Full-Ride Scholarships: Everything You Need to Know

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Learn how to get full funding for your college degree!

Full-ride scholarships provide an incredible opportunity for students to pursue higher education without financial burden. Imagine receiving full funding that covers your college tuition, housing, and even living expenses! In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about full-ride scholarships, where to find them, and how to apply.

What is a full-ride scholarship?

A full-ride scholarship is a type of funding that covers all your college expenses:

  • Tuition
  • Required fees
  • Supplies, like books, uniforms, or equipment
  • Room and board
  • Often also a monthly stipend for living costs

Types of full-ride scholarships

Similar to other awards, full-ride scholarships can be divided into 3 types:

  • Merit-based: The most common type. These scholarships are awarded to academically outstanding students, and the amount is usually larger than that of other types.
  • Need-based: Awarded based on financial need, these scholarships are meant to help students from lower-income households get higher education.
  • Hybrid: Sometimes, organizations consider both your academic performance and financial situation to provide gifted students with a chance to reach their potential.

Full-ride vs full-tuition scholarships

Full-tuition scholarships, as the name suggests, cover only tuition and sometimes other education fees. It’s still a substantial amount, but you’ll have to fund your housing, travel, and living costs yourself.

Are full-ride scholarships rare?

Full-ride scholarships are rare – they are very competitive, and only around 0.1% of students receive this type of funding. However, don’t give up before trying. There are many different kinds of scholarships, and a variety of organizations offer them. Chances are, your achievements and interests will be a great fit for at least one scholarship out there.

Do all schools offer full-ride scholarships?

Not every single college has full-ride scholarships, but many do, and even more offer other opportunities. It’s easier to find full-ride scholarships through foundations and governmental institutions that collaborate with schools or specific departments.

How to get a full-ride scholarship

Even though full-ride scholarships are highly competitive, there are ways to increase your chances: from preparation during high school to improving your application.

Step 1: Research the scholarships

First, you need to know what’s out there to be able to see where you have the best shot and which opportunities can be unlocked if you put in some effort. There are far more scholarships available than you realize.

Make sure you start early! Some scholarships have extensive lists of documents and certificates you’ll have to attach to your application, and gathering all that takes time, especially alongside finishing high school and applying for college.

The ideal timeline should look something like this:

  • Research the scholarships at the beginning of your junior year so you can plan out extracurriculars and have more time to prepare
  • During your junior year, you should keep up your grades, commit to the activities you chose, and think about the major you want to explore in college
  • The 1st semester of your senior year is the time to start gathering the documents, sign up for tests (like language proficiency tests), and prepare for the graduation exams
  • Finally, you should submit your applications starting in December of your senior year and wait for the results

It’s important to keep researching in the background – new scholarship announcements may come at any time. And don’t worry if you start later, just make sure to have enough time before the deadline to gather everything for your application.

Step 2: Check the requirements and deadlines

When you have a list of scholarships you want to apply for, check the requirements and deadlines to plan the application process accordingly. Review scholarships descriptions to ensure that you’re eligible and tailor each application to a specific award. This is also an opportunity to identify the areas that could use some work.

Step 3: Evaluate your strengths

Determining your “selling points” is crucial. The more specific and unique your skills and achievements are, the higher the chances of you getting an award because of 2 reasons:

  • Your application will stand out to the committee
  • You can apply for a major-specific scholarship (or even project-specific) and they usually have fewer applicants

After determining your strengths and interests, try to list the credentials that will support them on your application and meet the requirements.

Step 5: Gather the documents

A typical scholarship application is somewhat similar to a college application and will require you to attach the following documents:

Some scholarships can also ask for college admission confirmation, so review the requirements carefully.

Step 6: Submit your application

Finally, when you’ve checked every box on the requirements list, double-check everything and submit your application. It can be a good idea to ask someone else, like your school career counselor, to take a look at your application to make sure you didn’t miss anything.

Don’t wait until the deadline and put your application in as soon as you’re ready.

Other ways to fund your college

It’s always good to have a plan B and research other ways to finance your studies:

  • Other scholarships and grants: There are many different scholarship opportunities that can help cover at least some of your college expenses.
  • Financial aid: Check if your country has financial aid programs. For example, US students can apply for the Federal Student Aid program that awards need-based grants.
  • Student loans: Taking out a loan is also an option. Student loans usually have to be repaid only after you finish your degree. You can learn more details in our article: What are Student Loans and Grants?
  • Work during your studies: Lastly, you can consider working during college. Keep in mind that many colleges require you to pay for at least 1 semester upfront, so you’ll need to have some money saved.

Conclusion

Full-ride scholarships are a game changer for students. They cover every expense you can think of: tuition, fees, housing, and living costs. These scholarships are offered by governments, universities, private foundations, and companies and are awarded based on merit or financial need.

They are highly competitive and require a lot of effort and preparation. However, it’s not impossible to win one. It’s all about the details, planning, and finding the right opportunity for you!