You Still Have to Compete

One of the most common things I see posted on social media related to scholarships is: “Is there a scholarship for X?” X could be a medical condition the student has, or a hardship the student has dealt with, or any number of traits related to the student.

On the one hand, this is a great question to ask. After all, if a scholarship is only open to students of a certain background, identity, or experience, that limits the number of competitors the student will face. Less competition means a scholarship will be easier to win.

However, I worry that when people ask about such scholarships that they may be missing two key considerations.

First, the number of scholarships available for that particular trait is going to be quite limited. If students only apply for scholarships open to people with that trait, they will be severely limited in the number and dollar amount of scholarships they can earn.

Secondly, and more importantly, regardless of how many scholarships are available for students with a certain trait, they still have to compete for the scholarship. This is why, regardless of the qualifications needed to apply for a scholarship, a compelling Personal Narrative is so critical. In fact, a strong Personal Narrative may be even more critical for these types of scholarships because everyone else competing also shares that same trait.

Every scholarship wants to know that the money they award is going to be put to good use. A compelling Personal Narrative, outlining a student’s future plans, with past experiences that demonstrate the student’s genuine interest and ability to achieve those goals, is necessary to win most any scholarship - including scholarships only open to students with a certain identity, background, or experience.

If you aren’t sure where to find scholarships that match your student’s profile, or perhaps you aren’t sure if your student’s essays are what scholarship judges are looking for, then check out the Scholarship Navigator Programs:

With the Scholarship Navigator program, your student will gain access to a personalized list of scholarships tailored to their unique profile, ensuring they can apply for opportunities that resonate with their passions and experiences.

Your student will receive expert guidance on their scholarship applications and essays, including personalized reviews, constructive feedback, and editing assistance from Dave the Scholarship Coach.

Both students and parents can take advantage of direct support for all scholarship-related questions, available through email and exclusive client-only Zoom meetings.

We offer Scholarship Navigator programs for college students and high school students in the Class of 2026, Class of 2027, as well as for sophomores and freshmen.

Empower your student to seize their future—enroll today!