Scholarships Come in Many Shapes
Scholarships can cover a little, a lot, or full tuition. Together with aid, they can make college affordable even for students from modest backgrounds.
Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Merit | Academic, athletic, artistic achievement |
| Need-based | Awarded based on financial need |
| Identity-based | For specific ethnic, religious, first-gen, etc. groups |
| Field-specific | For STEM, teaching, nursing, etc. |
| Essay contests | Award for writing on a topic |
| Local | Community organizations, churches, businesses |
Where to Find Them
- FastWeb, Scholarships.com, Bold.org — searchable databases
- College financial aid offices — institutional scholarships
- High school counselor — local lists
- Community — Ethiopian/Oromo associations, cultural groups
- Employers — parents' companies often sponsor employee children
Specific to Immigrant/Diaspora Students
- QuestBridge — full scholarships to partner colleges
- Jack Kent Cooke — for low-income high-achievers
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund, UNCF — serve similar pipelines (modeled for other communities)
- TheDream.US — undocumented students
- Local Ethiopian/Eritrean/Oromo community groups — often small but meaningful
Application Strategy
Apply to many small scholarships, not just a few big ones. A $500 scholarship here and there adds up — and is less competitive.
Beware Scams
Legitimate scholarships never require payment. If you see fees, back away.
Key takeaway: Scholarships require persistence. Dozens of small ones add up to the cost of tuition — keep applying.