scholarship essay heading

scholarship essay heading

The importance of scholarships in achieving academic success

1. Introduction

Egloff (474) further explains that funding for education is an investment in the individual as well as society. Studies have proved that good education is correlated with higher income that leads to a higher standard of living as well as positive contributions to society. When funding for education, especially for a student hoping to achieve post-secondary education, it is important to get the most out of what is being paid for. This can be interpreted as saving as much money as possible while securing the best education for the individual. An undergraduate degree is the limiting factor that determines the quality of education an individual has received (474). This entails that in an undergraduate degree, a student should aim to achieve the best possible education in turn for a prosperous career. At this point in consideration, it is ideal for a student to find available funding and gradually release constraint on part-time work in an effort to ensure the most efficient education in preparation for a quality career.

It is important for a student to consider a number of factors when planning to attain academic success. Such factors may include living and studying in a favorable environment, as well as eating good and healthy food. In some cases, careful planning will assist in achieving academic success. Graduating students are becoming more conscious of their career (Egloff, Laura Klein; Farb, Stephen E; Knapp, Arden, 475). The world is becoming much more competitive and it is necessary for a student to go the extra mile in order to ensure a prosperous career. This can involve the student exploring their own school or funding for post-secondary education. Student loans are no longer seen as a feasible way to fund education, and it is a point in which it also no longer interests many people with the increasing demand to keep expectations of the individual as well as their parents. In the case of post-secondary education funding, finding a scholarship would be the most efficient way to successfully secure education for the individual.

2. The impact of scholarships on educational opportunities

The transfer of scholarships to those studying and in need is a means of providing a specific resource so that people from disadvantaged social backgrounds are able to achieve their academic potential. The work of Bourdieu showed how people from different social class backgrounds will have different expectations and aspirations for their education. People from classes with lower economic capital will not expect to progress far in education and will not feel it worth investing time and effort in it. However, academic ability is not confined to a particular social strata and Bourdieu himself suggested that a system of financial assistance, of which the amount and conditions are adjusted to the specific needs of the individual to enable him to come to the end of his course, would be the most effective way to provide desired social mobility. This type of assistance is said to be most effective in raising educational aspirations for it gives the receiver a tangible proof of his worth and a motivation to continue his studies. The effect of finance on underprivileged students can be seen with reference to the types of schools they attend and the help available to students with disabilities. High-quality education at all levels is necessary to develop potential and children with learning disabilities may require a specialized and higher cost education. Without assistance on fees at private schools, a number of potentially able students may be denied the chance of studying in an environment which best facilitates their progression to higher education. Without assistance in the form of additional resources, a disabled student’s learning may be impaired and he may never reach higher education. Evidently, the ability for these students to have educational opportunity and later educational and functional opportunity is dependent on the availability of the resources for their education.

The impact of scholarships on educational opportunities is not merely the result of a transfer of money from one to another, but a major influence on the distribution of opportunity, the process for selection of people with greater merit, and the bearing of the social order. A well-developed scholarship system allows all students with the necessary ability to have access to a good education and to the attainment of their potential. There are three forms of educational opportunity which are affected in different ways. Firstly, functional opportunity, for education provides people with the skills and qualifications that will improve their social position: these may be different for alternative social groups. Secondly, opportunity in education, for there is selection for various types and levels of education and only a proportion of students will progress to higher levels. Thirdly, opportunity for education, for the actual resource to study a course is often difficult to come by: in particular, the finance and funding of postgraduate study is a prohibitive factor.

3. How scholarships contribute to personal and professional growth

2. Better job opportunities. For a student or soon-to-be student, having a fine job placement after completion of studies is likely the main goal in pursuing higher education. According to an interview with a student career advisor at the University of Toronto Mississauga, it was stated that job prospects for new grads in any field are lean. And university or college graduates haven proven no exception during times of economic struggle. In fact, it has been a very stressful time for many new grads. The economy and job market are indeed a hard cycle to break into when graduating from a post-secondary program. Especially with no experience, or perhaps experience but not enough to differentiate from other candidates. This is where internships come into play and allow for a bridge from a student to a new grad to a young professional. Unfortunately, internships are usually low paying or unpaid, and this is where scholarships lessen the burden of both working and attending school to attain career goals. Being awarded a scholarship gives the freedom to opt for an unpaid or low paying internship, with less stress of personal income needed to pay off educational expenses. Employment for graduates that received a grant is higher than those who did not receive a grant. This is likely due to a lesser need to find a job that satisfies monetary needs first, rather than career goals. An easy way to see how scholarships improve job opportunities is to view those that have athletic scholarships and the success rate many of them have in being hired as an athletic coach in a sport at any level of competition in the future.

1. Knowledge and degree attainment. In a study done by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, it was found that a college degree generates $1 million more in earnings over a lifetime. The research also stated that earnings for individuals with a graduate degree are 33% higher than those with a bachelor’s degree. For those who have a degree on this level, professional and managerial positions are a whopping 57% more than those who have no college experience. This just goes to show that those who are seeking a college degree or higher are in pursuit of improving their lives and the lives of their families. Development of leadership skills, independence, and time management are critical to the overall development of an individual in striving to be successful in life. They are also skills that are at a premium level when it comes to what employers are looking for in a potential job candidate. College and graduate students usually acquire these skill sets while attending college away from home. This is not cheap. Learning and developing these skills are costs in themselves, and the fact that scholarships enable students to pursue these skills in a fashion that they may not be able to afford without financial assistance is all the more beneficial. Time management skills are developed when there is a heavy workload of academics combined with extracurricular activities to further develop leadership skills. Exhibit 1

Essentially, merit-based financial aid provides the reason for applying for this scholarship. In hopes of one day paying it forward and helping other students achieve their academic goals.

4. Overcoming financial barriers through scholarships

Cost of education has skyrocketed. The accumulated cost for an individual to go through post-secondary is a really large investment. Most of it will be in the form of student loans with interest. People need to consider whether the quality of education that they will receive is worth the amount of debt they will have to take on. The more debt that you take on, the longer it will take you to be financially independent. This is a big issue because most students want to get a high quality job right after graduating to support themselves. This is extremely difficult to do with a recent grad with a mountain of debt. Debt loads can have long-term effects on an individual. With student loans, you don’t have the option of declaring bankruptcy to erase the debt. The loans can stay with you for a very long time and can even lead to wage garnishments. Increased student debt has led to more graduates living with their parents. It can be very difficult for some individuals to become financially independent after finishing post-secondary due to the debt accumulated during their education.

5. Conclusion

Scholarship is an option for students to study at prestigious universities in this world, and at the same time, they don’t have to spend so much money on it. This type of opportunity is what most students are looking for. Given the chance, the students’ parents also want their children to receive this type of benefit. Not all students are capable enough to study at good universities, whether it is public or private. One main obstruction is the cost. In this case, this is where the scholarship becomes very important for them. If they have the chance to receive the scholarship to study at a good university, their chance to get a good job with good pay is higher. And this is not only for a better future, the society also benefits from it. This is because these people can also contribute something to the society that can be useful for others. This also proves that scholarships can bring changes to a person’s future and the community. With an opportunity to make use of the time, materials, and the chance to study, which is more comfortable, a student can accomplish many things. This success can also encourage others to do the same and achieve the same success as the student. This will eventually increase the level of society.