BEYOND STUDENT LOANS: A CLOSER LOOK AT SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS

College | Cost of College | Financial Aid

May 25, 2023

SUBSCRIBE

College is a lot of things. It’s a place to learn. It’s a place to grow. It’s a place to create memories and achieve dreams. It’s also expensive. Of the many ways to help you pay for a college education—student loans, 529 savings accounts, grants, and scholarships—it’s often the smaller sources of funds that are underestimated and underused. These sources range from small scholarships offered by local organizations or awarded for a quirky talent, to different types of grants for those who can demonstrate financial need. Instead of leaving money on the table that could cover textbooks and lighten the burden of future debt, students would be wise to take advantage of these non-traditional forms of funding.

Small and Local Scholarships

Although small scholarships often award less money, they can also be less competitive than larger scholarships. That’s because most smaller scholarships are offered by local organizations and small businesses or are given to those pursuing specific careers. That said, according to US News and World Report, some local scholarships get close to matching the money awarded to winners of national scholarships. When a few hundred dollars can cover essentials like a new laptop, a little can mean a lot not only to your budget but also to your peace of mind, especially when the odds may be more in your favor. In other words, small scholarships are worth a shot. To learn more about small and local scholarships, speak with your school’s counselor or advisor who can help you identify small scholarships to pursue, and check out a recent A+ blog article that discusses the benefits of small scholarships and how to apply.

Unique and Weird Scholarships

Another type of scholarship is one that goes by many names: the quirky scholarship, the oddball scholarship, or the weird scholarship. Basically, these scholarships are awarded to those with unique qualities or special talents. So, if you’ve convinced yourself you can’t get a scholarship—big or small—because you don’t fit some conventional or usual standard, like the super smart nerd or the star athlete, then you’re in luck! These scholarships are for the unconventional and unusual. You can get a sense of the weird scholarships available by checking out Access Scholarships’ 2022 list and some examples below:

Minecraft Scholarship ($2,000): Applicants must have a 3.0 or higher GPA and write a 500+ essay explaining “how Minecraft can be a positive influence within their education and career development.”
Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship ($10,000): Applicants have to write an essay and demonstrate that they have promoted vegetarianism or veganism in their school or community.
Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship ($2,000): Applicants must write a 250+ word response to the prompt “Imagine that your high school or college has been overrun with zombies. Your math professor, the cafeteria ladies, and even your best friend have all joined the walking dead. Flesh out a plan to avoid the zombies, including where you’d hide and the top-five things you’d bring to stay alive.”

Grants

Unlike scholarships, grants are awarded based on financial need rather than just merit. Like scholarships, however, grants do not have to be repaid and there is a wide range to choose from. There are grants offered by federal and state governments, and other public organizations, as well as private grants. Both types are often geared toward a specific career path or demographic attribute (e.g. race, ethnicity, gender, disability). With so many options and such high college costs, you’ll want to put in the effort to find the right grant for you. So start early and, as always, your school’s counselor and your own computer will be your best resources. You will be too. The more you can identify your unique needs and interests, the more capable you will be of narrowing down your options. Below is a sample of the grants available:

Federal Pell Grant: Awarded to thousands of students every year who can demonstrate financial need.
Pennsylvania Grants: Many grant options are available, including grants for students who have experience in the foster care system and grants for students who have had a parent die while performing a public service job such as a firefighter or police officer.
Career/Major Specific Grants: Browse through a list of all different types of grants for a variety of academic and career paths.

How A+ Can Help

When college costs so much that several funding methods are needed to cover it, of course you’re going to want to make sure you’re making a good investment. To do so, you not only need what it takes to get into a good college, but also the skills to succeed once you’re there. To impress college admissions officers, A+ offers SAT/ACT test prep tutoring and college admissions essay help. We also offer AP test prep tutoring that can help you get high enough scores to earn college credit and an Executive Function Coaching program that can teach you the skills you need to stay organized, motivated, and focused. Finally, a unique talent might earn you a small scholarship or financial need might earn you a grant, but scholarships are awarded based on merit. A+ can help you get the good grades and good test scores you need. In short, A+ has got you covered.

At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, our practices are based on the latest developments in educational theory and research. We have an excellent team of tutors who can help you with standardized testing, executive functioning, or achievement in any other school subject. If you want to find out more about our services, our Client Service Director Joelle Faucette can be reached at 215-886-9188 or email us at office@aplustutoring.com.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

What They're Saying

    EXCELLENT  
  48 reviews on
 
 
         
   Angela Jay 
 2024-02-15
 
 
   Best Decision Ever!

