How to Win a Full-Ride College Scholarship – There are many students who have these huge dreams of getting a full-ride scholarship and this scholarship helps you to go to college for free. Apart from that it’s a common situation for every student i.e. the application for loan which is again a bit complicated. But now its not just a dream, you can easily get a full –ride scholarship. So, continue reading because today in this guide you will get to know about the same. There are many queries that people have and will have regarding the scholarship and about the possibilities of going to the college free, etc. etc. types of question are there which will be answered in this guide.
But before you read further, it is important that you know that if you want to know more about the scholarship every month, be it from full-ride or some other scholarships, then you can look in buchananreform for free and start your new free trial for the same. Apart from that, it is one of the best and the number one application that you can download. It has hundreds and thousands of dollars scholarship, which is based on different person’s interest, traits, and achievements. So, what are you waiting for, simply Get started with a 100% free trial!.
So, continue reading to know more about the full –ride scholarship and what it means and what is full-ride scholarship?
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What is a Full-Ride Scholarship?
One of the best parts that you will know about the full ride scholarship is that, it covers the full cost of the attendance of students. Plus, the full –ride scholarship also helps the students in paying off their tuition fee and apart from that board and room fee is also covered including books and students fee. Apart from that, this scholarship pays for some of the funds like laptop, students studying abroad and for other kinds of leadership programs too.
When looking for full-ride scholarships, you may also come across full-tuition scholarships. But it’s important to know that those two things are not the same. Unlike full-ride scholarships, full-tuition scholarships only cover the cost of tuition.
Both types of scholarships, full-ride and full-tuition, are obviously amazing at helping you pay for college. But full-ride scholarships are the absolute best for ensuring you pay $0 for college!
How common are Full-Ride Scholarships?
Another best parts that you will know about the scholarship is that, firstly, this scholarship has a good deal when it comes to paying off the students fee and other expenses. Secondly, this scholarship is very rare. So, since its rare opportunity, you should always make sure to search for this scholarship and apply for it. In fact, fewer than 20,000 students per year win full-ride scholarships — less than 1% of each year’s incoming college freshmen. But does that mean putting together applications for full-ride scholarships isn’t worth your time? Not at all!
There is no difference in this type of scholarship application because even in this scholarship, you will have to give the same details as it is asked in other scholarship. So, if you have made any college application or have already made any scholarship application then, you can recycle those materials, apart from that it also saves your time. For instance, the time that it takes to write a scholarship essays.
And, depending on when you’re reading this, you may still have time to plan ahead on everything you’ll need to do to put together a really strong application for one or more full-ride scholarships!
Where to Look for Full-Ride Scholarships?
When you try to search about the full-ride scholarship, you can look in buchananreform. Apart from that, you can also look and search online for the scholarship. One of the reasons as to why it will be a bit difficult for you to find about the scholarship online is because, it is there in the old websites which takes long time to come in the searched pages.
At buchananreform, our goal is to help simplify the way you find scholarships. For example, with buchananreform (available on iOS, Android, and your web browser) you can gain access to a large database of scholarships worth millions-and-millions of dollars! buchananreform Search matches you with all of the scholarships you qualify for so that you don’t miss out on any chances to win free money to pay for college.
Now, below you will get few of the instances of the full-ride scholarship that, are offered by the government, private organizations, colleges etc. These are just the samples; there are 100s of scholarship that you will get with buchananreform.
6 Full-Ride Scholarships from Universities –
Nancy Susan Reynolds Scholarship
Quick Facts:
One of the best things that you will know about this scholarship is that it covers the cost of the tuition fee, apart from, that the cost of the room, then also the cost of board, plus, $3,400 for personal expenses for 4 years of undergraduate study at Wake Forest University. Apart from that, if you are a Reynolds’s Scholar, you can also apply for a scholarship research or study pr travel project, for up to $5,000.
One of the best ways you can get this scholarship is after you have excelled in academics. Or you have excelled in standardized tests. Or it is also possible that they see that you have taken challenging courses, and have demonstrated a leadership in extracurricular. For the Reynolds scholarship there are upto 5 students who are chosen annually.
Jefferson Scholarship –
Quick Facts:
One of the best things that you will know about this scholarship is that it covers the cost of the tuition fee, apart from, that the cost of the room, then also the cost of board, plus, some costs for personal expenses for 4 years of undergraduate study at University of Virginia. Apart from that, after getting this scholarship, the students also get additional benefits like that of career counseling, travel studies, institute for leadership and citizenship, and many more such. As a receiver, you also get to take advantage of supplemental enrichment experiences, which include foreign travel studies, career counseling, the Institute for Leadership and Citizenship, and more.
