Investing in Your Future: How Scholarships Can Help You Achieve Your Dreams

According to the Education Data Initiative, nearly 2 million scholarships are awarded in the U.S. each year. If you're a current or upcoming college student, have you considered looking into these opportunities?

There are many different kinds of scholarships you can apply for, and each is designed to offer a different type of recognition and support. For example, merit scholarships are awarded to students based on their academic and/or extracurricular achievements, not their financial need. 

Receiving a merit-based college scholarship can change the trajectory of your post-secondary journey. Today, we're sharing some of the top benefits you can expect, and how they can help you achieve your dreams!

Catch the Eye of Colleges

Do you have your sights set on a particular college or university? Receiving a merit-based scholarship could improve your likelihood of college acceptance.

These awards signify that you've worked hard to distinguish yourself inside and outside of the classroom. Some of the different types of merit scholarships include:

• Academic
• Arts
• Athletic
• Special interest

Here's a quick breakdown of what each one entails.

Academic

Most academic-based merit scholarships award students for achieving a certain GPA or scoring well on a standardized test, such as the SAT or ACT. If you consistently score high marks on your papers and tests, you can use your academic prowess to your advantage! For example, our Perfect GPA Scholarship recognizes students who have achieved a superior score on their cumulative grade point average. 

Apply for academic merit scholarships to show your future college or university that you know how to study hard and perform well. Schools are looking for students who excel in the classroom and are dedicated to making their studies a top priority. An academic merit scholarship can turn the head of admissions officers, especially at institutions that still require you to include your test scores with your application. 

Arts

Have you been dancing all of your life? Are you skilled at playing an instrument, creating art, or performing another kind of artistic hobby? If so, it's important to let prospective colleges know about it!

Many arts-based merit scholarships require you to create and present a portfolio of your work. Before you apply, make sure you have plenty of time to complete it. If you're awarded a prize, you could pique the interest of the college you're eyeing.

Athletic 

Many private organizations are looking to award students for the dedication and determination they've shown on the field or court. Sports require a commitment of your time, attention, and energy. It can be difficult to balance a full courseload at school plus games and practices. 

Athletic merit scholarships recognize and reward that responsibility. Especially if you plan on playing sports at the college level, this kind of recognition can prove to an admissions department that you have what it takes to succeed. 

Special Interest

Finally, there are other organizations that seek to reward niche talents, hobbies, or special interests. If you're skilled in any specific area, it's worth checking to see if there's a merit scholarship available in that sector! 

For instance, many organizations will award students for their commitment to leadership or community service, especially if they've donated their time while also balancing other extracurriculars. One example is the Honor Society Community Service Scholarship, which awards $1,000 to a member who has successfully planned a community service program to benefit their local region. 

Regardless of which type of scholarship you apply for, receiving a merit scholarship is a great way to enhance your application and help you stand out among the sea of applicants. 

Lower the Price of Tuition

No, a merit scholarship isn't based on your ability to cover the cost of college tuition. There are other types of financial aid and assistance designed specifically to help make those expenses more manageable. However, it can lower your overall bill, which makes the experience more accessible and affordable for more students. 

Some merit scholarships are designed as one-time awards, while others are distributed on a regular, reoccurring basis (usually once per year or per quarter). In either case, you won't have to pay as much during that period, which means money back in your pocket.

These awards can range from a few hundred dollars to a full ride plus a stipend, so it's definitely smart to look into your available options. No matter how much you save, you can use the extra funds to invest more deeply into your studies, athletics, or artistic endeavors. For some students, this will be a special bonus on top of other perks they're already receiving, but for others, it can be a positively life-changing opportunity. 

Enhance Your Future Resume

If you're still in high school, you might not be thinking too much about your future career path just yet. However, you're only a few short years away from applying for a job that could influence your professional life forever. 

When it's time to apply, you'll need a strong resume by your side. Studies show that recruiters only spend about seven seconds looking at each one they review. If yours includes a reference to the merit scholarship you received, that could be the essential element that helps it stand out from the others in the stack. 

Access Top-Tier Colleges and Universities

Even if you can comfortably afford to attend a local, public college, you may have dreams of attending an elite, private, Ivy League university. As you research the cost of attending these schools for four years, you'll find that most of them are more expensive than other options. 

If you're awarded a significant merit scholarship, those institutions may suddenly become more available to you. While the scholarship may not cover the full cost of tuition, it may help lower it enough to be at a comparable price point to other universities within your budget. Now, that prestigious university you hoped for may not seem so out of reach after all.

