The scholarship search and application process is a pretty big job as is, and for many students, it can be tempting to only apply to scholarships that are easy and require a simple application. Unfortunately, thousands of other students are thinking the same thing — making the competition levels much higher.
While it might take more time and work, there are real benefits to applying for scholarships that may take more effort. Here are three reasons to add some high-effort scholarships to your list.
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1. Fewer students will likely apply. In the midst of looking for colleges, filling out the FAFSA and other financial aid forms, as well as applying to scholarships, many students will take the easy road and pass up scholarships that might require an essay, letters of recommendation or other materials. This means that there are better chances for students who do choose to apply to these scholarships to win.
High-effort scholarships can also be aimed at students residing in a certain area or those with specific talents or interests. For example, the F. Lammot Belin Arts Scholarship is for student artists who reside in northern Pennsylvania and requires applicants to submit letters of recommendation and a detailed proposal for their use of the scholarship.
Due to these specific requirements, the pool of eligible applicants will be small. Because the time commitment to apply narrows the pool even further, those who do make the effort will have a great chance at winning the prize of up to $12,000.
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2. The financial awards are often larger than many “easy” scholarships. For high-effort scholarships, your hard work is usually recognized with big rewards because scholarship providers want to make your time worth the investment.
The Margaret Derwin Scholarship — which involves two selection committees — is one example of a scholarship that may have a more complex application process, but high school students who are selected receive up to $5,000 for a national or overseas summer community service program and up to $25,000 for college tuition each year.
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3. Many offer additional support or resources to their winners. These time-intensive scholarships do offer great financial awards, but for many, there are additional perks that come along with winning. For example, the College Bound Opportunities mentoring and scholarship program for students in four schools in the northern Chicago suburbs requires essay questions, recommendations and financial information in the application process.
However, those who are selected not only receive an average award of $16,000 for tuition, but scholars receive extensive support through a mentorship program that supports them from high school through college and into the workforce.
The Simon Scholars Program for students at certain high schools in Southern California also offers similar financial support and mentorship.
Other scholarships might offer additional resources like laptop computers and funding for internships and study abroad, while others may also help with job placement after college.
A little extra work can go a long way in increasing your chances to win a scholarship. Don’t shy away from opportunities that may take more time and effort — take advantage of the many other students who will pass on these great opportunities.
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3 Reasons to Apply to High-Effort, High-Dollar Scholarships originally appeared on usnews.com
