Money does seem to make the world go round these days and that is not always a good thing for anyone looking to advance himself or herself. If you cannot afford an education then you are missing out on the chance to fulfil your own potential. This can actually have a knock on effect on the rest of the surrounding area. You may have skills that could be of great service to another and yet never have the opportunity to develop them, and that is why it is extremely important to seek out any way possible of fulfilling your potential and developing yourself to the fullest extent. That is in fact where scholarships come in!
Scholarships and grants can provide a fantastic source of financial aid for individuals who either deserve it in terms of their talent or are struggling as a result of financial hardship. In some cases, the individual actually falls under both category headings. Regardless of where they fit into the scheme of things, talented individuals that need help can get it from a scholarship or grant.
A scholarship is a financial merit-based award that a student would have to apply for. The scholarship may be a package of financial aid to help the student. It could include housing and course materials as well as tuition, or just the tuition. It may only be a percentage of the tuition. This is dependent on the terms and conditions of the scholarship itself and what it offers. It may last for an academic year or for the duration of your degree course. However, it will always have conditions attached, and this will most likely relate to your grade point average. It would have to remain above a certain level for you to qualify for the scholarship.
A grant is totally different. Again, you would have to apply for it, but it would be a one off payment that would be awarded to you for a specific purpose. It may be a specific topic you are working on would be eligible for funding and you were given a grant of a set amount to help. You may be eligible for a housing grant if your family's income level is below a certain level. Whatever the reason for the award, it is a one off payment of a set amount.
Scholarships can be applied for by anyone attending an academic institution for a period of time. The application forms are usually quite extensive and can take hours to fill in properly. One slight mistake on the form could get it discarded, so the most important thing for you to do is actually read through the instructions and comply with what it is asking from you to the letter! There will literally be thousands of candidates for any scholarship so you have to be able to make your application stand out from the crowd in order to obtain the funding. It does help if you have a gift for certain ones, but the majority just want to help someone who needs the funding and stand out from the crowd.
The one rule is do not lie. If you do they will find out during the course of their investigations and considerations, and your application will immediately be rejected! Always be honest and show your awards and merits up in the best light possible if you want results. It may also be worth applying for several scholarships and grants at any given time so that you are not putting your eggs in the one basket. It never hurts to have a back up, especially where college and money is concerned!
Scholarships and grants can be difficult to get to grips with if you have never had experience of them before so it is essential that you fully understand the process and concept before beginning to apply. Financing is important for college students these days so you owe it to yourself to do the best you can in terms of your application. It is your future after all!