How I got an *EASY* FULL-RIDE scholarship!

Lemme tell you how I found an "easy" full-ride scholarship that paid for 2 years of my education...

It's basically the college's best-kept secret.

No, it's not actually hidden. Just not well-known.

(So stay in school, kids, and look at ALL your resources.)

So my community college has 2 full-ride tuition options with the college and community chorale and symphonic band. These groups are open to college students and community members alike, but the college students have the added perk of being able to apply for COMPLETE TUITION PAYMENT!

These 2 scholarship options are available on the school's financial aid scholarship application database... but most students never even search for scholarships on the school website, let alone hear about full-ride options.

Anyways, as I mentioned in the last blog post, I reached out to the professor/chorale director, and she said that someone was not using the scholarship the coming school year, and was in essence "giving it back," and I could come in and audition for it!

But she was on vacation for 2 weeks and I had to wait and agonize about it that whole time... I was pretty nervous and wished I could just get it over with. Plus it gave me time to practice.

When the audition date came, my two song selections went pretty well, and I passed the rhythm test, but I have to admit, my sight reading was pretty horrible. However, I still got the scholarship, and it was certainly an answer to prayer!

It turned out I was probably getting it no matter if I had not done super well on the audition. You see, there was a scholarship available, and no one to use it. Apparently in the past, sometimes not enough students audition, and there are scholarships left over.

THIS HAPPENS SO OFTEN.

I once heard that a college north of me (but still in my state) had a curling or badminton scholarship available that was never awarded... and basically if anyone had applied for it, even if they weren't skilled at all or had never played before, they would have gotten the funding.

WHAT!? Free money, sign me up(:

Now. This scholarship may not seem easy to some. Students may not like to (or know how to) play an instrument or sing, BUT if scholarships are available like this, go make a joyful noise even if you're not an accomplished singer!

Seriously, you don't even know what scholarships will remain un-awarded because no one applied. Sometimes you can simply ask your adviser or financial aid rep which scholarships are low competition.

Even if they're only for $50-100, go for it.

But also, this was an "easy" scholarship for me because it was something I knew I could do, I didn't have to be super accomplished at it, and it was available.

So I PURSUED it... and didn't even have to write a paper for it.

...and the follow up work included practice 1 night a week, and 4 performances all year, right at the college, so I didn't have to drive anywhere else.

(Side note: If you're from my hometown and planning to go to our community college, you really don’t have to be an accomplished singer. You should apply for this. This does NOT mean that it's not an amazing group with a seriously talented director. But the choral is full of students and community members, many of who just sing for fun and enjoy the community. They're skilled, but not singing competitively or anything (last I checked).

It is quite amazing that a small community college has several full ride scholarships, as well as a load of smaller awards, and it is worth taking advantage of the free money, especially since last year only a small % of the scholarships were awarded, or they were awarded to students who were the only ones to apply for the scholarships!)

So student... the morale of the story is look. Look for things that you know you can do, but don't be afraid to apply to scholarships that you have no idea how to do (like play badminton!?), but that have low-competition.

And don’t stop there! There are so many scholarships available out in the world, some with extensive application processes and others within jobs or clubs.

You always miss every shot you don't take.