You should be nominated for regional competition. And this should happen from your school side during the senior year or you should have been selected as a finalist. After you have been chosen as a finalist, then you will be allowed to take part in the Jefferson Scholarship Selection Events. So, for Jefferson scholarship there were more than 32 students who were chosen from a list of 2,000 nominees.
Morehead-Cain Scholars –
Quick Facts:
One of the best things that you will know about this scholarship is that, it provides, full funding of 4 years, which also includes the funding for the summer, classes, for undergraduates studying at the University of North Carolina. As a Morehead-Cain Scholar, you can also receive funding for an international gap year and study abroad as well as apply for their Discovery Fund grants of up to $8,000 to fund a personal project.
One of the best things that you will know about this scholarship is that this is available to the students all around the globe. But winning depends on many factors like nomination by the school, direct application, and affiliate program. This scholarship is available to students across the world. But to win, you must first be nominated by your school, an affiliate program, or apply directly. In particular, the Morehead-Cain Foundation states they seek to award students who are “motivated, courageous, and inquisitive leaders interested in embracing new and unknown experiences and impacting— positively and profoundly—the people and pursuits that define their lives.” The number of students awarded the Morehead-Cain Scholarship varies per year.
Trustee Scholarship:
Quick Facts:
In this scholarship program, complete tuition fee is covered for 4 years at Boston University. Apart from that, you should be good in academics and you should show that you are having leadership qualities, and apart from that submit application to study at Boston University by December 1. Plus, it is important that you also give a 600 words essay. This scholarship can be won by at least 20 students annually.
Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship
Quick Facts:
All kinds of fees including tuition fee is covered by this scholarship at George Washington University. To apply, you must be a D.C. high school senior. The Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship Program also selects recipients based on their academic record, including GPA, course of study, teacher recommendations, leadership qualities, community service, and other extracurricular activities and achievements. You’re also required to apply to GWU by the January 5 deadline, submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile, write an essay, and participate in an evaluative interview. 10 students won the Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship in 2020.
Torch Scholars Program
Quick Facts:
Fees of the book, board, fees, and tuition fees are all covered under this undergraduate program at the Northeastern University. Plus, as the receiver of this, you will get to take part in some good programs like 7 week summer immersion program or some other program like professional mentoring and much more.
But to be eligible for this type of scholarship you should be a first generation student, your back ground should be diverse, plus it is also important that the students shows the quality of perseverance and achieve the academic results. Additionally, the students should have a leadership quality. Shoud be a leader in school or other activities and also should have previously enrolled in college prep classes. You should submit your application to the FAFSA, the Northeasterm, the CSS profile till January 1. In this scholarship you will have to wrire 3 essays and apart from that you will have to take part in many other interview rounds. Around 10 students win this scholarship on yearly basis.
3 Full-Ride Scholarships from Private Organizations
Gates Scholarship
Quick Facts:
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation award this scholarship. It covers full costs of attendance and tuition fee, room fee, board and books, transportation, and other kinds of personal costs too. This scholarship is renewable for up to 5 years.
Eligibility Criteria for the Application of this scholarship –
- To apply, you must be a high school senior from an ethnic minority background, be Pell Grant eligible, and have at least a cumulative weighted 3.3 GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
- The ideal recipient will have also placed in the top 10% of their class, demonstrated leadership, and developed exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.).
- Each year, 300 students win a Gates Scholarship.
You can also check on these guides as to How to Win the Gates Scholarship!
The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program –
Quick Facts:
- eight semesters of full tuition
- room and board
- mandatory fees
Is covered by this scholarship at Duke University or UNC- Chapel Hills. Recipients of this scholarship also have access to generous funding for up to three summer experiences, funding for conferences throughout the academic year, and two semesters of study abroad.
To apply, you must submit ACT or SAT scores, 2 recommendation letters, an application to study at Duke University and/or UNC-Chapel Hill during the same year of your scholarship application. The program seeks to award students who have demonstrated outstanding potential to become great leaders in college and beyond.
Stamps Scholarships –
Quick Facts:
Strive Foundation has cooperated with 36 US colleges and universities to offer students multi-year Stamps Scholarships that range from $5,400 to $75,000 per year. Apart from that, they also provide additional fees for many other things, which comprises of abroad, academic conferences, and other kinds of leadership training.
You will be considered for this scholarship if you fulfill all the requirements of eligibility criteria. Every student has their own deadlines and apart from that have additional steps to complete a application. One of the key points that you should note that is that you should have good leadership, quality and academic merit and exceptional character.
