By Soleil Shah
A scholarship can be a great resource for students applying to college. Scholarships can serve as financial aid, which can help students avoid drowning in student loans debt later in life; and scholarships might even contribute to a student getting to go to their “dream school.” While some scholarships are merit based, meaning they are awarded based on meeting certain academic criteria, other scholarships are need based, and can be awarded based on financial needs. Applying for a scholarship can potentially benefit a student in significant ways, so it is paramount to apply for as many scholarships as one qualifies for as well as applying within the deadline.
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship is one of the most popular scholarships in the state. At the University of Florida (UF), there are over 23,000 Bright Futures Scholars. According to the UF Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, “92% of incoming-in state Freshmen receive the award.” Many students take advantage of this merit-based scholarship. In order to apply to Bright Futures, a student must have a weighted grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.50, have completed the “16-college preparatory courses required for admission to a state university (includes 4 English credits, 4 math credits, 3 natural science, 3 social studies, and 2 world languages),” have completed 100 community service hours, and received an SAT score of 1330 (according to floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org). To apply, students must complete the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) and submit it before graduation.
Some other well- known and well applied scholarships include Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) and Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS). These scholarships have slightly different requirements such as lower minimum GPA’s and less community service hours. Details on the requirements can be found on floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org. The Florida Bright Futures scholarship, if awarded, covers the full cost of tuition to all public and private universities in Florida. Students who receive FAS also receive full tuition coverage, and students who maintain FMS receive 75% tuition coverage.
Ms. Heather Ketterer, counselor at PVHS, recommended that students go to Fastweb.com to search for scholarships. On this site, students can explore many unique and individualistic scholarships that might correspond with a program or college a student wants to attend. Ms. Ketterer and the rest of the counselors are always keeping the seniors up to date on scholarship deadlines through Schoology, as well as encouraging students to utilize Xello. Xello is a helpful platform that assists students organize college essays, take career quizzes, and prepare with future readiness planning. The counselors send all the students’ transcripts to Bright Futures for scholarship consideration when they are eligible. The “majority get the scholarship,” Ketterer stated; Ketterer also said that in most cases the only thing that might prevent a student from receiving Bright Futures is an SAT or ACT score that does not match the requirements.
Students typically do their own research for scholarship opportunities unique to them. Students can apply for “No Essay” scholarships where applications are minimal, or certain contests might award scholarship money as prizes. There are numerous obscure scholarships such as the “A Bold Life” scholarship for students who live courageous and adventurous lives. Or the many “Superfan” scholarships awarded to students who believe they have been impacted by certain celebrity lives. There are even scholarships for students who enjoy sharing their opinions and giving reviews on products and services. Regardless of what financial aid or scholarship program a student applies for, maintaining a good transcript, participating in community events for service hours, and working on a thoughtful college essay will make applying for the scholarships easier. Scholarships can really help when it comes to attending a college, and the financial aid will ease one less pressure off a student when they begin their college journey.
Graphic by Ryder Navarra
