Types of Scholarships

Types of scholarships that can help you get a better education

There is no denying the fact that students often back out from a course at a reputed university because of the tuition fees involved in the entire process. However, it is important to consider that with the proper type of scholarship, you can get the required financial support along with a sense of prestige. An accurate scholarship will set your pace right in the road of success. Many a time students think that scholarships are offered only to those who have the most impressive GPAs or the most charming sports skills, but that is certainly not the case.

Universities offer scholarships for all types of scholars. All you need to know is the type of scholarships that'll suit you and which university offer that program.

This article will focus on the various types of scholarships that are granted to the students to ease up the financial pressure of their academic career.

Type of scholarships you can choose from

1. Academic Scholarships

If you're a student with an exceptional academic record, the academic scholarship is meant for you. These scholarships are considered as the high-class merit scholarships that awarded to students who have a brilliant history of academic achievements. The students with impressive and high GPA scores, a record of contribution to public or community services, and an astonishing engagement in the extracurricular activities are often awarded by this scholarship in a university of their choice. These scholarships usually cover the complete tuition fee expenses of a student's degree program and also provide a certain level of honour to the receiving student.

Academic scholarships, because of their nature, can add in a lot to a student's resume which will eventually help him in the professional sector.

2. Average Academic Performace Scholarships

We are well aware of the fact that not every student can be a topper, so are the scholarships going to be out of reach of an average student? Well, the answer is, no. There are numerous scholarship options available at universities to provide financial aid or other benefits to the average hard-working scholars. These scholarships do not focus rigidly on the academic record of the applicants but on their involvement and participant in the community services, the quality of their contest essays, leadership skills, sports abilities, creative qualities, and the standard of their test scores.

Remember that even if your GPA is not 4.0, you can still get help to pay for your college on the basis of your other talents.

3. Athletic or Sports Scholarships

One of the most sort after, highly visible, and fiercely competitive scholarships are the sports scholarships. Students who have passion for a certain kind of sport and the ability to awe the authorities with their skills in that sports activity, they should opt for an athletic scholarship to seek financial support with college payment. An applicant will have to demonstrate a strong athletic background as well when going for this scholarship program. Most of the universities have sports scholarships dedicated to almost every sport ranging from tennis to badminton to gymnastics to yoga to football to golf to swimming and so much more. If you have the most promising athletic skills, then a scholarship in sports can open a new door of opportunities for you.

Your coach or the relevant school officials will be required to nominate you for the athletic scholarship program if you're interested. The competition at the sports side is extremely high because the recruiters are always looking to add exceptional talent to their campus teams, thus if you're thinking to take up a sports scholarship plan and apply as early as possible.

4. Scholarships Dedicated to Minorities

Minority scholarships are a way to achieve exceptional college education for students who fall into the perceived minority group of a country's population. There are multiple minority scholarships available to benefit the college or university life of students. The nature of minority scholarships can either be general or specific depending upon the ethnic requirements of a particular scholarship. Some of these scholarships might be designed to benefit the minority students as a whole while some can focus on a specific ethnic group in particular. Minority scholarships are funded by various corporations, universities, and of course the federal government of a country.

Many a time these scholarships are also sponsored by an individual or associations that aim at expanding the certain areas of the professional sector. These scholarships are usually directed towards scholars with interest in a certain subject such as engineering, mathematics, medicine, etc.

5. Scholarships Designed for Women

Just as we read that there are scholarships that are dedicated to the minority groups of the society, there are various scholarships that are devoted to benefit the female students of a college or university. Women scholarships were created as an effort to advance opportunities for female students as well. Along with the financial help, these scholarships also act as a pathway for women to successfully get into the professional world of business, science and even politics.

The women scholarships are often funded by the corporations or associations that want women to reach new heights in the male-dominated fields or sectors. However, at a later stage, it can be seen that these scholarships might get tied down to certain programs of study. Women should be very sure about the professional field they choose to get appropriate help in paying for the college.

6. Scholarships Based on Creativity

Not all the students have academic talent that can help them to earn a scholarship for getting admission in a college or university of their preference. In such a scenario, their creativity comes to their rescue. There are a large number of creative scholarships available to students who are passionate about art in any sense. The visibility of these scholarships might be less but it's definitely there in many universities and colleges. A student who is applying for a creative scholarship might have to present a sample of his work to be judged by the relevant authorities at the preferred university. The competition for these scholarships is often pretty high.

It is important for a student to know that the art based creative scholarships require a portfolio of the work while music or other performance-based scholarships will require a student to submit a proper audition tape showcasing his talent. The fund for these scholarships is granted by the art colleges themselves, public endowments, and private endowments. Whatever be your artistic field of choice, you'll find a scholarship to apply for and get help with your college expenses.

7. Unorthodox Scholarships

There are many unusual scholarships that are often awarded for the areas ranging from very light-hearted fields to completely unexpected ones. These scholarships are often funded by individuals, businesses, local associations, or national companies. These scholarships are generally very offbeat in nature like a scholarship awarded for the best prom dress designed from the duct tape while on the other side there are scholarships that are devoted to the children of Italian immigrants. These scholarships though weird or downright frivolous provide the much needed financial help to college students.

8. Community Service Scholarships

If you're a person who is passionate about giving back to society, the community service scholarships are a reward that you can enjoy for your responsible and thoughtful deed. A student who has a record of community participation and civic achievements can apply for this scholarship to get help in paying for the tuition fee. There are various study programs that offer a percentage of their funding to the students who participate actively in community groups, activities and other services. The reward of these scholarships might be small or less as compared to the other programs available but even the smallest amount matters when you plan your tuition fee for the college.

9. Military or Army Scholarships

There are many people who invest their time in serving their country. The brave men and women who voluntarily devote their time in the military of their country are the most respected citizens of the nation. Being a part of the military or army should not halt your aspirations of receiving a college or university education. Thus, there are numerous scholarships and grants offered to the service members, veterans, and family members of an army or military personnel. These scholarships are designed to fund the college education of the veterans or their family members irrespective of the route they plan to pursue. Some of the scholarships might cater to the requirements of army servicemembers in general while some may be devoted to a particular branch or term of operation.

Irrespective of the choice you make for your scholarship, remember that there is something for every individual out there. You can look through the various scholarship guides available online to know more about the opportunities that may be open to you. Before you apply for a loan to pursue your education, it is recommended to spend some time researching and applying for the free scholarship funding. With a little effort from your end, you can find a sponsor for your tuition fee regardless of your grades, interests, or ethnic background.