Full Scholarships vs. Partial Scholarships
Most prospective students hope to secure enough scholarship money to pay for all college expenses, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and maybe a little extra just for fun. The chances of getting enough money to pay for all of those fees can be slim. That’s why it’s beneficial to apply for more than one scholarship, even if some of them only award small amounts of money.
Full Scholarships
Full scholarships generally cover the entire cost of attendance. These are usually awarded by the college and are given to the students with the most impressive academic success or abilities. Many athletic programs offer full scholarships to their most talented athletes.
Partial Scholarships
Don’t worry if your academic credentials aren’t at the genius level. There are still opportunities to receive one or more partial scholarships from a school. For example, you may qualify for a partial academic scholarship based on your grade point average and also be eligible to receive a departmental scholarship based on previous academic success in a particular subject.
Many outside scholarships are also partial scholarships, meaning they only pay for a portion of your educational expenses. A religious organization may award a partial scholarship for books, while a local business might pick up the tab for your room and board. The key is to piece many of these small scholarships together until you have at least enough money, if not more, to pay for all of your expenses.
