Navigating Scholarships as a First-Generation Student

A comprehensive guide for first-generation college students in search of scholarships to pay for college.

As a first generation college student, the first step is to apply for targeted and specific scholarships that fit your eligibility criteria. Here are a few keywords to help narrow down your search:

• Scholarships for first generation students
• Underrepresented student scholarship
• First-gen scholarships
• Merit and need based scholarships

While searching, pay attention to renewable scholarships. Renewable scholarships are scholarships that can be awarded for more than one year, rather than just a single one-time payment. Instead of receiving money once and reapplying from scratch, a renewable scholarship can continue supporting you throughout your college journey — often for 2, 3, or even 4 years.

Smaller Award Scholarships Add Up

You don't need one scholarship to cover everything. By applying to scholarships with smaller award amounts, you'll be surprised how quickly it adds up.

So don't think of smaller award scholarships as a waste of time - $1,000 here, $500 there, $2,000 over there and before you know it… several scholarships have paid off a whole semester.

A lot of students overlook these scholarships because they're not "big enough," but the truth is, those smaller awards are often less competitive and more realistic to win. And when you combine a few of them, they can make a bigger difference than you'd expect.

Apply Consistently

Applying to a few scholarships each week can build momentum over time. The more you apply, the more you improve your essays and increase your chances of winning.

To all my first generation students: just start, stay consistent, and be intentional about applying to scholarships. Good luck!