Invariably at this time of year, I am contacted by families who have received college acceptance packages. Suddenly, they realize that the financial aid/scholarship package that the student has been awarded is not as good as they were hoping it would be. Thus, they contact me to seek out additional scholarship opportunities. Students should check with the college guidance office at their high school for local scholarship opportunities. Most schools maintain a file with scholarship applications. Local groups such as the Rotary, Kiwanis, and junior women’s clubs all offer scholarships. The scholarships offered through these organizations are small, but they are helpful in offsetting personal expenses and the cost of books.
In addition, students can check out the scholarship competitions available at
finaid.org
fastweb.org
Students are asked to enter their academic information and personal interests, and a list of scholarships that match their profile is generated. Some of these can be $1,000.00 or more. The problem with these scholarships is that they draw a much larger, national pool of applicants. Therefore, the chance of actually winning these scholarships is much less than the local scholarships.
Families often ask, “But how do we find a larger scholarship – one that pays one-half the cost of tuition?” The most lucrative scholarships are awarded to students by colleges and universities. These scholarships are based on academic merit, athletic skill, or special talents. They range anywhere from several hundred dollars to the full cost of attendance. Unfortunately for families with students who are in the spring of their senior year, not all colleges offer merit scholarships, and the college the student has chosen to attend may not be one of those.
Early planning is the key to finding the best scholarships. If scholarships are a priority, students must incorporate this factor when they begin their college search. Finding a good scholarship is dependent upon finding the right college match. There are many wonderful colleges and universities that offer merit scholarships. You need to look for colleges that match the academic and personal profile of the student, which also offer scholarships. With over 3,000 4-year colleges, the opportunities are abundant. But you need to start investigating when you first look at colleges, not after you file the FAFSA and have received your financial package.
College admission professionals continually stress the importance of making the right college match. With a good match, the student will have a successful and happy college career. An important by-product of a good match is a more attractive scholarship package. Understanding how a student’s strengths and talents match up to a college’s profile is the key element to making this match and obtaining the most scholarship dollars.
© Copyright November, 2025
Northcoast Educational Consulting
