Applying for scholarships can be frustrating and time-consuming, and may not seem worth it if you don’t see any results. It’s true that many scholarships require quite a bit of effort, but you may reap great rewards if you have the time and energy to apply. Luckily, if you’re pressed for time, StudentAwards.com can also help you find many alternatives to essay-based scholarships.
1. Contests, Surveys and Draws
There are tons of opportunities for students to win money for school through contests and draws. These are easy to apply for and don’t usually have strict eligibility criteria. The only downside is that, because they require a minimal amount of effort for a big reward, lots of people enter to win. But keep in mind that there’s always a winner, and it could be you. StudentAwards.com enters students into draws for registering with the site, for filling out surveys, and for participating in different contests throughout the year. You can also find other StudentAwards contests by visiting your personalized list of awards.
2. Membership Awards
Another alternative is to look for any awards that you might be eligible for simply by belonging to a certain group. You may have a part-time job with a company that offers scholarships for employees, or you may be eligible for an award through your parents’ jobs. There may be awards for members of your church, your community group, your bank, or a club that you or your parents belong to. There’s usually a lot less competition for these awards because they have quite narrow eligibility criteria.
3. Essay-Based Scholarships
Essay-based scholarships are still a good option, but you should only apply for an award if you actually have an interest in the subject matter. So, be selective! Your passion or disinterest will be reflected in your writing. All too often students think that they’ll have a chance of winning simply by writing a few sentences without really answering the question. Your odds of winning will be much higher if you do your best to answer one scholarship’s questions well instead of applying for ten scholarships without making an effort.
StudentAwards matches students to scholarships and cash prizes. Not a member yet? Register now. It’s FREE, and it only takes 10 minutes.