When to submit scholarship applications
Applying to college is just the first step in your college journey. An important piece to explore early on in the process are the scholarship opportunities available to you. You should submit scholarship applications as early as you can. Often that means in the January to early March time frame if you’re applying for admission for the Fall semester.
Here’s why:
- You may need to apply for some scholarships and that takes time — you don’t want to miss deadlines or end up having to rush to do everything last minute
- Colleges often start awarding scholarships before their application deadline, so you may miss out if you wait until late in their scholarship awarding process
- The earlier you start applying for scholarships, the more time you have to research other scholarship opportunities — which means you can maximize your possibilities
Make sure to fill out your FAFSA
No matter your personal financial situation, an important step when seeking out scholarships is making sure you also fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid).
Financial Aid offices at colleges will use your FAFSA as the basis on which to put together a letter for you outlining any grants you’re receiving along with other awards, including scholarships. This is true even for scholarships that aren’t based on financial need.
This financial package also helps you know what you and/or your family’s expected contribution will be.
Rather than waiting until that happens, it’s best to both fill out the FAFSA and apply for any scholarships that you qualify for. You won’t receive every one, but you also won’t miss out on ones where the deadline has passed or the funds have already been awarded.
Types of scholarships offered at Dunwoody
Each year, many of Dunwoody’s partners, alumni, and friends donate funds for the College to use for student tuition scholarships. These include both general scholarships don’t require an application and those that you would need to apply for.
Scholarship amounts range from $500 to $10,000 per year. Criteria for each scholarship varies. Common criteria includes GPA, area of study, and financial need.
If you are interested in receiving one of these scholarships, you must have a completed FAFSA on file with the Financial Aid Office. For more information, see the Scholarships page on the Dunwoody website.
Pathways to Careers scholarship
The Pathways to Careers (P2C) scholarship is Dunwoody College’s signature scholarship program. It provides financial support and advising, mentoring, and other support to under-resourced individuals interested in careers in a technical field.
The scholarship is open to high school juniors and seniors (and includes a summer experience) as well as to post-traditional adults (those who already have a high school diploma or GED or even post-secondary education).
Some of the P2C scholarship benefits are:
- A scholarship of up to $10,000/year for two years
- Stipends for textbooks and program participation
- Formal mentoring by professionals from the technical sector
- A cohort experience, including monthly professional development workshops
And much more.
Application deadlines are typically in mid-April for high school juniors and seniors and mid-July for post-traditional adults. For more details, visit the Pathways to Careers page on the Dunwoody website.
How to apply for scholarships
In addition to the colleges you’re applying to, your high school, local civic organizations, and other organizations often offer scholarships.
Scholarships could be open to you based on a wide variety of criteria, including your financial need, college major/career goals, ethnic background, geographic location, or inspiring story.
If you’re in high school, check in with your college counselor and see what resources they have for researching scholarships.
The following scholarship search sites can also help:
While every scholarship has a slightly different process, a few things will help you with the application process.
- Have a generic personal statement that talks about your background and college, career, and life goals. You will need to adjust this to match each specific scholarship application, but it helps to have a starting point.
- Many scholarships will ask for a letter of recommendation. Before scholarship application season starts, check in with a high school teacher or two, a team coach, someone who supervised or mentored you for any volunteer work you’ve done, etc. and see if they’d be willing to write you a letter of recommendation should one be needed. Make sure if one is needed, that you give them plenty of time to write it. You may also be able to use a letter of recommendation for multiple scholarships.
- Create a list of the scholarship you qualify for and intend to apply for and make sure you include deadlines and what materials you need to apply.
Finally: no matter what scholarships you qualify for, Dunwoody College will work with you to make sure you can afford to attend classes. And with more than 40 options to choose from, you’re sure to be able to find a major or program that suits your needs and career goals.