At the same time, students who would have had a difficult time covering any level of college tuition may be able to attend a post-secondary institution for the very first time. No matter what type of college or university you want to attend, a merit scholarship can make it more affordable. 

Focus on Honing Your Skills

When you receive a merit scholarship, you'll help ease the financial stress related to paying for college. You may also unlock new opportunities that allow you to dive even more deeply into the fields you love. 

For instance, an arts-based scholarship may help you attend a prestigious dance school, where you can spend your days perfecting your pirouettes. The same applies to a STEM-based merit award, which could open doors in the software and tech field. When scholarship committees recognize and support your talents, they'll often help you secure access to resources that can help you hone them. 

This might mean connecting you with mentors in your field or granting you access to special learning opportunities that you may have otherwise missed. From the sports track to the science lab, you'll have the chance to fully explore the areas that challenge, intrigue, and inspire you.  

Grow Your Network

Did you know that up to 80% of all jobs are filled through personal connections? The old adage rings true: Who you know is often just as important as what you know. 

As soon as you get to college, you'll begin forming what will later become your network. At first, these may be advisors, mentors, and professors who help you uncover your talents and areas of interest. They may encourage you in your studies, place you in internships, and prepare you for the job force. 

Later, your network will expand to include your colleagues, co-workers, and supervisors. The more people you can bring into your professional circle, the wider and more substantial it will become. 

Again, a merit scholarship can be a talking point to help you make those connections. When you earn this type of award, you'll automatically enter into a prestigious and elite group of other students who have been in your same shoes. The awarding organization may even host events that allow you to meet current and past awardees!

Take the Honor Society Foundation, for instance. Not only do we provide scholarships for high achievers, but we also help those achievers connect with one another. We encourage students to take on leadership positions, grow their communities, and create a team-like environment with their peers. 

Keep Your Confidence High

Next, let's talk about the qualitative benefit of merit scholarships. They can give you a serious confidence boost. While this might seem like a smaller perk, it could hold more weight than you know.

Think about all of the shots you haven't taken, simply because you were afraid you might miss the mark. Self-doubt can put a dark cloud over nearly every aspect of your life, including your studies. If you're feeling down on yourself, you might think you're not worthy enough to go to college or wonder why that next step is even important. 

While a scholarship alone might not be enough to totally change your perspective around, it can help you see your true worth and value. Being recognized for your hard work, talent, and leadership can motivate you to pursue other opportunities that are equally rewarding and fulfilling. 

As you prepare to graduate, it's important to prioritize your mental health, which includes your self-esteem. Applying for and winning a merit scholarship can help you see yourself as others see you. It's also an excellent reminder that your talents, abilities, and skills are credible and important. 

Reduce Stress and Distractions

When money is less of an issue due to a merit scholarship, you're free to focus more intently on your studies. Even a small amount of financial stress can place a heavy burden on your shoulders, which can make it difficult to concentrate. You might even find it hard to fully embrace college life and all that it has to offer. 

Instead, you may feel obligated to take on a part-time job in addition to your full-time coursework. This can heap even more stress onto an already cumbersome issue. 

You deserve to be able to give your education your all. Whether you're paying your own tuition or receiving support from your family, you don't want the task to distract from the reason you pursued college in the first place!

Once you release yourself of this tension, you'll notice the world start to open up a little more. You may be more willing to engage in social interactions with your friends, try a new hobby, or simply study for your upcoming test. All of these healthy habits can make college a fulfilling, enjoyable experience. 

Maintain Your Academic Focus

Many merit scholarships require you to keep up your performance if you want to renew for the same type of funding year after year. When this is the case, students are especially motivated to work hard. 

For instance, you may be required to maintain a specific GPA for each semester. Or, you might need to commit a certain number of hours each year to the community service project you initiated.

In this way, your scholarship will keep you honest and on track. You can think of it as a built-in dependability partner, reminding you to keep your focus even as the distractions of college threaten to usurp your hard work. 

Learn About Honor Society Foundation Merit Scholarships

Now that you know a few of the benefits of receiving merit scholarships, are you ready to apply for a few yourself? At Honor Society, we make this next step easier than ever. We offer scholarships through the Honor Society Foundation designed to recognize high-achieving students for their hard work and success. 

Once you join our organization, complete your profile, and upload your headshot, you can apply for scholarships directly on our website. Take a look at all of the different types of awards and scholarships the Honor Society Foundation offers today and contact us to learn more!