As we approach the holidays, we also approach application season. Students will begin to melt over perfecting essays, double-checking submissions, and even trying to find scholarships. So how are we supposed to approach it? What if we don’t have someone over our shoulder, guiding us through the murky waters of scholarship applications? 

The first step: get over the idea that there isn’t a scholarship out there for you. Whether it’s grades or you don’t feel like you made as much of a presence on campus; there’s still something for you. Many private organizations offer scholarships for specific identity groups or experiences, opening the door to higher education.

The terminology surrounding scholarships, grants, and general financial aid is a language all to itself. Scholarships and grants are two types of financial aid – money to pay for college. The money, often called awards, are either based on merit or need, and the money comes from federal and state governments, institutions (schools), and/or private companies. 

Some aid can be awarded automatically. Because a student’s financial status is collected through the FAFSA application, the financial need of that student is known to the college, and automatic awards can be applied. 

Some may notice the Washington State College Grant on their award letters. As part of the Husky Promise, University of Washington awards automatic scholarships to approximately 700 students each year. 

The terms “scholarship” and “grant” are interchangeable, to an extent. A grant is a gift, so-to-say, based on need, and resembles a loan that does not need to be paid back (unless certain conditions are not met, like dropping a class that the grant paid for). Grants paid by private companies are often called scholarships. 

Lost yet? Step two: understand what you are eligible for. Most who go searching for scholarships and grants are searching out of financial insecurity, and others use their academic performance to lighten the strain of paying for college. 

Need-based scholarships from private companies are often tied to some identity, experience, or major, like ‘women in STEM’ or ‘first generation college students’. Finding these scholarships are as simple as googling “scholarship for…” and inserting an identity factor. The more specific the search, the better the results. 

Private companies won’t be just giving money away, however, and will often require an application and short essay. The Highline College’s Writing Center provides support on written communication, and can assist in strengthening a student’s writing. 

Step three: apply to those that you are eligible for. There are thousands of scholarships, and most of them will have eligibility requirements you may or may not meet. Don’t get discouraged. Look into local organizations by calling or going online to see what’s offered. Applications that require essays or interviews offer higher chances of awards simply because less people want to put the work in. 

Scholarships can be found on school websites, Google, and scholarship search engines. Scholarship search engines are often third-party groups that may charge a fee for access to its scholarship database. This can be beneficial for those looking into a wide range of offers, but can bring up many results that are not relevant to the student.

Highline Instructor Wendy Swyt teaches HONORS 200, a transfer success class focused on teaching students how to transfer to universities and apply for scholarships. She said, “Local is better than national. Scholarships requiring essays are better than scholarships that don’t.”

“Why? Because these scholarship opportunities are less competitive – less students apply – so [they] are easier to get,” said Swyt. “Students often assume that the scholarship search engines are the best way to find scholarships, but they are not. Scholarship lists on the school’s website are often best because they prioritize local scholarships that fit the school and the students who go there or want to go there.” 

To highlight one opportunity, the Coca-Cola World Impact Scholars program awards $2,500 in scholarships to high-achieving students pursuing career and technical education in cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Pretty specific, huh? This means this scholarship is exclusive to community colleges in and around Seattle. 

Swyt continued, “Another great way to search for scholarships is to network. Ask teachers, Highline librarians, advisors, school career counselors, employers, leaders of community groups if they are aware of scholarships for a student like you. Let everyone know your goals and that you are looking for scholarship money for school. Reach out and let people help you.” 

Highline College, like most schools, has a page dedicated to relevant scholarships for their students. 

Scholarship money can be used towards tuition, expenses, and housing, if needed. The one mentioned above allows the funds to be used on certification exams, uniforms, tools, etc. 

As the transfer season approaches, Highline hosts transfer fairs and workshops to help advise students on how to overcome financial obstacles and make higher education possible. 

**Mavrie has been serving as editor for the ThunderWord since 2024. She is also the founding president of Highline’s Non-fiction Writers Circle.**