{"id":2690,"date":"2014-02-27T22:30:00","date_gmt":"2014-02-27T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/?p=330"},"modified":"2021-11-26T05:33:43","modified_gmt":"2021-11-26T12:33:43","slug":"getting-in-is-only-half-the-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/getting-in-is-only-half-the-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting In is Only Half the Battle…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"iStock_000004647415XSmall\"<\/a>Money. It\u2019s all about money. The admissions process is no exception, as the cost of higher education has continued to skyrocket in recent years. The price tag of a B.S., M.A., or Ph.D. has not only increased in the Ivy League and other esteemed private institutions, but also at less-competitive public schools. Tuition at many popular state and public schools, such as the University of Michigan and University of California institutions, can cost in excess of $10,000 per year for residents, while the total cost of attendance (including room, board, and supplies) can exceed $20,000. If you\u2019re applying to one of those institutions and lack residency, you\u2019ll likely pay nearly double those amounts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a result, for many prospective students, earning admission to such a school is really only half the battle; the other half is figuring out how you\u2019re going to pay for everything. Many schools offer generous financial aid packages to help defray their daunting costs. Other possibilities include low-interest student loans and private scholarships. In today\u2019s post, we\u2019ll take a look at this last option, as an essay can often play a vital role in helping you secure scholarship funds.<\/p>\n

There are countless scholarships available, from ones recognizing general academic or athletic excellence to ones that award being tall or a fan of Ayn Rand. Many scholarships, including those for tall students and Ayn Rand buffs, require students to write an essay. If you want a great way to search through a huge number of scholarship options (1.5 million options from 5,000 providers totaling roughly $10 billion<\/i> in available awards), check out the Peterson\u2019s Scholarship Search<\/a> tool. It can be an extremely effective way to identify scholarships that fit your unique abilities and situation.<\/p>\n

When you do find a scholarship that you think you have a shot at, don\u2019t be surprised if it asks you to write an essay as part of the application process. That\u2019s what we\u2019re here to help with. So now, using the tried-and-true bullet-point format, let\u2019s go through three important points to consider when writing a scholarship essay.<\/p>\n