Scholarship Requirements

You should be proud of your scholarship. It rewards or honors a good essay, academic or social accomplishments, or your heritage. Here are a few tips for keeping your scholarship.

Know Your Award's Details
There are different types of financial aid and scholarships are no different. Some come in the form of one-time-only awards, but some are renewable every year. If you collected transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other information to apply for the scholarship, you might need it again the following academic term. Keep the paperwork and renewal terms handy and stay in touch with the donor or foundation in charge of your scholarship.

Meet Award Requirements
Merit-based awards may come with some requirements. The scholarship donor may require you to maintain a minimum GPA or participate in a specific number of community service hours. You may need to take certain courses within your educational program. Your part-time student status may also be an important component to keeping your scholarship. Dropping even one class could mean the loss of your scholarship. Contact your school's financial aid department for advice and information on your award's requirements.

Stay Organized
You can receive many different scholarships at one time. That's good news for students, but if you decide to apply for multiple scholarships, you need to stay organized. Different scholarship programs will likely require different application or status information, and you'll want to keep forms, deadlines, and all of the award's paperwork in one place. A wall-mounted calendar can help, or you can make life easier with a software program that features time-based reminders you can personalize for your scholarship deadlines and other appointments. An educational program will keep you busy, and it takes a high level of organization to balance school with work, your family, and your existing commitments and obligations.

Anytime you get a new job, declare or change a major, or take on more or fewer classes, you should check to see how your scholarship funds are affected. Be proud of your scholarships and do all you can to keep them.