Scholarship Blues :(

<p>I have been apply for scholarships for a long time. However, I have not received anything. I have practically given up hope. I do not know what I done wrong, if I did anything wrong at all. I have a perfect GPA and took all of the challenging courses my school offered, however, I have nothing to show for it.</p>

<p>Does anyone feel this way? Everyday I look on this message board and I see so many people saying the recieved this scholarship and that scholarship. Am I the only one who didn't get anything?!!?</p>

<p>I understand. Scholarships can be very hard to get. Plus very few are just based on academics. Most also take into account leadership, community service, and financial need, among other things. The big national ones are very hard to win.</p>

<p>The only scholarships my sons had success with were local, limited scholarships--an academic all star competition run by the county, a local scholarship through my husband's union, a band scholarship from school. These are all, of course, small scholarships, not the huge amounts of the big contests. But they still help.</p>

<p>I suggest checking with your counselor's office for local scholarships that you might qualify for. I know, it can be discouraging. There were a number of scholarships I thought my sons were quite well-qualified for, but someone else won. Unfortunately, that's the way life works sometimes.</p>

<p>Hang in there. Perhaps you will get a great offer from the college you attend. Or perhaps you can be an RA your sophomore year. My son is doing that next year, and he will get free room and board, along with $1200 for the year. (Amounts vary by college, of course.) That will be a big help.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Bossgirl</p>

<p>My son just got scholarship offers from colleges (no outside scholarships)</p>

<p>hang in there....</p>

<p>A lot of times, the best scholarships are those from the school you attend--whether for financial need & merit or just merit. As was posted, once you're at school, you can check out opportunities to be a resident assistant at the dorm and/or research assistant or teaching assistant or other on campus jobs.
Scholarships are very competitive, so you're in good company--most kids don't get any.</p>

<p>All I've won so far is an academic excellence scholarship for $2500/year from the university I plan to attend this Fall. It's a nice amount, but that's all I have toward college at this point, so I obviously need a lot more.</p>

<p>I haven't won any outside scholarships yet.</p>

<p>thanks for the encouragement, however I applied to local scholarships and did not win any.</p>

<p>if it makes you feel better, I've applied and won nothing....I'm number one in my class, have done a lot with certain extracurriculars, good SATs, sports, the whole thing. I'm not a bad writer, I'm doing well in my AP English class. I guess it's just the luck of the draw. Also, I've never been student of the month and, in the yearbook preview I saw, in the pages for the top 20 seniors I have the smallest picture.
Okay, those were just rants...</p>

<p>hahahaha peachykween your rants are hilarious... they should probably make a cool award and give it to you</p>

<p>And it shall be called...</p>

<p>"Cool Award"</p>

<p>yea, i'm starting to think the same people win the scholarships, which isn't fair. but what can i do.</p>

<p>Peachykween I am in the same situation as you that is why I am so frusturated. I just don't understand why I wouldn't get scholarships while others at school received some.I participate in so many activities and my grades are excellent. I just don't know what is wrong.</p>

<p>Finally got one!!!!!! I am so happy. I received the news two days ago. The scholarship was from the school that I am planning to attend.</p>

<p>congrats!!!</p>

<p>Yippeeeeeeeee! Congrats to you. Hopefully many more on the board will be able to report scholarship success in the coming months. My son has been awarded two scholarships so far and is a finalist for two more. There is also a local math/science scholarship in southern MN for $5,000 (renewable for a total of $20,000). We have our fingers crossed on that one, but have to wait another month before we find out if he was selected.</p>

<p>Congratulations, Bossgirl! Often the college you attend is your best source for scholarships. I hope it is enough to make the college affordable for you.</p>

<p>wow...I thought I was the only person who wasn't getting any scholarships. I'm number 1 in the class, took every darn challenging class my school offers, and have decent test scores. who knows. And I agree with the statement that "all the same people are getting them." I guess they have amazing applications. </p>

<p>I just can't wait till I'm rich and successful and can start a scholarship of my own....<em>evil laugh.</em> Middle class slgihtly above average kid scholarship anyone?</p>

<p>ill start the "average middle class white male" scholarship</p>

<p>from what I've found, no matter how poor you are, no matter how perfect your application is, if you're white, you aren't going to get the scholarship.. at least none that I've applied for</p>

<p>My son dispels that myth. White, 18-year-old male. He has received two scholarships thus far and is a finalist for Best Buy and USA Funds. He is what many would describe as an "all-American boy" -- strong academics, athletics and other extracurriculars, volunteer service, etc. Just keep persevering and work to beat the odds. If what you've been doing on your applications so far isn't bringing you success, then try a different approach on your essays, etc. Good luck!</p>

<p>Megara18 and kbfunkymonkey-
Us white kids have to stick together. lol We need the caucasian american scholarship fund. Maybe then we can get our share of all of that mysterious "unclamied scholarship money" you hear so much about</p>