I go to a small school with about 230 students in northeast Washington. I’m in tenth grade, and I feel like it’s smart to start looking for scholarships now instead of waiting. Does being from a small school make it easier, harder, or does it not really matter?
My son went to a small school, so I can share what we learned.
Nolan said:
My son went to a small school, so I can share what we learned.
He graduated with a class of 30 in a town of less than 2,500 people. There were 19 local scholarships available, and he qualified for 13 of them. He won 6. Another student also won 6, and they were the top winners just because not many kids applied. The total amount wasn’t huge, just a few thousand, but every bit helps.
Nolan said:
My son went to a small school, so I can share what we learned.
Where he really found success was with regional scholarships that covered multiple counties. One gave him $16,000. He also got scholarships through our utility company—two from our phone/internet provider, including one for $5,000 because they’re part of a rural association.
Nolan said:
My son went to a small school, so I can share what we learned.
He won two state-level scholarships and another one through a professional group related to his major. Out of over 85 applications, he won 14 scholarships in total.
Nolan said:
My son went to a small school, so I can share what we learned.
There may be fewer local scholarships in small schools, but fewer students apply, so your chances can be better. You just need to look beyond your town and be creative. A big part of my son’s essay was about growing up with fewer opportunities in a rural area and how he worked to overcome that.
Nolan said:
My son went to a small school, so I can share what we learned.
If money is a concern, community college might be worth considering. My son is paying about $15,000 a year for tuition, dorm, food, and books at a community college, which will save him over $30,000 compared to going straight to a university. Plus, he has guaranteed acceptance to transfer and even gets a transfer scholarship. Just make sure your credits transfer properly.
From what I’ve seen, it’s actually easier. A lot of students don’t even apply, so the competition is low.
Ellis said:
From what I’ve seen, it’s actually easier. A lot of students don’t even apply, so the competition is low.
My sister is a senior at a small school, and she was one of only three students who applied for most of the scholarships. She ended up winning several just because there weren’t many others competing for them.
Ellis said:
From what I’ve seen, it’s actually easier. A lot of students don’t even apply, so the competition is low.
I struggled to pay for college myself, but honestly, I never even tried applying for scholarships when I had the chance. Looking back, I wish I had.