sample scholarship essay

sample scholarship essay

The Importance of Scholarships in Education

1. Introduction

A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further their education. Scholarships are awarded based upon various criteria, such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, financial need, among others. Today, the most common scholarships are awards based on the student’s academic or athletic performance. Scholarships provide students with a much-needed financial boost to further their education. Even small scholarships can help students pay for books, room and board, fees and of course, tuition. Tuition for a college education is on the rise, and with the cost of education increasing, many students may not pursue higher education. Whether it be community college, a four-year university, or graduate school, tuition costs are on the rise, making it harder for students to further their education. Tuition is only an estimate of the true cost of education. Books and fees are very costly, and most students need to live on-campus or off-campus. Scholarships can be the deciding factor for a student to enter an institution, or complete the degree with minimal debt. Higher education is extremely valuable, and scholarships provide students with this value, and give them an opportunity to shine. At times, students can be successful, but must halt education for a period of time and join the work force. Scholarships are a great opportunity for these students to return to school and further their career. Evidence is conclusive that higher levels of education are associated with higher incomes. If there are no students in the world, what will become of our economy? There will be many students twenty years from now who lack the proper education today. These students are the future, and the knowledge we instill upon them will further society as a whole. Life is about learning, and knowledge is a powerful tool. Scholarships are a great learning incentive for all students, and they allow students to strive for academic achievements. Today’s scholarships are a wise investment in our future.

2. Financial Barriers to Education

There are various financial barriers that negatively impact both access to and completion of higher education. One of the primary reasons that individuals are unable to further their education is because they come from low income families. These individuals are often discouraged from higher education by parents and peers who feel that the cost of tuition and other expenses are far too great. For these individuals, the worry isn’t just about the present cost of tuition, but also the future costs and debt that will be accrued. Because loans are so widely encouraged as a means to offset costs of college, its debt can be a considerable burden to students for many years post-graduation. Another financial barrier is the fact that full-time post-secondary students are often unable to continue full-time employment, which results in a considerable loss of potential income. This income is especially important for students who are living independently but require financial aid from parents. If they are claimed as dependents on parents’ tax returns, they may be ineligible for government aid in the form of grants, which are not required to be repaid.

3. Scholarships as a Solution

3. Scholarships are the ideal solution to the accessibility issue as they allow outstanding students from poor family backgrounds to access education without the burden of tuition fees. Considering that yearly fees for an undergraduate studying medicine at NUS can cost between $8000 and $9000, often with the recent increase in tuition fees, obtaining a degree without any loans seems an impossible task. This is made even more difficult when taking into account the cost of living in Singapore. With scholarships offered by the government and external organizations, students will be relieved of the financial obligations of tuition fees and can be given additional help with monthly expenses. An example would be the NUS undergraduate financial aid scheme which educates students to apply for loans and bursaries. Considering that the availability of the loan does not carry bad interest rates, scholarships are a better alternative.

2. Scholarships act as a motivating factor for students to excel in their studies. This is a safeguard to ensure high standards of academic performance are kept and that the scholarship money is given to deserving students.

1. Introduction to scholarships: Scholarships are a glamourized incentive for hard work, not charity or bursary. They enable students to taste financial independence and encourage academic focus. Money is given on the basis of grades, allowing good students from poor family backgrounds to escape poverty and pursue education without worries of bad loans. However, it is not true that scholarships allow education without compromising quality, especially since NUS fees have increased. Compared to the cost of living, scholarships do not exempt students from work.

4. Impact of Scholarships on Students

The scholarship enables talented students to continue their education. They could come from lower income family groups and may find it hard to obtain a loan for their education. A scholarship is the only way to help them realize their potential. For bright students from poor family groups, the possibility to get a scholarship is a golden chance that should not be wasted. Hidayah (2000) stated that the need for financial aid for students to further their education has been fairly concerning. The reality that education in Malaysia is getting costly has made parents worry about their children’s education. Various fees like registration, library fees, tuition fees, accommodation fees, and monthly expenses have made education seem impossible to be reached. Numerous students feel that a scholarship is a stepping-stone for the students to concentrate on their studies. Students would not need to over concern about the financial problems. It is commonly known that the state of mind of a student who is under financial problems would usually be worried and stressed and will influence their concentration in education. This is because the student is constantly worried about the source of income for themselves or their families. A study made by Stanley et al. (2012) has proved that financial problems will have negative impacts on the students who will feel stressed and pressured. This will affect their academic results with the reduction in grade point averages (CGPA). At the same time, students may also choose to work while studying to alleviate their financial problems. This mental condition, working, and financial problem is something that affects the student’s education. The students will also have to help ease the burden of their parents by reducing their parents’ cost for their education. In fact, they spend less time on their studies and reduce their class attendance. This is an early sign of termination in their education due to financial problems. A research by Mehran, Nasir, and Pari (2011) has proven that between 1 to 15% of students have dropped out of further education due to the high education costs. This anxiety in students can be avoided if students acquire appropriate financial aid for their education such as a scholarship.

5. Conclusion

State scholarships are an important tool for the state to make available for students. Unlike loans, they do not have to be repaid. A scholarship is a one-time award of money that is most often merit-based or restricted to a specific course of study. While the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference. Normally, an athletic “scholarship” is actually a financial award in the form of a full or partial grant-in-aid rather than a traditional scholarship. So why are scholarships important and what are they and how do they help the student. Defined by the Encarta dictionary, a scholarship is a financial aid provided to a student on the basis of academic achievement. The most common scholarships are awarded on the basis of achieving academic goals. At times, a student might receive a scholarship because the recorded FASFA Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is low. This makes a student eligible to receive a scholarship due to financial need. A student might also receive a scholarship due to extracurricular or volunteer work. In society today, an education is something that is no longer an option or privilege, but rather a necessity. Various factors in many students’ lives such as tuition increases, pulling out student loans or not having enough time to study because many students are working to pay their bills can all have an effect on whether or not a student can finish their degree. This saddens me so much when I encounter an academically inclined student who is not attending a college or university merely because their financial status. Too many times do I hear “I’m not going to college because we can’t afford it” when I know student and his or her family is struggling to make ends meet. These are the types of students that need to be encouraged to further their education and earn a degree. By offering scholarships to these students, it is an incentive for them to keep up the good work, continue to strive for a higher education, and achieve their degree. This can also have long-term effects where a student may be motivated to support a family to get out of a financial hole similar to the one he/she experienced. With a scholarship, a student has less to worry about in terms of finances and can focus more on the coursework. The entire essay is about the importance of state scholarships. In order for Florida to have an educated workforce and an asset to the economy, these students can be supported by state scholarships should not be overlooked. Ideally, it would be great if we could offer a scholarship to everyone, but because that is not feasible, a great starting point would be to increase funding. High school students planning to further their education should also be made aware of scholarship opportunities and the requirements. By meeting the requirements, most students can become eligible for the Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) and Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) awards, which are merit-based and can earn different award amounts. Another important point is reward amount. Considering the increasing college tuition, as of now FAS and FMS funds are a great help but without proper funding might be devalued in the future. These are solid investments for the student’s future and the state economy. All in all, our future generations are the ones who will benefit from a more educated society and this starts by offering them the tools and belief that they can reach their goals. This essay has analyzed the various types of state scholarships, how they help the student, and have provided reasons why they are important to the state of Florida.