Scholarships: A Military Teen's Best Friend

For high school seniors moving on to higher education, now is the time to apply for scholarships. Thousands of grants and endowments are available, meaning thousands of dollars are ready to fill your college fund. Before you resign to a summer job or use the GI Bill to cover the expenses, consider exploring a few of these options.

The world of scholarships is packed with miscellaneous choices. Essay topics can range from profound questions to specific (sometimes silly) situations. Some grants and endowments don’t even require essays at all, simply engaging in a lottery system to see who gets the money. Often scholarships are aimed at different groups of people. There are specific contests targeted for students in STEM, English, Art, Music, or History. Scholarships can also be aimed at people from different walks of life. For example, factors like your geographical location or your financial situation might be a basis to qualify you for a grant. No matter what your lifestyle is, there’s likely a scholarship to match.

While scholarships can be invaluable for all college students, they can be even more important for military kids. A parent’s GI Bill might be helpful, but it also might not cover every expense, especially if it has already been used for a parent or older sibling. If you want to study close to home, you may not qualify for in-state tuition if your family has moved from the state they are registered in.

Because of these and other factors, being a military kid might complicate your college plans. However, there is an advantage. Depending on your essay-writing skills and your ability to ferret out good scholarships, your status as a military teen may be your saving grace as a broke college student. Tons of scholarships are designed just for children of military members. Institutes like the Fisher House Foundation, which has given over $35 million in scholarships, help hundreds of dependents per year. Resources like CollegeBoard or your designated military base can also help you find a program that works for you.

Most scholarship programs, military or not, want interesting responses to their questions. Due to the unique lives of military kids, we have rich perspectives and stories to choose from. This could include moving, having a deployed parent, or anything else you could think of. We can write about the struggles and joys of military life.

The only catch is that while your experience may be uncommon, others with similar lives might be applying for the same prize. Whatever you write, try to make your essay distinct and memorable.

Preparing for college can be overwhelming in a million ways. Thankfully, scholarships can ease some of the financial and mental strain. However, even in these stressful times, it's important to take opportunities to help yourself out. As you research colleges or plan how you'll decorate your dorm, remember to breathe and relax. You've got this. By working to provide for the next phase of your education, you're improving your quality of life and readying yourself for the real world.

CollegeBoard: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

Fisher House Foundation: https://fisherhouse.org/programs/scholarship-programs/scholarships-for-military-children/