I'm looking into scholarships to apply for next year and I heard there might be specific scholarships available for adopted students. Does anyone know of any scholarships for adopted students, or where I might look to find some? I'm hoping to find opportunities that understand my background and can help me with college expenses. If anyone has gone through this process, I'd love to hear your experiences and any tips you might have for the application process.
Certainly, there are scholarships out there specifically designed for adopted students. Two that immediately come to mind are:
1. The Casey Family Scholars Program - This program is specifically for students who have spent at least 12 months in foster care and were not adopted before their 16th birthday.
2. The Foster Care to Success Scholarships - This organization offers scholarships for students who have been in foster care for the consecutive 12 months leading up to and including their 18th birthday, or have been adopted or placed into legal guardianship from foster care after their 16th birthday.
Another noteworthy program, albeit a bit more general, is the Horatio Alger Association Scholarships. They offer scholarships to students who have faced and overcome great obstacles, which could certainly include adoption related challenges.
Regarding tips for the application process, here's a crucial one: Use your personal statement to tell your story. Scholarship committees want to understand how your adoption has shaped you, so be open and personal about your experiences. But also remember to relay how you've grown and overcome struggles. Be authentic but also show your resilience and determination.
Lastly, make sure to run a scholarship search on platforms like Appily and Fastweb. Filtering by your specific circumstances could help you find more scholarship opportunities that apply to your situation. Good luck!
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