5 Musts to Apply for African American Scholarships
Students belonging to minority groups are less likely to attend college in the US and other “white” countries than their “majority” peers. They are also more likely to drop out.
Rising costs of education are one of the biggest reasons for such drop-outs. Some of the brightest African-Americans I’ve known are first-generation college students who had to drop out in the middle of their program because they couldn’t afford college anymore.
There’s also another aspect that many of us don’t talk about. FinAid reports that minority students are less likely to win a private scholarship or win a merit-based scholarship. They may also take on twice as much debt as their white peers despite special minority programs.
Such a lack of equal access means that as an African-American student you’ll have to work extra hard to get the program you need. Having said that, college authorities and philanthropic organizations offer scholarships to make sure that African American kids get to college and finish.
Here’s a look at five things to keep in mind when you’re applying for a scholarship.
The grant is for undergraduate students. Nearly 84% of African Americans have used these grants to complete college in recent years.
Your state government may also offer grants to help local residents complete their education. You can also research private organizations that do the same if you do research work or any other kind of work that will benefit them.
There are grants specifically for African-American students as well, such as the AICPA Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students, or the Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs. These grants are typically more generous than undergraduate grants.
If you’re an undergraduate in physics with a research-bent of mind, the Carl Albert Rouse Undergraduate Research Fellowship may be useful.
Also, make sure to check whether or not you need to sit for college admission tests in order to apply. Some colleges accept ACT or SAT scores, so you may need to have these as well.
Rising costs of education are one of the biggest reasons for such drop-outs. Some of the brightest African-Americans I’ve known are first-generation college students who had to drop out in the middle of their program because they couldn’t afford college anymore.
There’s also another aspect that many of us don’t talk about. FinAid reports that minority students are less likely to win a private scholarship or win a merit-based scholarship. They may also take on twice as much debt as their white peers despite special minority programs.
Such a lack of equal access means that as an African-American student you’ll have to work extra hard to get the program you need. Having said that, college authorities and philanthropic organizations offer scholarships to make sure that African American kids get to college and finish.
Here’s a look at five things to keep in mind when you’re applying for a scholarship.
1. Do your research
Maybe The grants you’ve looked at don’t cover a lot. Maybe the ones you’ve looked at are for STEM students whereas you want to study the Liberal Arts. You may find a grant that awards you on the basis of your hobbies, for instance. Do plenty of research, speak with counselors or the college you want to apply to, and consider your scholarship options.The grant is for undergraduate students. Nearly 84% of African Americans have used these grants to complete college in recent years.
Your state government may also offer grants to help local residents complete their education. You can also research private organizations that do the same if you do research work or any other kind of work that will benefit them.
There are grants specifically for African-American students as well, such as the AICPA Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students, or the Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs. These grants are typically more generous than undergraduate grants.
If you’re an undergraduate in physics with a research-bent of mind, the Carl Albert Rouse Undergraduate Research Fellowship may be useful.
3. Maintain a minimum GPA
Every scholarship you look at will have different requirements. But most of them, whether or not they’re merit-based or need-based will need you to have a minimum GPA of 2.5 to apply. Some grants may want 3.0 GPA or 3.5 GPA.Also, make sure to check whether or not you need to sit for college admission tests in order to apply. Some colleges accept ACT or SAT scores, so you may need to have these as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment