Previously, we talked about why applying to small scholarships is one of the best strategies you can employ to boost your chances of winning scholarships.
In this article, you’ll learn why local scholarships are also another great strategy to win scholarships and where you can find them.
Related: “25 Strategies I Used to Win Over $55,000 in Scholarships”
What are “local” scholarships?
Local scholarships are exclusively offered to residents of a given geographic location (ex: city, state) or constituents of an organization (ex: members, students, employees).
Here are some eligibility examples:
- Los Angeles residents
- Santa Monica College students
- Starbucks employees
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society members
Why is applying to local scholarships a winning strategy?
Applying to local scholarships is an optimal approach because you have a statistically higher chance of winning scholarships.
This is because local scholarships are exclusively offered to applicants who reside in specific areas or are part of organizations that offer these scholarships, which means fewer people are eligible in the first place.
Where can I find local scholarships?
You can find local scholarships by checking the scholarship/financial aid office at your high school/college. Ask whether they manage a master list of local scholarships and how you can access it.
Another great place to search is the internet. Do a simple Google search of your community to determine what scholarships are available locally (check out this article to learn how).
It’s also a good idea to check online scholarship databases (ex: BigFuture, Chegg), and narrow your search to local scholarships (check out this article to learn which databases ranked high on our list).
