scholarship essay example

scholarship essay example

The Importance of Scholarships in Achieving Academic Success

1. Introduction

Scholarship is a form of financial aid in which the particular candidate receives aid for his or her education from an institution and/or organization. Scholarships are awarded based upon various criteria, which usually reflect the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award. Scholarship money, unlike student loans, does not have to be repaid. For many students, this is the deciding factor on whether or not they will be able to attend a desired college. The issue is that the college education is becoming much more of a necessity in today’s society so high that it has become a burden to many citizens. A scholarship can make a big difference in how much a student needs to work, thus affecting the amount of time they have to study. The higher the grade a student achieves, the more likely the student is to get a grant or scholarship. This means the more academically successful a student is, the less student loans a student will need. It is evident that student loans are a growing problem in this world; in a report from the Institute for Higher Education Policy, it is stated that “Between 1993 and 2004, average cumulative student loan debt for four-year college graduates who borrowed increased 107%.” This is a problem that has troubled students for a long time, so the will for the success of scholarships is more important now than ever. Student loans can affect whether or not the student will be able to purchase a house, car, what level of insurance he or she will get, and even what type of retirement plan he or she can have. Student loans are becoming a heavy burden on students upon completion of their education.

2. Background and Purpose of Scholarships

Secondly, the history and purpose of scholarships can influence a person’s decision to apply or work hard. Essentially, the reasons for offering scholarships are many and varied. One reason students are offered scholarships is because of their performance inside and outside of the classroom. Another reason scholarships are offered is to encourage students to attend college and to relieve financial stress on the parents. In some cases, students may be offered multiple scholarships, often times from various sources, each scholarship having different implications. Understanding the purpose of each scholarship can be very important to the student. For example, a student with an Athletic Scholarship may have been very successful in a particular sport and may choose to compete at a collegiate level. This could mean joining a college team or perhaps an Olympic development team. Now the same student is then offered an Academic Scholarship. This student may choose to forgo the athletic activity in order to focus on studies, due to the fact that the academic scholarship relieved the financial stress from the parents. Finally, scholarship providers and donors have their own varied reasons. Some donors may target specific groups of people, for example, a minority, women, or people with a disability. Often times, scholarship providers may be former alumni of a university and will donate money to that university in hopes to attract more students. Understanding the reasons and purpose for being offered a scholarship can have great influence on a person’s college experience.

3. Benefits of Scholarships for Academic Success

Now that we have established that a scholarship is an award that furthering education and the common benefits of scholarships, we will outline the above benefits in the context of academic success. This will be achieved by evaluating the effects of a scholarship across sections of different academic ability. These were simplified into high academic performers, mid-academic performers, and low academic performers.

Common benefits of scholarships are: 1. Reduce the financial burden of the rising costs of tuition and fees. 2. Allow the student to fully focus on their studies by reducing the need to work part-time. 3. Increase the likelihood of graduating with a smaller amount of student debt. 4. The competitive nature of scholarships increases the recipients’ motivation to remain in academic excellence.

According to an extensive listing of information, scholarships have several direct benefits for the recipients. “A scholarship is an award of access to an institution or a financial aid award for an individual student for the purpose of furthering their education. Scholarships are awarded based on various criteria, which usually reflect the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award. For example, they might be awarded based on academic achievement, financial need, or connection to a certain culture, group, or profession. Students who receive scholarships represent a morally superior cream of the crop.”

4. Overcoming Financial Barriers through Scholarships

As we know, not everyone who has good skills and high zeal to study can continue their education. It is caused by the economic condition of their family. With the high cost of education today, many people give up their dreams for a better future. And also, competition with foreign workers in the industry, in terms of getting a job, can also be a short-term factor to the key success of a person in education. Do you want to see the fact? Out of 100 students who start their studies in elementary school, only 10% of them can enter a university, and probably only 1 or 2 people can get a university degree. Now let’s take a look at people who don’t have enough economic conditions. With a very low chance of getting a job, it will have a big effect on their spirit to continue education. So, without realizing it, they give up and follow the fact I mentioned before. With scholarships, they can get motivation to study because they have the same opportunity as other students.

Scholarships are an essential element in student life for achieving academic success. But what are scholarships? Scholarships are free money to finance education or a sort of economic aid granted to the student. There are many different ways to get scholarships. In other words, it might be called a contest. Not only smart students who have good economic conditions get scholarships, but it can also be followed by everyone who needs it. There are also many different sources for scholarships, such as the government, institutions, or even individuals. With scholarships, people could continue their studies without thinking about the financial burden. This can lift them from poverty to success.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, getting a scholarship, no matter what type, can have a lasting effect on a young person’s life. Whether it means avoiding long-term student loans or taking a step closer to reaching your life’s goals, gaining approval for a scholarship is a great achievement in itself. It demonstrates that you have distinguished yourself from your peers by excelling in your studies or extracurricular activities. This achievement will show that you are not only a student but a scholar who has academic and personal merit. The ability to list the scholarship on your resume will be a great advantage with countless interviews and set you above the other applicants, giving you a great lifelong advantage. This often can result in a good job with a handsome salary. In addition, an employer that funds your education is a huge plus! Always remember a scholarship is not a lottery. It will not come to you by doing nothing. An aggressive attempt to secure a scholarship will prove worthwhile. Even gaining a few hundred dollars from a local club can lead to that tuition-free semester you’ve always wanted. No sum of money is too small to take. Any amount of money that can take funds off of college or university expenses is essentially a scholarship. This can include grants, bursaries, fellowships, and in some cases, an assistantship in teaching classes. So, don’t give up! Any and all money for your education is worthwhile. Dig in and find your hidden treasure.