Scholarships are a great source of free money that can help you decrease the costs of attending college. However, when looking for scholarships online, you can get an overwhelming number of results from many different sources. And with many different sources, not all sources are built equally. Some application you find online may be perfect for you to apply for! While others… may just be there to get your information. Getting the money you need for college can be long one. During this process, it is important that you can recognize which online scholarships are good versus bad.
| Red Flags | Green Flags |
|---|---|
| ⛔️ Application or processing fees | ✅ No application or processing fees |
| ⛔️ Little to no effort to apply: guaranteed rewards, no eligibility requirements, no submission of materials | ✅ Effort to apply: eligibility requirements/submission of materials |
| ⛔️ Gathering very personal information | ✅ From an education-related source or an otherwise trusted source |
| ⛔️ No contact information | ✅ Someone you can reach out to with questions |
🛑 Red Flags in a Scholarship Application
If a scholarship seems too good to be true… it often is. Here are some warning signs to watch out for:
- Application/Processing Fees: Legitimate scholarships should not ask you to pay money to apply. Scholarships are meant to be free money.
- Guaranteed Rewards: Scholarships are competitive, and so pause a scholarships promises that the money will be yours.
- No Eligibility Requirements: Scholarships should have specific criteria that applicants must meet, so check for them! There’s typically a specific pool of people they would like to apply. For example, an age or grade range is a common one!
- No Submission of Materials: Many scholarships will typically ask for an essay, recommendation letters, transcripts, etc. as part of the application process.
- Requests for Very Personal Information: If an application asks for sensitive details like your social security number… something fishy is going on. Someone may just be trying to get your information.
- No Provider Contact Information: Provider should definitely have an email or phone number available! You should be able to get in touch with someone if questions arise during the application process. Contact them for any concerns or problems that come up.
✅ Green Flags in a Scholarship Application
Good scholarship applications have clear and common characteristics:
- No Application Fees: Authentic scholarships never charge fees to apply. The organization offering the scholarship is there to support you, not take from you. Emphasis on free money.
- No Guaranteed Rewards: A genuine scholarship will not promise that you will win. The selection process may based on merit, need, or some other criteria. This typically come with eligibility requirements and a submission of certain materials.
- Affiliation with Trusted Sources: Scholarships from educational institutions, reputable companies, or well-known foundations are more likely to be legitimate. If not not widely well-known or reputable, then something close and personal (i.e. a trusted mentor, club, church, etc. ) may also be good for you.
- Proof of Past Award Recipients: Scholarship providers that have given out awards in the past often showcase their previous winners. Check around on the their website! This should be a sign that the application is legitimate.
- No Provider Contact Information: A lack of clear contact details is a serious problem. It can make things difficult for you if things were to go wrong.
Conclusion
When applying for scholarships, it’s crucial to stay aware and informed. By recognizing the signs of a good scholarship application and avoiding the red.
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