State Scholarships

If you haven’t already started thinking about, and applying for, scholarships for next year, now is the time. Although many scholarships cater for a national or international audience the abundance of opportunity available at state level should definitely not be ignored. All states and the District of Columbia all carry state specific scholarship opportunities not available at a national level. Some are private and some public so it really pays to research on a state by state basis.

Some States naturally have more scholarship opportunities than others and this is largely dependant on how active community groups are, and whether the dominant state industries support scholarly pursuits. In states with specific industry interests, for example a state strong in IT development, many scholarships are available in courses of study which support that development.Many philanthropic organizations which are local, offer student scholarships to students showing exceptional ability or talent in academics, athletics or the arts.

FAFSA

FAFSA (Federal Application for Student Allowance) are without a doubt the biggest provider of education funding in the United States. Many private and community scholarships request the FAFSA application as part of the process. Many providers find the forms easy to use and fulfilling of all their requirements, they request FAFSA applications purely to simplify the process and not because of an affiliation.

The Information you will Need

When applying for state scholarships, information you will want to keep handy and ready for submission are any references from teachers, coaches, community leaders and employers. Also personal details including certified copies of identification and residency, a résumé, most recent grades and achievements. Keep on hand a personal essay and generic cover and thank you letters which can be modified to the scholarship application.

Beginning the scholarship application process can seem daunting but like everything, being prepared and beginning will put into perspective the task and make the whole thing easier. As always the first step can be the most difficult and from there the process becomes easy and familiar.