Full Ride Scholarships
Almost all students would like to receive a full ride scholarship to attend their desired college or university. A full ride scholarship is one that pays all your expenses, such as tuition and in some cases even room and board, so that you can get your education without spending a cent.
Full ride scholarships do exist but unfortunately it is unlikely that you will be awarded one if you are an average, or even better than average student. Complete full ride scholarship packages are incredibly competitive and are usually given to star athletes and those who have displayed extraordinary academic performance, however most students do not meet these criteria.
If you, like most other students, do not measure up to these standards, do not despair. There are many innovative, average students who found ways to completely pay for their education through getting a multitude of smaller scholarships and taking other actions. These students created their own "full ride" through college and you can too, here are some ways to make it happen:
Compromise on Your SchoolYou may not want to hear this but one of the easiest ways you can get your education paid for in full is to choose the right school. You may have spent the greater part of high school dreaming about the Ivy League and graduating from Harvard or Yale, but unless you are an exceptional student one of these types of schools is unlikely to award you any major scholarships. However, if you compromise and attend a state school, you will stand out more relative to the rest of the student body. Therefore, the school is much more likely to award you some of the most coveted scholarships. You should also most definitely consider community colleges; you can easily transfer to a university from most community colleges after two years and the tuition is a fraction of the cost of a university education.
If attending the school you have always dreamed about is on the top of your priority list then by all means go for it. However, if you are concerned about finances and want to graduate with as little debt as possible (factors you should at least weigh into your decision making), consider all your options.
Apply to Many ScholarshipsOne of the best strategies students can use to have their education fully paid is to apply to as many quality scholarships as possible. If you are an average to good student it is unlikely that a college or private program will hand you one complete scholarship that pays your way entirely. However, if you actively seek out and are awarded several smaller scholarships you have a good chance at getting a large portion - if not all - of your college expenses paid for.
Part of being successful at this is to apply to scholarships early and to apply to quality scholarships. Quality scholarships are the ones that you are most qualified for and have the best shot at winning, not necessarily the ones that offer the most money.
Check with the GovernmentCertain states have very lucrative scholarship programs, which you should thoroughly explore. For instance, Florida has their "Bright Futures Scholarships" which pays for 75 to 100 percent of its recipients' tuition. It is not too hard to get this scholarship either; students need to only maintain a B average, have decent SAT scores and apply online. If you meet the minimum requirements you are guaranteed to get the scholarship and millions of students have done so since the program was instituted in 1997. Check with your state's department of education for more information.
The federal government has some excellent programs that award grants to students with significant financial need. Grants are not the exact same as scholarships - as scholarships are usually awarded based on merit - but grants are free money that you'll never have to repay. Go and speak with your financial aid counselor to see which grant programs you may qualify for and then fill out the Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply.
Having your entire college education paid for with scholarships is not an easy feat, but not impossible by any means. Accomplishing this requires an average to good academic record, research and planning and most of all hard work. However, graduating debt free or very near to it should make it all worthwhile.
Article ReferencesBright Futures Scholarships
http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/bf/
US Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml
Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA)
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
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