When financial aid is offered to a student to meet costs of his studies it is known as a scholarship. There are two main categories of scholarships, merit-based and need-based. Merit-based grants are given to students based on their academic, athletic, or artistic performance, while a need-based grant is given to help a student in need of financial support.
The first step is to gather information about available scholarships by checking databases and publications that are relevant, or by using a computer scholarship search service, CASHE, at the UCI Office of Financial Aid. Such computer systems are programmed to match scholarships against applicants for a small fee.
Among the many kinds of scholarships are college scholarships, company scholarships, local scholarships, military scholarships, religious scholarships, major scholarships, ethnic scholarships, and athletic scholarships. It is important for you to know which scholarships you are eligible for.
Most scholarships have criteria like financial status, academic achievements, athletic prowess, public service, nationality, or ethnicity. A scholarship could cover full tuition or part, and can be funded by an educational institution, individual trust or non-profit organizations. Read the rest of this entry »

