Even with the May 1 deadline for college decisions come and gone, many students may still be undecided about which school to attend, or they may have given up after a botched FAFSA rollout and other problems securing financial aid.
But education experts want students and families to know, that it isn’t too late to get scholarships or even apply to a school to attend this fall.
Students have access to 1.7 million private scholarships and fellowships whose total value tops $7.4 billion, according to the independent nonprofit foundation Educationdata.org. Some applications for that funding require essays and academic or athletic achievement. But many don’t. Some take as few as two minutes to complete, with a chance to win as much as $25,000. Scholarships are also gifts and don’t have to be repaid.
“This is important both from an emotional standpoint and a practical, financial standpoint,” said James Lewis, president of the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), a private foundation that works as a nonprofit to honor high-achieving students. “With the FAFSA delays and confusion, millions of young people feel helpless," he said, "But there is one area where they can take control and that’s applying for scholarships.”
FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Who can apply for scholarships?
Anyone.
“Scholarships are available on a year-round basis and they’re not just for high school seniors – students of all grades and ages can apply,” Lewis said, noting college or graduate school students can also apply. “There’s literally a scholarship for everyone.”
Merit-based scholarships may require you to meet or exceed certain standards set by the scholarship giver. Others may be needs-based. Many are geared toward specific groups of people: women; graduate students; where you or your parent work; military families; athletes, minorities; community service; music; and religious organizations.
Where can I find scholarships?
Everywhere.
“We generally start by suggesting students begin at home in their local communities,” Lewis said. “There, many business organizations and corporations provide scholarships. At the local level, there are also scholarships for virtually any extracurricular activity, from sports and dance to theater and STEM clubs.”
The Department of Education and NSHSS also offer suggestions and resources. Specific sites like StudentScholarships.org, Going Merry by Earnest, Niche, and Scholly by Sallie Mae list scholarships.
Can I get a scholarship in time for school this fall?
Scholarship notifications vary widely, but most take one to three months, Lewis said.