Finding Scholarships for Minorities
Finding scholarships for minorities is just like finding any other scholarship, except these types of scholarships are given to individuals meeting specific conditions such as race or ethnicity. Scholarships for minorities are meant to help individuals pay for college. Since minority students are generally underrepresented in colleges today, there is a wide range of scholarships available to help offset the cost of a post-secondary education.
Take a few moments to talk with your high school guidance counselor or financial aid officer who should be able to recommend at least several minority scholarship programs. These individuals can also help you gather documentation you may need to apply for scholarships, such as letters of reference and school transcripts.
Online searches are also useful in finding scholarships for minorities. There’s a wide range of scholarships available and the dollar amounts vary from a few hundred dollars to paying for the entire cost of a four-year program. However, you should be weary of any scholarship program that requires you to pay money upfront for your application to be considered. Finally, a number of books have been written that can aid your search for minority scholarships. If you don’t want to commit to the purchase of a book, you can check with your local library for a temporary copy. Consider, however, that scholarship opportunities may change from year to year so you’ll want to get the most recent edition.
Types of Scholarships for Minorities
The types of scholarships for minorities are the same as general scholarships except race or ethnicity is one qualifier which limits the number of students who many apply for the scholarship. Some minority scholarships are merit based meaning the scholarship will be award based on grade point average, extra curricular activities, or community involvement. Athletic scholarships are also available to student athletes who are outstanding in their sports. Many scholarships are also awarded for specific programs of study, particularly as a way to recruit diversity within the field. There are also need-based scholarships which are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need.
Scholarships for minorities is actually a subset of all scholarships similar to athletic, merit, and need-based scholarships. A scholarship may have several qualifiers, such as a minority student-athlete with an excellent GPA. These types of scholarships that are very specific greatly reduce the number of applicants who are eligible, so if you do qualify for a scholarship it’s a great idea to apply. You may be competing against hundreds versus thousands of applicants.
Scholarships for Minority Women
Since women and minorities are both considered underrepresented populations within colleges, it makes sense that there are a number of scholarships for minority women. These scholarships are meant to offset or completely cover the cost of college for minority female students. There are a number of resources available, both online and in print, to help students search for scholarships for minority women. Like any type of scholarship search, it’s always a good idea to talk with a guidance counselor or financial aid adviser to assist you in finding scholarships and submitting the applications.
Examples of Scholarships for Minority Students
Examples of scholarships for minority students, often referred to as student-specific scholarships, include any money available to minority students to help cover the costs of tuition, fees, room and board, books, and other course-related materials. Scholarships for minorities may be given solely based on race, religion, or ethnicity, or may have additional qualifiers to further reduce the field of applications. For example, a Hispanic student who helped to organize an after-school program for elementary school students may be encouraged to apply for scholarships for minorities with a community service component.
Minority scholarships for undergraduate Students
Minority scholarships for undergraduate students are plentiful and simply require a little bit of searching to find one (or more) that you could apply for. The application procedure varies from a quick form to fill out to more in-depth requirements, such as essays, video submissions, or other projects that help highlight your strengths. Generally speaking, the higher the dollar amount of the scholarship award, the more that is required prior to submitting the scholarship application.
Graduate Scholarships for Minorities
Like undergraduate scholarship opportunities, there are also a number of graduate scholarships for minorities. These opportunities can be found in the same way that undergraduate and vocational scholarships are found. The major distinction between undergraduate and graduate scholarships for minorities is that the scholarship applicant must have already completed a four-year degree. Graduate scholarships can be awarded based on merit, athleticism, field of study, or financial need.
