Improving my chances of getting a scholarship

Paying for College
1

Hi everyone. I have questions regarding scholarships.

I’ll be earning my AA and likely be accepted to a wide variety of engineering schools in Florida (UF, FSU, FIU, and more). I have questions regarding scholarships.

  1. when I apply for schools and I receive letters of acceptance, I want to know what kind of scholarships I’m eligible for before I transfer. Ie. “you’re accepted and you’ve been awarded a $5000/year scholarship” from each school. That way I can use that information to make my decision for where to get my degree. I’ve been told there are scholarships that go with me anywhere I get in, and those will transfer with me where ever. However I’m curious about school specific scholarships. How does that work? Apply, get accepted, then apply for school specific scholarships and see if I get one?

  2. I have a competitive GPA, however a lot of my AA was part time, I switched degrees, and even my last 2 semesters will be only 10 and 8 credits. My critical tracking courses GPA (calculus 1-3, physics 1, chemistry 1, and differential equations) should be about 4.0-3.75, and overall 3.8. However due to my AA largely being part time, and switching degrees, I’m wondering what I can do to make myself more competitive for scholarships. I’m considering signing up for giving tutoring through my school, which would look good, and I’m also signed up for calculus 3 honors next semester (10 credit semester). What are your recommendations for improving my chances of getting a scholarship when I transfer?

Thank you in advance!

2

You have to look at each school and see what scholarships are available to upper division students or transfer students. These may be through the admissions office, the FA office, or the department. There is no way to know if those will be awarded at the same time as admission or later, and no way to know if you have to file a separate application or if just the application for admissions is enough. You have to track down the information. There is no one answer.

The scholarships that transfer with you may be like Bright Futures, and yes, if you earned that it will be the same amount at every school in Florida, public or private, although the schools can apply the money in different ways (tuition only, refundable to you, for study abroad, but it usually is a benefit to the student). There are some outside scholarships or grants that may allow you to use them at any school, but much of the state money is awarded through the schools. If UF gives you a state supplemental grant, FSU may not give you the same grant even though it is state money.

Schools will not care if you’ve been attending part time or full time but will look at your entire record. If you want a scholarship, look at the requirements. Most transfer scholarships or department scholarships are awarded based on GPA.