Grants and Scholarships for College

I’ve posted this article for two reasons. First, we are in the graduation season. Second, I hear stories of students and parents giving up on college simply because they can’t afford it. A recent study by Wealthfront adds more bleak news on the rising costs of higher education. In 2036, 18 years from now, four years at a private university will be around $303,000, up from $167,000 today. To get a degree at a public university you'll need about $184,000 in 2036, compared with $101,000 now.

With our volatile economy, who can afford this? It looks so daunting! Well, let me suggest a different perspective using what I know in my past experience in getting funding when it looked improbable, and at times, impossible -- but we got it! It is a larger-scale analogy, but the principles are nearly the same. As a successful former grant writer who secured millions in my career, I'm 100% sure of this fact: It isn’t luck that gets you funding for your project. It isn't lack of opportunities that makes you to miss-out. It isn't even your resources that makes a huge difference. 

It’s all about mindset. Your mindset creates a pattern of gain or loss. There is no "in-between". Everything in the universe either moves towards something or away from something. Nothing stands still. The proper MINDSET changes your excuse from "I don't have enough time and resources," to "I WILL find a way with the little time and resources that I do have." MINDSET prepares you internally and externally for funding that you may not notice, until you actually get the grant and look back to see how it all fell into place. 

Again, using a larger-scale analogy, the organizations who get the financial support are the ones who were persistent and didn't depress each other when times looked bleak. This mental approach is what makes certain nonprofit organizations get bigger and more grants than others. Once an organization gets a few grants, it reinforces the necessary certainty, preparation and positive atmosphere that you will get even more grants. This also explains why the timing of grant awards typically comes in waves. It makes you appreciate the ones you get and remind you how you got them in the first place -- good hard work and positive attitude!

So how does grant writing relate to college Grants and Scholarships?

First, let me the difference between the latter two. Scholarships are given based on desired traits or achievements such as artistic ability, academic accomplishment or involvement in a certain extra-curricular activity. Grants are usually based on need and are available to students based on criteria such as family income. Federal and state government are the main sources of grants. Both grants and scholarships usually have some requirements so you continue to receive funding. 

Second, I think certain tips I got in getting organizational grants can be applied to college grants and scholarships. It works almost the same way on an individual level. 

Tip 1. Don’t Only Apply for the Big Name Scholarships.

If you look at the annual reports of non-profits, I bet you'll find big names like the Gates Foundation or the Clinton Foundation. But you'll also see several names of foundations you never knew about, and they are just as important as the big names. 

This is the same with the funds you need for college. Don't assume you know everything about where the money is. When I applied for graduate study at the New School, it was the height of the New School’s popularity with their faculty winning top award after top award. My friends from Ivy League schools also applied but got rejected. Since I didn’t do undergraduate work at any of those incredibly expensive schools, I didn’t think I’d get in. Then I was shocked when not only did the New School accept me, but they even offered me a huge scholarship that I never knew existed.

Also, just because it isn't a huge scholarship doesn't mean it's not worth the time and effort. Smaller grants are less competitive since they usually have less applicants. Look for scholarships at the community level, such as local businesses (start with your local chamber of commerce), clubs, charities, banks, grocery shops, churches, and organizations (Rotary, Elks, American Legions, etc.). Smaller grants also may have less additional requirements that needs to be met from materials usually required for submission, such a shorter application form, less letters of reference and official transcripts (which usually charges you a fee and take a good deal of time to get).

 Tip 2. Talk to the Right Folks.

If you aren’t satisfied with your high school counselor’s information, set up a time to talk with a college counselor. They could point you to awards by area of interest and major for new students. Of course you should also go to colleges' financial aid office, where financial counselors could direct you to scholarships you don't know about, or that aren't listed anywhere online. Search for scholarships that aren't very competitive by applying for these that are not advertised.

Talk to people in your municipal office and community public centers, such as libraries and civic groups. Let me give another example from my own life. When I graduated from high school, one of the biggest scholarships I got was not publicly advertised. It was from a retired local government official whose family and friends wanted to get to know me on a very close and private level.

Tip 3. Get Others to Help You

With organizations, grant writing is a team project. If you are in an organization that relies solely on your grant writer for all your support, that better be some supernatural grant writer! That means you're putting too much pressure on one individual, and if that person is suddenly gone, this income stream will eventually fall apart.

This is the same idea if you are a student. Everyone needs help in some form or other. Do an honest self-assessment. Maximize your strengths and get assistance for your weaknesses. If you're not into typing but great at talking to people, do that personal outreach part of your scholarship search and ask someone to help with the letter/email writing tasks. You can also switch tasks to keep from getting boring. It also takes off pressure from you and he/she can be more objective.

You should also find a mentor. If you think you don't need one now, you will eventually. Mentors can help you navigate the complicated world of higher education, including where to find financial support to reach your highest potential. They can help develop strategies to keep you fully engaged and prepared to compete for the tough scholarships and grants.

Tip 4. Search Where You Fit

Start with these FREE sites that offer local, regional, and national choices based on application information you give them: Scholarships.com, Fastweb, Unigo, and Scholarshipamerica.

For more specific sites, go to FFA.org which provide scholarship opportunities in certain fields of interest. Also, get to know people in your field of interest, and start with professional trade publications, related organizations or benefactors. For example, here are a few organizations that give scholarships if you want to be a dentist:

American Association for Dental Research: https://aadronline.com/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3569#.U3ujGnZOBow

American Dental Association Foundation: https://www.adafoundation.org/en/how-to-apply/

American Dental Education Association: https://www.adea.org/professional_development/adea_scholarships_awards_fellowships/Pages/ADEAWilliamJGiesFoundationDentalResearchScholarship.aspx

Hispanic Dental Association: https://www.hdassoc.org/hda-foundation/scholarship-program/

Tip 5. Think Long-Term

Clearly you must study harder to get those scholarships for outstanding students with high grades. But that is not the only area you should focus on.  When I was in middle school and high school, all the other teens wanted to "hang out" afterschool and they considered staying after class to do extra-curricular activities as "uncool" or a waste of time. But they didn't see the whole picture. Your chances of winning scholarships goes up the more you present yourself as an active, vibrant, well-rounded person. Also, after-school activities aren't supposed to be a gritty "labor". There are all forms of sports, hobby and recreation scholarships from bowling to Weird scholarships.

Note: Applying for scholarships and grants doesn't stop once you start college. In fact, you stand a better chance winning scholarships after you're already IN college, especially if you participate in clubs and internships to build your resume and network of contacts. Keep applying especially for smaller scholarships. Get involved in a sports team, club or some form of community service. 

This is slightly out of the free funding topic, but if you do need to take out a student loan, be aware that there is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. PSLF allows forgiveness of the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. Anyway, remember that the interest on repayment of your loans is tax-deductible.

There are many reasons why people don’t go to college. Please don’t let money be one of them. Let it be your first education about the “real world” -- there are ways to finance your career. Start developing your research skills today. My parents and family believed the funds were out there, even though I couldn’t see it at the time, and they were right. They taught me to see the results ahead of the actual outcomes. Results come from a constant state of momentum and drive. Start the engine now!

It should be considered a myth that competitive scholarships and grants are meant for only certain people that are entitled to them without effort. Grant Success comes from hard work, but the good news is that it opens the door to more funding opportunities than you may think.

Graduation is a time for beginnings, not endings. Congrats to all you graduates. If you want to go to college, try these tips and many others out there. Don't give up! In the fall, I hope to see your status as "College Student" on LINKEDIN or maybe we'll bump into each other here at Rutgers. Best of Luck!