As a first-generation college student and the oldest in my family, I don’t have anyone to guide me. I’ve been accepted to five affordable colleges for accounting, and while I have decent grades and GPA, my ACT score is on the lower side. I plan to retake it in October, but I just don’t know where to start. I really need a mentor. Coming from a lower-income family, I believe I’ll be eligible for financial aid, but I’m unsure about the scholarship process.
Sign up for MyScholarshipCentral and Scholarship360. You can enter your information, and they’ll match you with scholarships you’re specifically eligible for.
The TRiO program is designed for students like you. They’re like supercharged advisors, helping first-gen students navigate college. No matter which school you choose, be sure to apply to their TRiO program. It’s a federally funded initiative at most colleges, and it may go by different names, but it typically falls under the TRiO umbrella.
My son had some success with scholarships, and here are some of my recommendations. Keep in mind that while some of these are databases, they vary widely. Everything listed is something I personally used for my son.
I don’t like Bold or ScholarshipOwl, and my son rarely pursued no-essay scholarships.
Here are my favorites:
- Scholarships.com
- Scholarship360
- Fastweb
- Scholarship America
- Kaleidoscope
- JLV Counseling Scholarships
- Discover (they have a huge list)
- Going Merry
- TUN Scholarships
Additionally, Monica Matthews sends out a monthly list via email and has an excellent ebook to guide you through the process. You can also reach out to Dave the Scholarship Coach at Scholarship GPS; he offers a daily scholarship list, does essay reviews, and is creating a fantastic video course.
Don’t forget to check professional organizations related to your major. They often provide significant discounts to students and many times have scholarships exclusive to members. My son won one of these, which also offered him mentorship, networking opportunities, and support navigating college for two years.
Talk to your high school guidance counselor. My son’s counselor had a website full of links to various scholarships. Also, check your local newspaper, your bank (or your parents’), and your job (or your parents’) for scholarship opportunities. Once you’ve selected a college, make sure to look for a scholarship section on their website as well. My son did this and was able to secure a scholarship for his major.
Begin by reaching out to the financial aid offices at the colleges where you’ve been accepted for guidance. Utilize scholarship search engines and connect with local community organizations for additional opportunities. Also, consider seeking mentorship from school counselors or participating in online forums. Hope that helps!