4 Ways to Help Your Student Secure College Scholarships
I’ll admit it: I used to be a skeptic when it came to the idea of scholarships. The sheer volume available felt overwhelming—like searching for Waldo in those chaotic books my kids used to read when they were young! But I was wrong. My two young adult children have been able to attend Christian college because of the huge scholarship opportunities provided to them.
Please don’t make the same mistake I did and assume your student doesn’t qualify! Scholarships these days are not simply based on merit and top performance in school (though that certainly helps). To give you a sampling of what’s out there let me share two quick examples… A simple internet search just now led to me to a scholarship for women and under-represented groups pursuing a “video game related degree” and demonstrating financial need. A $50,000 scholarship is awarded by Google each year for the student who crafts an original doodle best representing that years’ theme. The deadline is in December of 2026, and the top five finalists each receive $5,000 scholarships. As you can hopefully see, the opportunities are endless. So how do we, as parents, help our students capitalize on this “free money” just waiting to be obtained?
Start Specific, then Expand. Let’s just say your odds of fishing are better in a small pond. Your high school guidance counselor is a great place to start your research. Simply ask if they know of any local scholarships available. If you or your student work for a large corporation, check to see if they award any scholarships. For example, my nephew garnered money for college each year by working consistently for Chick-fil-A.
Once your student applies to specific colleges, check on those websites and talk with admissions counselors about any scholarships available. Encourage your student apply to any that seem like a reasonable fit! My daughter attended a scholarship weekend during her senior year. She ended up being chosen, out of the 100 students who attended, for a full-ride leadership/academic scholarship. Not bad odds when you’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars!
Encourage Good Grades. This year our son is a senior in high school. He’s applying to five or six Christian colleges, and we have learned we can expect the ticket price to drop by as much as 50% for straight A’s. While our son’s GPA isn’t quite that high, we’re confident his grades are solid enough to earn some sort of merit scholarship which will alleviate financial pressure from all of us. While we don’t want to pressure our students, it’s good for them to recognize that studying pays off. Literally. If I’d realized when I was still in high school that my grades were worth so much in scholarship money it would have shifted my priorities!
Plan a Date. Let’s face it, we’re all busy, but setting aside time to research and apply for scholarships can pay off in spades. Just as my quick internet search led to some interesting possibilities as far as scholarships go, there’s no limit to the opportunities available if you’ll do some digging. Consider setting aside several hours with your student—ideally at a coffee shop or quiet restaurant where you can enjoy a desert and be less distracted—and simply research possible scholarships.
There are tons of scholarship search engines out there. As you search, try and be as specific as possible. What makes your son or daughter unique? What hobbies set them apart? Do they have an interesting ethnic heritage or nationality? Are there obstacles they’ve overcome? Causes they’re passionate about? As you drill down into a list of possible scholarship fits, take careful note of the deadlines. Notice whether they require an essay (most do—but not in every case). Then get to work!
For your student, this means the self-discipline of writing and submitting scholarships and will require time and effort. Offer to help them keep track of deadlines or to proofread their essays. Plan another date where the goal is cheering your student on while they crank out scholarship applications. Resist relying on A.I. or writing these essays for your student! Scholarship judges are looking for authenticity and can quickly see through short-circuited, bogus essays. This process is beneficial and empowering for your student. And they will feel duly rewarded when their hard work pays off.
You Have Not Because You Ask Not. Finally, don’t be too proud to circle back. If you’ve done all that you can and your student has still not secured funding for their top Christian college, talk with that school’s financial aid personnel and explain your situation honestly. Some of our friends took this approach and were blown away by the generosity and constructive assistance offered to them when they simply admitted they needed more help.
Making the Christian college dream a reality sometimes feels like grasping at straws. But don’t give up hope! And don’t overlook prayer. The Lord owns it all and can help open doors you didn’t know existed, giving your student a shot at a truly incredible education!
There are several prevailing theories about how the Baptist denomination came about. Some argue that the Baptists can be traced back to John the Baptist and the New Testament. Others believe that Baptists take their origin from the Anabaptists, at some point splitting into a new denomination. There are several prevailing theories about how the Baptist denomination came about. Some argue that the Baptists can be traced back to John the Baptist and the New Testament. Others believe that Baptists take their origin from the Anabaptists, at some point splitting into a new denomination.