As we start the second semester of the school year many students may want to look into post-secondary or higher education for after high school. The first step to this next stage of students life is scholarships, and although they may be stressful Albert Lea High School wants to help in every way it can. 

Every scholarship is different but all of them are a way to help students achieve higher education with less stress and debt. Scholarships cover different fees such as housing, tuition or books so students can focus on their studies.

There are many  scholarships that go to any student but there are also scholarships for students who meet specific criteria to promote diversity, career development or academics. Some are given to students with different backgrounds, fields of study or talents. 

A local scholarship program, Freeborn County Community Promise Scholarship, is offered to residents of Freeborn County who are also students of a county high school such as ALHS. This scholarship offers free tuition for 65 credits for any program on any of the Riverland campuses’ or online programs. To be eligible for the scholarship, you must meet certain academic benchmarks which are available on the Riverland websites. 

“The number one place to look for scholarships is at the institution you are attending,” said Albert Lea High School counselor Jessica Hatland. “The second to that are your local scholarships.”

Hatland suggests that rather than searching for scholarships that may apply nationally to any student for any college in the country you have a more likely chance of getting a local scholarship or scholarships linked directly to the college of your choosing.

Albert Lea High School recommends using Naviance and Scholarships.com to search for scholarships. 

Scholarships.com requires you to answer several questions about activities in and outside of school that you are involved in along with questions about your personal identity to quickly match you with scholarships that you may be interested in and are eligible for. The website is a quick and easy way to look for scholarships.

Naviance is an online website for students. Logging in with your school account can give you access to both college and local scholarships. Only juniors and seniors have access to the scholarships tab on naviance but the website can also help students with personalized planning for their futures. 

Once you’ve searched and found scholarships you are interested in they may require you to send in an application essay to tell them who you are and why you’re interested in the said college or scholarship. You want to sell yourself, but remember to be confident and humble. Your letter should share your personal story, so be authentic to who you are.

“Take your time,” Hatland said. “It is worth your time to do a good job.”

If you’re struggling to write your letter, try reading it loud and find people willing to give you feedback to improve your essay.