A+ Tutoring proved to be a transformative experience for me, surpassing all my expectations. Without hesitation, I wholeheartedly recommend A+ Tutoring to any parent or guardian seeking academic improvement and aiming to unlock their child’s full potential.

Prior to selecting A+, I carefully researched and evaluated other services. My goals were twofold: to prepare my son for the standardized testing required for preparatory school and college applications, and to enhance his time management skills and study habits.

Mr. John’s personalized approach resonated with my son’s personality and specific learning needs. Despite my son’s demanding sports schedule, Mr. John was incredibly flexible and accommodating. The sessions were comprehensive, combining instruction, engaging conversations, and homework assignments to reinforce existing concepts and introduce new ones in advanced math, English, and science.

The tangible outcomes were apparent: not only did my son’s grades improve by at least one grade level, but he also secured early admission to prep school! Moreover, I observed a significant boost in his confidence and overall demeanor.

I am deeply grateful to Mr. John, Ms. Dorothea, and Mr. Dan for their exceptional dedication and support. They truly went above and beyond to ensure that we felt fully supported throughout the process. Their contributions have made a profound impact on my son’s academic journey, maximizing the value of my investment.
  
 
 
       
   Kenneth Greenspan 
 2023-11-28
 
 
   Extremely professional and thorough
  
 
 
       
   Leah Reinhard Peshek 
 2023-11-15
 
 
   I just wanted to thank A+ for helping my son achieve his goals. He worked with 2 instructors Andrew and Barbara for both the SAT and AP exams. Whatever they did it was magic! Not only did he get the results he wanted- he surpassed them. It was hands-off for me, he scheduled and communicated with his instructors on his own, which taught him responsibility and accountability. Yet, their lesson follow-up emails kept me in the loop. I can’t recommend them any more highly. If you decide to use them you won’t be disappointed, you will see a student who is better prepared for their studies as well as any tests they choose to take- they even seem more mature and confident. A+ I’m giving you an A+ Thank you so much, Leah Reinhard.
  
 
 
       
   Rebekka Hartwell 
 2023-10-28
 
 
   We had a great experience with A+ Test Prep and Tutoring. I appreciated that the tutor tailored the sessions around our daughter's needs and worked with her strengths. I can definitely recommend this program to anyone needing some extra support.
  
 
 
       
   Rhiannon Kelly 
 2023-08-31
 
 
   My son needed assistance preparing for an exam. We reached out to A+ test prep and they were wonderful. They were able to schedule him for tutoring without an delays. Their knowledge, assistance and guidance speaks volumes. A+ exceeded all outlets expectations. Thank you
  
 
 
       
   Andrea Emmons 
 2023-07-06
 
 
   The tutors were terrific, very thoughtful and really understood my child's needs in terms of studying. The hours worked well with our schedule and the homework assigned was super helpful!
  
 
 
       
   V Penz 
 2023-06-22
 
 
   A+ Test Prep provided superior tutoring custom-tailored to meet my son’s specific needs and learning style. His SAT score increased by 160 points with 12 hours of tutoring!!! That put him well-within range for all of the schools to which he is applying. A+ truly listened to make sure they exceeded our expectations starting with matching our son with Rob. He is an experienced tutor who set goals and developed a specialized plan. Rob taught clear, structured, organized lessons, helped my son plan his practice and homework, and taught test stress-management and relaxation techniques. These lessons also helped fill-in gaps from the pandemic.  The writing, reading and math lessons and strategies  Rob taught gave Dylan a strong foundation of critical-thinking skills which will serve him well in college, the work-force, and beyond.  A+ staff, including Rob, gave prompt, detailed and insightful feedback after each session. You will get ENORMOUS value for your financial investment with A+.  I investigated 6 other tutoring companies and am confident A+ was the best for tailoring their tutoring to a program that best fit my son’s learning style!!
  
 
 
       
   Megan Gasper 
 2023-05-26
 
 
   This tutoring program literally changed my daughters test scores by 1000 points, and they were so helpful, and communicative with me the entire time. I really recommend them for every student, whether they are trying to make their test scores better, or make their scores above excellent
  
 
 
       
   Zarah Adams 
 2023-05-04
 
 
   We chose A+ for Preparation to help our daughter prepare for college entrance exams. May daughter had Pam for the verbal portion of the exam. Pam was amazing! She asked about extra-curricular activities and demonstrated genuine interest in my daughter's role as a student in and outside of the classroom. Pam also noted how important these activities are to colleges. John was the tutor for math and science. He helped my daughter feel comfortable and confident in her skills. My daughter's ACT composite score went up 5 points! I would highly recommend A+ for Test Preparation!
  
 
 
  
 
  Load more