My Dad Thinks I'm Better at This Than I Am… Need Some Advice

Seeking Advise
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My parents are divorced, and I’ve lived with my mom most of my life. Lately, my dad’s been trying to get more involved now that I’m about to graduate and apply to colleges. I actually got into my top-choice school, which is awesome! But here’s the thing… my dad thinks I can get scholarships to pay for it like my sister did.

My sister’s in nursing school and got a bunch of scholarships, so she’s graduating debt-free. My dad keeps talking about her achievements and expects me to do the same. I’ve been applying, trust me, but I’m just an average student.

I have a 3.3 GPA and got a 24 on the ACT, which isn’t exactly impressive when it comes to scholarships. But my essay must have been good enough because I got into my top-choice school.

I do have some stuff going for me, though. I’ve done a lot of community service, was part of a competitive youth leadership program at the Humane Society, and I’m a tutor. I’m also the editor-in-chief of a youth magazine and started a STEM club at my school.

I even managed to raise the money to attend a Global Leadership Adventures program in South Africa last summer. It was mainly educational, focused on wildlife conservation, and I got service hours for it. So yeah, I have some unique experiences, but I still feel pretty average overall.

I’m also low-income and the first in my family to go to college, so I know those things can help. But I just don’t know how to find scholarships that fit me. I don’t want to let my dad down, even if getting 10+ scholarships seems impossible. Any tips would be great. :slight_smile: I just want to give it my best shot.

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It’s all about telling your story. You’ve got to make them see why you’re unique.

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Tracy said:
It’s all about telling your story. You’ve got to make them see why you’re unique.

Are there any good ones for transfer students like me?

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Tracy said:
It’s all about telling your story. You’ve got to make them see why you’re unique.

Do you know any good resources for learning how to write a great scholarship essay?

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Milo said:

Tracy said:
It’s all about telling your story. You’ve got to make them see why you’re unique.

Do you know any good resources for learning how to write a great scholarship essay?

I’d recommend College Essay Essentials by Ethan Sawyer. It’s about writing college essays, but the advice applies to scholarship essays too.

You have a lot of strengths. Don’t underestimate yourself. Your experiences are worth a lot if you can write about them well. My son once got a scholarship with a leadership essay about being a volleyball manager. He stepped up to help a coach who didn’t even know how to play volleyball and ended up learning how to coach the team. It was a small part of his life, but he wrote a powerful essay about his challenges, what he learned, and how it changed him.

Scholarships aren’t just about grades or scores. They’re about showing who you are and what makes you stand out. Keep that in mind!