How to Find Low Competition Scholarships
What do you mean by “low competition” scholarships?
We've all seen the ads for full ride scholarships to the Ivy League (Harvard, Colombia, Yale). But what about scholarships for people who aren't quite as competitive? What about those of us who don't have 4.0 GPAs? What about those of us who don't have thousands of dollars for AP tests and SAT prep classes?
Fortunately, there are plenty of low competition scholarships out there for students like you. Most of them are easy to find—you just need to know where to look.
Top Places to Look for Low Competition Scholarships
Local Organizations:
Many small local organizations don’t have great advertising efforts (some don’t even have websites) so don’t be afraid to ask! They may be available but poorly advertised. Here’s local places to check:
Churches
Community Centers
Libraries
Local coffee shops and small businesses (often found on the local newspapers and news websites)
Professional Organizations:
If you are a member of a professional organization, such as the American Medical Association or the International Bar Association, there may be scholarships available through them.
If there is a membership fee associated with a professional organization, that is normal! Legit professional organizations offer more than just scholarships. Don’t confuse a membership fee with an application fee, you should never pay to apply to one single scholarship. Membership fees normally include additional benefits like conferences, networking opportunities, resume help and more. I paid just $35 per year to be a member of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and earned over $10,000 in scholarships from the organization along with a job offer from a conference NABA held.
Government Offices:
If you're looking for a local government scholarship, you can simply look around your community. You can find these scholarships online and in person at your local government office (or "city hall"). Here are the types of government offices that you may have never heard of that may have scholarships in your area:
Clerk’s Department
Department of Public works
Economic Development
Municipal & County Court
Health Department
IT Department
Engineering and Building & Construction Department
Planning & Zoning
Human Resources
Code Enforcement
Emergency Management
Parks & Recreation
Police Department
Fire Department
Public Schools
You should research if your area has any of these offices and do some research on their website. Google is your best friend and here’s how you can use it to find scholarships relevant to you. In addition, many states have created government websites dedicated solely to helping students find free money for college.
Biggest Takeaway
If you're looking for lower competition scholarships, look no further than your own community. There are many organizations that offer money to students in need. These scholarships will take a little more work to find but that is a why no one is applying for them! If you need more guidance finding scholarships or applying for them, watch my Scholarship Strategy 101 Playlist.
Need a kick in the butt to achieve your goals? Download the Ambitious Scholar Productivity Toolkit
