By Grayson Joslin, Editor
The most important word for any senior who is going to college after they graduate in June is “scholarship”.
Scholarships, no matter if they are worth hundreds or thousands, are important as they can help pay off student loans. Students at New Castle High School are encouraged to apply to as many scholarships as possible. Scholarships can seem and feel like a monumental task to apply for, but with some help and some tips, it can help relieve stress off of the shoulders of the student.
“The hardest thing about scholarships is deciding which ones you want to apply for, and finding the time to complete the applications,” Senior Nancy Thompson said.
It is important to have the necessary tools and materials in order to successfully fill out the application. What is required can vary between each scholarship.
Some scholarships require a letter of recommendation from one or more teachers. It is best to ask for a letter of recommendation from a teacher that you have had. Scholarships may ask for a copy of your transcript. Seniors are able to access their NCHS transcript from the Parchment website that the counselors had seniors sign up for in their English classes during the first semester. Some scholarships require SAT scores, which can be found and accessed on the College Board website.
There are numerous scholarships that are available to apply for. Most prominently, the Henry County Community Foundation has compiled a scholarship program with donors across Henry County, and according to HCCF, they have over 150 scholarships to Henry County students. New Castle High School has more than 40 school-exclusive scholarships. After completing the universal application, students will then be matched with scholarships that they qualify for. Students will be notified if they have won a scholarship at the Awards Night for the Class of 2021 in May.
Students can also apply for various scholarships throughout other websites that find scholarships across the country. Notable and reliable scholarship websites include Fastweb, Unigo, Cappex, and scholarships.com. These search engines are a great tool to find special scholarships outside of Henry County and Indiana.
Perhaps the most daunting challenge in completing scholarships are the essays. Students can complete a successful essay by answering the prompt fully and correctly, using real-life examples tying into the prompt, showing their emotions, and creating a strong atmosphere throughout the essay.
“The essays can be a bit hard and it feels a bit tedious at moments,” Senior Miles Mann said.
Students, however, with the right amount of motivation, creative drive, and passion, can create an essay that can catch the attention of the judges.
“It may seem weird but you got to brag about yourself for a better chance. It’s kind of like a job interview,” Mann said.
The seniors of NCHS have some advice for their fellow classmates about scholarships.
“Definitely save all of your applications after you complete them,” Thompson said. “A lot of applications are similar or have repeated questions, so you can easily copy or adapt your previous application responses to fit your current application.”
“They should know that scholarships can really help get their fees lowered and that can help out a lot when it comes to going to college since colleges are super expensive,” Senior Darla Tinch said.
Seniors are advised to ask the counseling office or to schedule an appointment with their counselor for any questions they have regarding scholarships. Students can also visit the Counseling section of the New Castle High School website, where resources are available.
