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Help! Where do I find Scholarships?

Every year, students ask me for help finding scholarships. Sadly, there is misguided marketing around how easy it is to win scholarships. Part of this stems from the huge discounts less competitive private colleges use to encourage students to enroll. Colleges know that if they offer a named scholarship (e.g., Presidential), the family will see it as prestigious, even though the net cost may still be high.


True Story: My daughter was awarded over two million dollars in scholarships because she applied to 24 performing arts (audition-based) colleges with a relatively strong academic profile. Every college offered her a discount (think Kohl's coupon) because many less selective private colleges inflate their prices and provide discounts in the form of a scholarship to students they want to enroll to meet their institutional priorities. Some offer discounts to all students.


In North Carolina, the best "scholarship" is often in-state tuition. Once a student leaves our state or chooses a private college, costs tend to go up.


NC In-State = Relatively Low Cost, but not a lot of Merit Scholarships

North Carolina public universities have a relatively low cost of attendance compared to many states, but they also don’t award much merit aid beyond the big-name, uber-selective scholarships:

  • Morehead-Cain/Robertson (UNC Chapel Hill)

  • Park Scholars (NC State)

  • Levine Scholars (UNC Charlotte)

  • Brinkley-Lane (East Carolina)

These are incredibly competitive—think our brightest and most accomplished students. If you are one of these students, research and apply early. They tend to have extensive applications with multiple essays and often an interview.


Additionally, if you’re cost-conscious, check out the NC Promise schools in the NC Promise – UNC System, where tuition is $500 per semester for instate students:

  • Western Carolina University (WCU)

  • UNC Pembroke (UNCP)

  • Fayetteville State (FSU)

  • Elizabeth City State (ECSU)


    Other affordable options include UNC Greensboro, which offers some merit aid, and Appalachian State, which tends to be less expensive than UNC or NCSU.


Tips for reducing college costs:

  • Create a balanced college list.

    • Include in-state public options that are affordable even without scholarships.

    • Consider colleges where the student is in the top 15% of the applicant pool.

      • Some schools award merit scholarships based on GPA/test scores.

  • Run net price calculators on college websites. They’re a directional starting point, not a guarantee. Some are old and costs are going up.

  • Understand where the money comes from: Over 93% of scholarships come from colleges, not outside organizations. 

  • Note: Less selective private colleges “discount” an average of 55%, but rarely bring costs down to NC public levels.


“But where do I find more free money?”

First, remember, there is no magic scholarship piñata a student hits and out drops lots of free money.


Beyond the discounts or auto-merit you get from a college, applying for scholarships takes time, effort, and essays. Most are looking for leadership, service, and high academic performance. Many have specific requirements.


Specific Scholarship Tips:

  • Create a scholarship-only email to manage your search and alerts.

    • Most free scholarship search engines sell your info—expect spam and loan offers.

  • Check out this podcast, Outside Scholarships: What You Need to Know - Your College-Bound Kid, and sign up for 1-2 search engines.

  • Be realistic; if it is a no-essay scholarship, it is likely a lead generator.

  • Shop for scholarships that are local and personal.

    • Start where you already have connections: family’s church, employer, bank, credit union, major, and/or student-specific activity.

• Local civic groups or foundations.

• NC community foundations (my local favs):

  • Major specific/use Google: "NC female in STEM scholarship”

• Let your high school counselor know you’re applying for scholarships.

  • Review your school’s scholarship bulletin. 

  • Many NC high schools (like Leesville and Milbrook) offer excellent curated bulletins.

  • Apply for scholarships at the college you plan to attend—these tend to be larger and more impactful.

    • Continue to apply while in college; some offer scholarships to current students.


Warning: Avoid Scholarship Scams

You should not pay to apply for a scholarship or give out your SSN. (Scholly Scholarships - Find & Search for College Scholarships is an exception, as it is a reputable app if you want to pay for a vetted platform.)


Every year, I have students who successfully reduce the cost of college by applying wisely to targeted scholarships that fit their profile. Often, a parent does the research, and the student applies to a few every few weeks. Below are a few of my favorite scholarship resources.


Good luck!


Resources:


Scholarships take time, energy and essays!
Scholarships take time, energy and essays!

 
 
 

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