who are applying for scholarships for the first time, have no idea what involves a scholarship essay. They immediately ask, “what do I write about?” It’s simple. The scholarship essay will give a brief call to action statement that the student will need to build upon afterward.

Try not to go too far out of bounds and write about something that doesn’t communicate or relate to the topic that the foundation has provided. Otherwise, the essay could be ignored and that student will be passed up and not receive the scholarship award.

Question 3. What have you contributed to your community?

Students are often asked in their scholarship essays to describe how they have volunteered or contributed to their community within the essay. This way the scholarship committee reviewing essays can see if the individual shows strong leadership skills.

Each applicant should state how they have helped their community in anyway, and why. What does community mean to the student who is applying. This type of teamwork building leadership goes a long way and the scholarship committee wants students to actively share how they intend to change the world by starting with the students on community.

List out everything that you have contributed to your community even if it’s something small. Everything counts.

Question 4. Why have you chosen the university you want to attend?

The big question is why has student chosen a specific university. What does this university hold that this student will gain and has worked so hard to achieve. Students need to explain in detail why the college they have chosen will impact their life and higher education.

Universities have a big pick on which scholarship awards they take and use, be sure that the scholarship you’re applying to, that the university will accept the award amount. Otherwise, shopping around for a different scholarship application will happen and no one wants to lose more time than they already have with researching.

Question 5. Why do you deserve this scholarship?

While students never think this question will be asked, it is. Scholarship committees want to know if a student is sure about receiving a lump sum of tuition funding, so to know that this student is serious. The committee wants to see a cautious student who knows exactly where everything is going to go budget wise. If a student gives off an ill requested answer, they most likely will not receive the scholarship. Be honest and wise with what you write out as a student.

There should be no boasting but only what this scholarship could do to improve your life. It’s not everyday someone wins a scholarship award and shown to exemplify what that foundation stands for. So be thoughtful and truth about how this scholarship award can change your life for the better.

Question 6. Tell a scholarship committee about yourself

Don’t shy away from details when it comes to talking about yourself. A scholarship essay is an opportunity to describe who you are and how, you know yourself. This shows strong character development as well as emotion intelligence.

Share your great and worst qualities, create an equal balance. For instance, quick thinking but naive, or strong willed but terrible at knowing when to slow down and take a breath. These attributes always have a positive and negative side, committees want to see that you’re human. Not a super charged academic who never sleeps.

Question 7. What will you do after graduating college?

A student that knows where they are headed is a great student, but students who give an honest answer about not being sure are equally great students. What you’ll find out is that, scholarship essays are the time to be most honest with yourself and the scholarship committee. They want to know who you are so they can adequately define if you are a fit for their scholarship. No lying or misinformation is allowed.

Being able to be informative but not exactly a concrete solid decision, this means always start off with a “where I want to be in ten years” venture sentence. This way the committee sees you have a vision for your future and a general understanding of where you would like to be in ten years.

Question 8. Why did you select this career?

Explaining why this was the career choice and the study field route a student has taken, can give great insight into what the student is capable of changing. For example, is a student talks about wanting to be a surgeon because he intends to save lives, this can be an indicator that this student could in the near future come up with a new medicine or medical device that ends up being used around the world. Scholarship committees are looking for students who will shape the world into something even better.

Describe your passion for this career field, why this field study has become your destined path. Because the more a student describes why the selected field; they have chosen is the reason for them going to college, the more they will be able to show others why it’s important them.

Question 9. What has been a difficult obstacle you have faced?

Sharing is caring, and when a student shares a difficult part of their life that makes them compatible with everyone else. No one has ever gone through a slick clean life. If student shares their struggles, they show tenacity and strength, which colleges look for in students.

Students who write about their obstacles in life so more problem-solving strengths and colleges in general love that side of human nature. It shows someone that they can go through a difficult time and still be able to come out of it alright.

Question 10. What will you do after receiving this scholarship?

How will a student change after receiving the scholarship they are applying for… more importantly, what will that scholarship gift them in return. A student who writes “money” will probably be turned down because the scholarship committee wants to know that their funding contribution will be put to good use.

Describe in length how to use the reward money to further your education. Even describe why your higher education is important to yourself, your family, and to your community.

Question 11. How will you change the career field institution that you’re studying towards?

This is one of the tougher questions students will face. They have to figure out a way if they haven’t already about how they will enter a career force and be able to change it. For example, if an engineer can effectively find more ways to work with climate change than against it… this is how an individual can change the career field institution they are studying for. Take some time to figure out a solution to contribute.

Also, another great example is that if you’re female and going into engineering. Engineering is not known to have a high female population, but female students have changed how engineering operates with new systematic machines and software programing in recent years.

Choosing a study field that can have a different point of view and evolve with the individual who has chosen that path, is equally a change in that career field for that person.

Question 12. Provide real world experience

Be humble and show who you are, this is what most world-renowned writers do. That’s also what students should do when it comes to scholarship essays. Real world experience can be from working, volunteering, family issues, society issues, mental health, emotional health, or physical health experience.

Only write about your own experience, writing about someone else’s or stealing someone else’s story will be found out and that application will be disregarded.

Question 13. Show compassion

Research online how to write passionately, because the type of adjectives used can completely change the way someone writes. One thing a lot of students don’t know is that committees routinely look for essay’s that are not just a straight forward essay. They want to see creativity and compassion in the writing.

If you’re unsure how to write with compassion, it means to show dignity in all areas of life. Don’t talk about something negatively or with hatred. Share how you would like to help improve the world with what your career field study has shown you in recent years.

Question 14. Show idealism

No student should shy away from writing out their dreams. Instead, write about your goals, ambitions, and ideas you have in the scholarship essay. This shows that the student is an intuitive thinker and problem solver who wishes to change an aspect in a certain career field for the better.

If the scholarship essay permits it, showcase an idea that could be used in the future. Whether it’s an invention, technique, a new study program idea… showing that the ideas you have can be used and you intend to use it… allows the committee to see an ideal thinker. Which ultimately is who they want to end up with the scholarship they are giving out.

Question 15. Show determination and skill

Providing a thorough look at who you are as a person and why you deserve this scholarship is the number one rule for a committee. As the committee goes through various scholarship essays looking for key specific identities that share their qualities, this becomes an ideal candidate for their scholarship. Research the qualities and missions the scholarship foundation has stated on their website, use that as the guideline. Because those are the qualities, they are looking in a recipient for their scholarship. Scholarship foundations will look for the one person who exemplifies the best vision of their own values.