Free Money? Yes Please!: Everything You Need to Know About Scholarships

CFNC, a popular resource for North Carolina students looking for scholarships.“The College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) has a really great database where you can answer questions, and it will show you what scholarships you qualify for, so you’re not looking at everything,” said Watauga Scholarship Coordinator Rachel Wood. Photo creds: cfnc.org

Bethany Atwood, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

Thinking about college can be daunting. Many seniors quickly get overwhelmed considering everything that goes into college. Where should I go? Will I make friends? What should I major in? And perhaps the most important of all: How am I going to pay for it? 

It’s no secret that college carries quite the expense for prospective students. Luckily, resources and people are making the effort to provide ways for students to experience college without so much financial stress. Scholarships are the best way to go if one is looking to lessen the cost of their post-secondary education.

While making steps towards college, it is crucial not to ignore the opportunity to apply for scholarships. Scholarships are open to all students, although many carry specific criteria for applying, which is important to note when searching.

“Scholarships are free money that a student can apply for because they’re eligible for whatever the criteria is,” said Watauga Scholarship Coordinator Lindsey Gough. “An organization may be donating for a particular reason, or honoring somebody in their name, or it could be a large scholarship under an institution, and they don’t have to pay it back.”

Scholarships are different from loans, which are required to be paid back, and often carry an interest rate. Scholarships are provided by a variety of sources, looking to make a difference in students’ lives.

“Organizations, businesses, families, giant companies, and small local businesses love to donate money to good causes,” said Watauga Scholarship Coordinator Rachel Wood. “A wonderful cause that many people believe in is the education of our future adults, future leaders.”

Scholarships aren’t hard to find. Many websites and databases exist for students to locate scholarships online, including a Google Sheet open to all Watauga seniors created by Watauga High School’s Scholarship Coordinators, Gough and Wood.

“It’s really helpful having this whole Google sheet of local and regional scholarships that apply to Watauga High School students, and they’re organized by deadline, which is really easy to follow,” said senior Brecken Sauthoff. “With these scholarships, our counselors and people aiding us in the transition have a good baseline knowledge of what some of those scholarships are, which is also very helpful, so that you’re not just going in blindly.”

Alongside applying for scholarships, filling out the FAFSA is important for any student looking to pursue post-secondary education. Apart from being an application for federal aid, many schools require prospective students to complete it prior to enrollment, and it can be a gateway to scholarships as well.

“Make sure that you have filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because that can open up the door to other opportunities for scholarships or grant money that you might not realize you qualify for,” said Wood. “It’s super easy, and if you want help with it, reach out to Ms. Gragg, because we offer free sessions after school where we can sit down with you and your parents and help you get that filled out.” 

As amazing as scholarships are, it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of applying. Keeping yourself from getting burnt out and enjoying the remainder of your senior year are just as important.

“My advice would be to recognize that it’s a lot, and not to try to tackle it all at once,” said Wood. “Maybe set a timer and set aside time every few days or every week. Sit down with an adult, sit down with your counselor, sit down with a teacher that you trust, and look at it together.” 

A link to a spreadsheet for local scholarships, provided by Watauga’s Scholarship Coordinators:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RJcTRezBN2B3TwxM7SWyhYwo4wmdsDBT_U2CsKp0KHk/edit?gid=0#gid=0