<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2457" src="https://www.scholarshipsinink.com/wp-content/uploads/how-long-do-scholarships-take-to-process.jpg" alt="calendar schedule, how long it takes to process scholarships" width="800" height="533" /></p>
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<p><span class="dropcap">W</span>hether you&#8217;re still in high school or already in college, it&#8217;s never too early to apply for scholarships and reduce your student loans and debt in the longrun.</p>
<p>Unlike loans that have to be repaid, scholarships are free money for college you don’t have to repay. However, you <em>do </em>have to put some work into finding them and applying for them. <a href="https://www.salliemae.com/college-planning/college-scholarships/apply-for-scholarships/" data-lasso-id="286">Salle Mae</a>, one of the best-known student loan providers in the U.S., now also offers financial advice to students. They recommend applying for scholarships “early and often.” And the good news is, you don’t have to know which school you&#8217;re attending before applying for private and corporate scholarships.</p>
<p>Many students wait until their senior year before beginning their scholarship hunt, but you don’t have to wait that long. You can meet with your school counselor to discuss available scholarships and keep your eyes out for scholarships sponsored by local organizations as early as your junior year.</p>
<h2>Types of scholarships available.</h2>
<p>There are two types of scholarships: merit-based and financial need-based. Merit-based scholarships are given when you meet a certain criterion, such as grade point average or talent. Financial need-based scholarships have specific income requirements.</p>
<p>Some scholarships are awarded to people with certain characteristics, like women or musicians or even people who are left-handed. There’s so much money out there; you just need to know where to look.</p>
<h2>Finding scholarships.</h2>
<p>If you’ve already been accepted to college, check with the school you&#8217;re attending to see if they have any internal scholarships you can apply for. You may be automatically considered for some of these opportunities when you apply for financial aid. You should fill out a FAFSA every year in order to be considered for financial aid, including scholarships and grants that you won’t have to pay back.</p>
<p>Locally-offered scholarships are usually smaller, but every penny counts! Look for these scholarships through local clubs, religious organizations, companies, and your parents’ employers.</p>
<p>Next, consider scholarships offered by your state government, especially if you’re staying in your home state for college.</p>
<p>Finally, you can search using any number of scholarship databases like the one one offered by the <a href="https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/grants-and-scholarships/where-to-find-college-scholarships" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-lasso-id="287">College Board</a>. These databases focus on national scholarships, so there&#8217;s a lot of competition.</p>
<h2>Applying for scholarships.</h2>
<p>The application process can depend on the school, so read the scholarship guidelines carefully. Deadlines and requirements are different for each scholarship, so you may have to apply for up to a year before you&#8217;re attending that college.</p>
<p>The timeline for the application process also depends on how much work you have to do when you apply. Some scholarship applications ask you to write an essay or include letters of recommendation. Some ask for your parents’ financial information, while others just want to know your GPA and potential college major. You’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to complete the requirements and submit the forms either electronically or by mail before the deadline in case something goes wrong.</p>
<p>Then, all you have to do is wait for the news. Depending on the scholarship, you may have to wait a month or more after the deadline to find out if you’ve received the scholarship. You can just use that time to seek out additional scholarships and apply for them!</p>
<h2>How long it takes to get your scholarship money.</h2>
<p>Since each scholarship is different, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to when and how you’ll receive your money. Many donors send the scholarship check directly to your school, earmarking it for tuition. Others mail you the check, which you can then apply to tuition, books, or even housing.</p>
<p>If you’re receiving a financial aid package from your school, contact the financial aid office and let them know you&#8217;ve received a scholarship, so that they can adjust your financial aid package accordingly.</p>
<p>Also, check with your school about their policies for processing external scholarship checks. You can probably find their policies online. For example, <a title="Loyola University's Financial Aid Office" href="https://www.luc.edu/finaid/resources/externalscholarshipprocessing/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-lasso-id="288">Loyola University in Chicago’s Financial Aid Office</a> publishes detailed steps for submitting your scholarship checks as well as deadlines for doing so each semester. Meeting these deadlines ensures that the balance will be taken out of your account before you are charged for tuition.</p>
<p>There is so much money just waiting to be claimed. If you qualify for a scholarship &#8212; especially on a local level &#8212; it may be worth your while to apply. A few hours of your time now can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars later.</p>
<p>If you complete all the requirements and submit your applications on time, you&#8217;ll have a better chance of securing some money for college. Once you’re awarded the money, it’s really between the donor and your school to transfer the money in a timely manner, unless the donor sends the check directly to you.</p>
<p>Ideally, you’ll want to know about any awarded scholarships before your university charges your tuition, so you won’t end up paying more out-of-pocket expenses than necessary. The financial aid office at your school can tell you about scholarship and tuition deadlines.</p>
<p>Once you understand the process, you&#8217;ll find it easier to apply for new scholarships each year throughout your college career. Contrary to popular belief, scholarship opportunities don’t dry up after your freshman year. As you progress through school, you&#8217;ll discover more scholarships based on your major.</p>
<p>Although there’s not just one answer to the question “How long do scholarships take to process?”, the earlier you initiate your search and get the ball rolling, the more likely you’ll be to receive your funds on time.</p>
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