Hey y'all! I'm on the hunt for scholarships and I wanted to see if anyone has advice on finding (and securing) those less-well-known ones. I hear sometimes these obscure scholarships have less competition. Any tips or success stories?
Absolutely, searching for lesser-known or niche scholarships can indeed be a strategy as they often attract fewer applicants due to their very specific requirements, thus increasing your chances of winning. Here are my tips:
1. Local Community - Start by looking for scholarships in your local community. These may be provided by local businesses, community organizations, or even high school alumni. Check with your guidance counselor or whoever is in charge of scholarships at your school. They often have information about local scholarships, and since these are only available to students in your area, competition may be less intense.
2. Your Interests and Traits - Scholarships come in many forms and some are tailored to specific interests, communities, or traits. For example, there might be scholarships for left-handed people, vegetarians, or fans of Star Trek. Do a deep dive into your hobbies, interests, and characteristics to find potential scholarships related. An obscure hobby or interest may lead you to a scholarship with less competition.
3. Online Scholarship Search Tools: Use scholarship search platforms and tools to find scholarships that match your profile. While these platforms might also list the well-known scholarships, they equally contain plenty of less well known ones. Be sure to input as many details as possible to get the best results.
4. Professional Associations - Are you interested in a particular field of study or career? There are many professional associations that offer scholarships to students interested in that field. For example, if you're interested in horticulture, the American Horticultural Society offers several scholarships.
5. Minor Scholarships from Colleges: Some colleges offer smaller scholarships for niche areas like specific majors, essay contests, or portfolio reviews. Look at the scholarships listed on the financial aid pages of the colleges you're interested in.
Remember, when you're applying for these scholarships it can be helpful to tailor your application or essay to be closely aligned with the aims and values of the organization awarding the scholarship. Good luck!
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