college scholarship essay

college scholarship essay

The Importance of College Scholarships

1. Introduction

Every year, high school students prepare for the future by applying to colleges. An important part of the application process is writing a personal essay, which should always include a line about the cost of tuition and the student’s need for a scholarship. This does not go unnoticed, considering the fact that the average price for tuition and room and board at public four-year institutions in the 2003-2004 academic year was $10,636, up $449 or 4.4 percent from the previous year. It gets more intense when that $449 keeps increasing. College is more expensive and more important than ever, yet a startling number of students are not going to college simply because they cannot afford it. What many of these students do not realize is that in some ways college can be more affordable than ever. This is due to money in the form of scholarships being more readily available than ever. Nevertheless, the idea of obtaining a college scholarship still has an ambiguous undertone to it. As a result, students question the importance of scholarships in the college circuit. This paper tells those students why college scholarships are important and how they can attain them.

2. Financial Benefits of College Scholarships

When college is in the future of a student, the idea of a college scholarship is an enticing prospect. With the various types of scholarships available, each with its own specific value of aid, there can often be confusion on the true financial benefits of college scholarships. Scholarships from organizations such as schools, professional associations, corporations, and non-profit foundations are a primary source of financial aid which do not have to be repaid and can make up the difference for a student who would not have been able to attend college without financial assistance. As Michael S. McPherson and Morton Owen Schapiro explained in “The Student Aid Game,” these scholarships have a substantial impact on the college choice in question as they make a more expensive college, often the more attractive choice. With college costs increasing, and an unstable job market that a necessary tool, such as more education to gain career experience, there is nothing more beneficial than free money. Free tuition where available is the most valuable free money and the potential for a scholarship to a student athlete at a NCAA Division I school can be an extra one or two semesters of free tuition. High school students will often turn down the more expensive college for the cheaper college if they feel they do not have enough money. As stated by David Fletcher, a former college coach at the University of California, Santa Barbara, “The educational system therefore now forces foreigners to subsidize American consumers … unless the biggest brain drain in the history of the modern world is considered an act of charity on foreigners.” Considering the gap between the value of what students will pay for tuition, and the potential earnings for a degree in the future, free money aiming to relieve student financial debts has a greater importance as which it had been offered. Often Student Loans are an unpleasant alternative to student who does not have the necessary funds and no matter how small the debt, the feeling of having to pay off anything can be a burden. Dr. Bruce Hammond of the College of New Jersey provided an example of a professor he knew who said everyone can use 50 cents. Taking this into perspective and there are students who will spend a good portion of their college years doing odd jobs to preserve any amount of money, which is worth more than the value of the job. In the worst case scenario, a student has already experienced taking too many loans only to withdraw from school. Whether it’s a four year or two year college, the possibility of losing an athletic scholarship or any scholarship for that matter can leave students in a detrimental situation. It is an arguable fact that Division I and II colleges offer a more athlete friendly academic environment and a better chance of graduating. Duane Theobald and Mark J. Cianca noted that “A study done by NCAA member colleges and universities had shown that athletic participants graduate at a higher rate than non-athletes or even non-participant students in the general student body.” The same study also showed that Division I and II colleges were offering more athletic scholarship opportunities to two year college transfer students. Inherent benefits of these athletic scholarships, a student may find a greater desire to seek a better education and diploma than that of a professional sports career. With an associate degree earner making on an average the same wage as a high school graduate, on a two year investment toward a bachelor’s degree a student can keep up to four years of athletic money. The recently changing landscape of college athletic conferences will also now provide more scholarship opportunities as NCAA has approved a measure that will permit Division II conference to add first-time and one-time transfer scholarships to the already existing athletic aid award limit. For many college students, the best financial benefit of a college scholarship is to keep from getting a job.

3. Academic and Career Advantages of College Scholarships

Students who have recognized achievement in both academic and non-academic areas should apply for scholarships. This is because skills learnt will help one acquire self-assessment and self-definition. Volunteering in community services will teach problem-solving skills, planning skills, and organizational skills. They are very useful in the working world. Employers are looking for employees who are proactive in taking up tasks without needing to be asked. These skills will definitely put someone in a better position than other potential employees who do not have these skills. Time management and discipline is another skill that scholarship holders would have trained themselves on. Balancing studies and co-curricular activities may be tough but it has definitely prepared someone finding a quick job during the long college holidays. The jobs may be something less but it teaches someone on working responsibilities and earnings from hard work. Scholarship holders are prepared to take up work anywhere just to lessen their parents’ burden on their college expenditures. These students are definitely one step ahead compared to other students. Their experiences in facing tough and unfamiliar situations have done nothing but mould them to be more confident and independent.

4. Overcoming Obstacles with College Scholarships

Another group that is underrepresented in college is students with disabilities. A recent study of college freshmen with disabilities found that only 20% of them attended a four-year college, and 37% of those who did not enroll indicated it was because they could not afford it. Yet, there are many scholarships available for students with disabilities; they can be found through charitable foundations, private companies, or specific colleges and universities. These scholarships can offer everything from tuition to health coverage, making a college degree a reality for these students.

Minority students can gain from scholarships which are dedicated to increasing the representation of underprivileged groups at colleges and universities. Such scholarships are frequently aimed at the nation’s swiftest growing populations, which studies show are also the least likely to attend college. For instance, Hispanics now make up more than 11% of the nation’s high school graduates, but only 6% of the undergraduates at the most competitive universities. With businesses, states, and the federal government also offering scholarships to a vast number of underprivileged students, there are many resources available to help these students earn a degree.

Pushing past the obstacles and achieving a college degree has never been easy. That is, low-income students, even when they have strong grade point averages and standardized test scores, still tend to be underrepresented at the most competitive colleges. To overcome this disadvantage, these students can find college scholarships.

5. Conclusion

College scholarships are essential, as they serve as the only way most students would be able to go to college. With the various ways to obtain a scholarship, many students and parents are not even aware that they exist. It is important that one research scholarship availability through the financial aid office, local community groups, corporate businesses, minority scholarship programs, and the colleges to which they are applying. The possibilities are endless for those seeking scholarships and with the persuasive essays, letters of recommendation, and the good use of their talents, the money is there. I am currently a beneficiary of four college scholarships and I can tell you that without them, I would not be able to attend Michigan State University. Don’t set yourself up for failure with an excess of student loans that may hinder your ability to buy a home, car, or start a family in the future. Tuition prices are ever-increasing and through college scholarships, the power of free money is the best way to avoid student loans or pay off loans in the future. Studies have shown that students who work a job during college are more likely to drop out of school, as they are carrying the transition of long hours from work to the college level homework. College scholarships have helped so many individuals and studies have shown that individuals who have earned a college degree make more money in the long run. Don’t let the costs of college deter you from possibly achieving the most prosperous life for you and your family. Do the research on college scholarships and make the best of your future.