How I won OVER $1 MILLION in scholarships for college | Scholarship Tips

Summary

In this video, the host discusses the importance and often underrated aspect of scholarships in the college application process. She shares her personal experience of winning over a million dollars in scholarships, despite not accepting the full amount, and offers insights into various types of scholarships available, including institutional, national, and local. The host provides tips for international students, categorizes scholarships based on merit, need, and demographics, and emphasizes the value of applying to a wide array of scholarships. She also shares her strategy of keeping a detailed spreadsheet to track applications and deadlines, encouraging viewers to do the same for success in securing financial aid for college.

Takeaways

• 🏆 Scholarships are crucial yet often underrated in the college application process, with many students unaware of the opportunities available to them.
• 💡 The speaker emphasizes the importance of applying to a variety of scholarships, including both large national and smaller local ones, to maximize chances of receiving financial aid.
• 💼 Institutional scholarships are offered by colleges and can be either merit-based or need-based, with some schools meeting 100% of demonstrated need without loans.
• 🌐 For international students, resources like edupass.org provide information on scholarships for studying in the U.S., and state schools may offer merit scholarships.
• 📚 Major national scholarships, such as the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, are highly competitive and based on a combination of merit, community involvement, and other factors.
• 💰 The Gates Scholarship is a need-plus-merit scholarship that covers the gap in financial aid, acting as a 'last dollar' scholarship to ensure full coverage of college costs.
• 🔍 QuestBridge is a unique program for low-income and first-generation students, offering full-ride scholarships to matched colleges through their application process.
• 📝 The script suggests keeping track of scholarship opportunities with a spreadsheet or calendar, noting deadlines and eligibility requirements.
• ✍️ When applying, it's important to showcase your whole self, detailing your passions and achievements, and to be thorough and honest in your responses.
• 🤝 The speaker recommends maintaining a good relationship with school counselors to facilitate the timely submission of letters of recommendation.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is discussing scholarships, their importance, and providing information on various scholarships available to students.

Why does the speaker consider scholarships important?

The speaker considers scholarships important because they are underrated in the college process and many students are not aware of the various scholarships available to them.

What is the speaker's disclaimer about winning a million dollars in scholarships?

The speaker did not actually accept a million dollars in scholarships. They only accepted the amount they needed, as they believed other students could benefit from the rest.

What are the three categories of scholarships the speaker mentions?

The three categories of scholarships mentioned are institutional scholarships, major national scholarships, and local and regional scholarships.

What is the difference between institutional scholarships that meet 100% of need with loans and those without loans?

Institutional scholarships that meet 100% of need with loans include a certain amount of money as loans, which must be repaid, whereas those without loans cover the full need without requiring repayment.

What advice does the speaker give to international students looking for scholarships?

The speaker advises international students to check out websites like edupass.org for resources and scholarships, and to be aware that they may be eligible for merit scholarships at state schools.

What does the speaker say about the Coca-Cola scholarship?

The Coca-Cola scholarship is a highly competitive, merit-based scholarship that offers $20,000 and is known for its multi-round selection process.

What is unique about the Gates Scholarship according to the speaker?

The Gates Scholarship is unique because it is a last-dollar scholarship, covering the gap in financial aid not filled by other sources, and it does not have a set amount but varies based on the recipient's need.

What is the QuestBridge College Match and what is its main benefit?

The QuestBridge College Match is a program for low-income and first-generation students that matches them with colleges. The main benefit is that if matched, 100% of the student's college cost is covered by QuestBridge.

What tips does the speaker give for applying to scholarships?

The speaker suggests applying to a wide variety of scholarships, keeping track of deadlines, showcasing your whole self in applications, and preparing three key aspects of your profile to mention in every application and interview.

How does the speaker keep track of all the scholarships and college-related deadlines?

The speaker uses a spreadsheet to keep track of all the scholarships, deadlines, and other college-related information, which they refer to as their 'death to McKenna' spreadsheet.