We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I get the Best Scholarships for Nontraditional Students?

Jessica Ellis
By
Updated: Feb 10, 2021
Views: 1,762
Share

A nontraditional student is a person who does not fit the typical mold of a student in a particular institution. These groups may find it more difficult to identify sources of financial aid for which they qualify. Scholarships for nontraditional students do exist, however, and can be quite generous in their provisions for highly qualified individuals. Winning scholarships for nontraditional students requires a process of careful sifting through options, well-prepared applications, and sometimes a measure of luck.

Scholarships for nontraditional students are often broken up by categories that distinguish the applying student from a typical college or post-graduate attendee. Discovering which nontraditional categories fit a student can help narrow down the possibilities of application. Common categories that are considered nontraditional may include students who are considerably older than the average school attendee, those who had to interrupt earlier schooling, single parents, full-time workers, or students who are of a particular minority or population segment that is underrepresented in a school system.

The criteria for winning scholarships for nontraditional students may be quite vast or very specific. Some scholarships are available to people of a particular race, religious sect, or even sexual persuasion that may be considered other than the norm. In addition to fulfilling the prerequisites of a scholarship, a student will also usually need to submit transcripts, essays, or other application materials to the program. Since everyone who meets the prerequisite requirements for scholarships for nontraditional students may advance past the initial screening round, it is in the additional materials that most scholarships are won and lost.

Writing essays and personal statements can sometimes be an awkward process. Many scholarship committees want a person to explain why he or she should receive an award, or why assistance is needed. It is important to strike a tone in responses that is neither whiny nor entitled. Despite the artificial nature of these papers, scholarship officials are often looking for humor, originality, poignancy, or passion. It is wise to let trusted friends or professors look over admissions and scholarship materials before submitting them. Not only can this help improve content, but it is also a great way to make sure that applications are completely free from grammatical and spelling errors.

Scholarships for nontraditional students are quite easy to find. The Internet boasts many large scholarship databases that allow searches for specific criteria, such as “single mother,” or, “developmentally disabled.” This can narrow down choices to a select field in just seconds, and help point a student in the direction of the options for his or her circumstances. College and high school guidance offices are also excellent resources for scholarship information.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Jessica Ellis
By Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica Ellis brings a unique perspective to her work as a writer for WiseGeek. While passionate about drama and film, Jessica enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics, creating content that is both informative and engaging for readers.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica Ellis...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-get-the-best-scholarships-for-nontraditional-students.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.