2 Full-Ride Scholarships from the Government –
USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
Quick Facts:
The 1890 historically black land-grant colleges, universities, and the USDA are partners with the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program. All kinds of fees is taken care by this scholarship program. This scholarship is mainly for students who are in resource science or food or agriculture. The USDA can convert the students into permanent employee without any kind of competition.
Eligibility –
- To apply, you must be a U.S. citizen
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale)
- Demonstrate leadership and community service
- Submit an official transcript and signed application
- In addition to high school seniors, rising college sophomores and juniors are also eligible.
U.S. Air Force ROTC Scholarships –
Quick Facts:
In this scholarship, it offers full fees for both private and public institution. The recipients also receive travel expenses, living expenses, book fee expenses and much more. You can check online for more details. There are few eligibility criteria for the same they are as follows –
- To apply, you must be a U.S. citizen
- Must pass a Department of Defense Medical Examination
- Review Board medical exam
- Complete a physical fitness test
- Have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher
- SAT composite of 1240 or ACT composite of 26.
- If awarded a scholarship, you must accept and sign an agreement with the United States Air Force.
7 Tips for Winning Full-Ride Scholarships –
Winning a scholarship is not an easy task because you will have to make an application that is a winning application. However, if you have proper strategies and plans, you can win the full-ride scholarship, So, here are 7 tips to make you successful in winning scholarship –
1. Start preparing early
One of the reasons why you should start preparing early for the scholarship is because of the deadlines. However, in some of the scholarship, the deadlines are different for different students, but still you should be able to give a early application, so that the committee members can read it and go through your application. So, start preparing early and work hard for the scholarship.
2. Take challenging courses
One of the key points in every scholarship that is mentioned above is that the students should have strong grades or academic results and should have taken some form of challenging course. The students should have taken Honors, IB, advance placements, and college prep courses. You may also be able to earn college credits while in high school by taking courses at a local community college or university.
3. Develop leadership skills
Apart from, that it is also important that you have leadership qualities when you apply for the scholarship. So, make sure that you are a leader or captain in schools or colleges. Plus, make sure that you are able to accomplish the leadership qualities and work in your extra curricular activities. Take part in community services and community works also, including some social works also.
4. Commit to community service
One of the key points that you should note is that the scholarship committee likes the people who are social and do some social work like giving back to the community what they have given. Plus, the quality of the community service is also important. So, make sure that you join some community service from high school. Though, it is not required in your graduation still you should take part in community services.
5. Build relationships with your teachers and guidance counselor
It is very important that a teacher or a counselor appoint you, as this is the requirement of scholarship application. Therefore, it is very important for you to have a good relationship with your college and school teachers or counselors. It is also important for them to know about your goals and higher education dreams. Most likely, they will be happy to support you! Some scholarship applications will also require you to get one or more recommendation letters.
6. Hone in on what makes you unique
With so many strong applicants applying for the limited number of full-ride scholarships, you’ll need to make sure you stand out. Try to make sure your selection of academic courses, extracurricular activities, and community service are a reflection of your unique interests and values. Also, know that there are many scholarships for students with unique traits and characteristics!
7. Submit a spectacular scholarship application
All of the previous tips will lead you to this last one. But make sure that you present everything in the best way on your scholarship applications by making sure you follow all of the application instructions, complete any “optional” work, learn how to write a killer scholarship essay, and meticulously proofread your essays and application materials.
You can check 15 Expert Tips on How to Win College Scholarships!
How to Go to College for Free Even If You Don’t Get a Full-Ride Scholarship
There is no doubt that full-ride scholarships are amazing. But they aren’t the only way to go to college for free. If, in addition to full-ride scholarships, you also apply to many other scholarships of various amounts, you might be able to create your own set of “full-ride” scholarships! Let us show you what we mean.
Let’s say, for example, you win one scholarship worth $20,000 per year and another one worth $15,000 per year. With the average cost to attend an out-of-state public college currently being $22,577, those scholarships pretty much equal a “full-ride”! To give another example, let’s say you win several scholarships: one for $15,000, two for $5,000, one for $1,000, and two more for $500. Well, that is $27,000 and enough for a “full-ride” to an out-of-state public college!
Conclusion
So, even if you don’t win a full-ride scholarship, that dream you had of avoiding student loans and debt with scholarship money that covers everything is still possible! You just need to cast a wide net by applying for as many scholarships as you can. With that goal in mind, make sure to check out buchananreform to help make the process of finding all those scholarships as easy as can be!
