Scholarships Won't Save You
It's scholarship season, and many families are counting on awards to make college affordable. Before you put all your eggs in the scholarship basket, here's what you need to know.
Most scholarships are $2,000 or less. If you're $40,000 short on college costs, you'd need 20 scholarships—and that almost never happens. Scholarships typically cover spending money and indirect costs, not the bulk of tuition.
Scholarships are usually one-year awards. College costs must be sustainable for 4-5 years. Don't count on miracle renewals each year.
Read the requirements carefully. Don't waste time on scholarships you don't qualify for. If it requires a Pell Grant and you don't have one, move on. If the GPA requirement is 3.5 unweighted, don't apply with a 3.2 weighted.
Smart Scholarship Strategies
Where to Look:
Fraternity and sorority local chapters (Delta Sigma Theta, etc.)
Utilities (DWP and others)
Credit unions (Unify, Navy Federal)
Banks (Bank of America)
Corporations (Coca-Cola)
Our scholarship hub at https://www.westa-eep.org/scholarships
Life Prep Academy ($50/annual—worth it for their comprehensive list)
Search Smart: Use Google and AI tools daily to search for new opportunities. Scholarship season runs January-March and picks up again in June-July.
Watch for Scams: Never pay for scholarship services that promise guaranteed awards or specific amounts.
Apply for scholarships but understand their realistic role in your college funding plan. The best way to afford college is to choose an affordable college from the start.
Scholarships are helpful supplemental funding, not your primary strategy. Keep your expectations realistic and your college list affordable.