Scholarships play a key role in enabling students to pursue their educational goals and alleviate the financial burden of tuition fees. With the rise in tuition at ASU, taking advantage of scholarships is on the minds of many students.
Amid the 1.5% tuition increase for Arizona residents and the 3% increase for nonresidents for the 2024 - 2025 academic year, understanding the application process for ASU scholarships can be crucial for students to proactively manage the finances of their higher education.
READ MORE: ASU increases tuition for 2024-2025 academic year across the board
ASU provides many different kinds of scholarships, including need-based and merit-based opportunities as well as scholarships for specific majors and programs.
"Narrowing your scholarship search to specific majors or colleges often leads to more niche and valuable opportunities," said Sammy Cristerna, a sophom*ore studying political science, psychology and sociology and a member of the Leadership Scholarship Program.
The application process can seem daunting to students at first, but the University offers resources and support to help students navigate through it.
"ASU's scholarship portal streamlines the application process by allowing students to apply for multiple scholarships with just one application," Cristerna said. "Once you have entered your ASUrite ID, it is just a matter of adding extracurricular activities and writing essays that highlight your experiences and goals."
As ASU increases tuition for the upcoming year, students turn to different scholarships to offset the rising cost of higher education
Cindy Parnell, the chief of public service at ASU, said she looks for applicants who set themselves apart.
"We look for students who are passionate about social issues and taking action to make positive change," Parnell said. "For students who have the potential for leadership development and want to make a change in their community."
According to the ASU Financial Aid website, the scholarship portal opens on Oct. 1 each year. There are also new opportunities that become available throughout the year, so students can regularly check for updates.
"Deadlines tend to cluster around the start of each month, particularly in January, February, March and April," Cristerna said. "I recommend starting the application process early to ensure that you understand the full requirements of the scholarship, including GPA, essays and deadlines."
Cristerna advises students to maintain an organized approach to scholarship applications by creating a spreadsheet. This spreadsheet should include the scholarship names, requirements, and deadlines, which will allow for efficient tracking and prioritization of applications.
By staying organized, students can avoid missing out on potential opportunities and ensure they have enough time to complete all necessary requirements.
The first resource at ASU that students should take advantage of is "the writing center, because they do a really good job of taking ideas and helping to formulate concrete, solid, and sustained thought in order to directly answer the question," Parnell said.
Parnell also recommends responding directly to essay questions and providing concise and prompt answers. The key is to pay attention to the question, answer directly, and avoid unnecessary elaboration.
"I would advise students to schedule a meeting with the financial aid office; they are generally available for both parents and students," Cristerna said.
There are many scholarships that ASU provides to students in every school on campus. For example, ASU offers "more than $1.3 million in scholarships the W. P. Carey School of Business awards directly to business students each year."
A few of these scholarships include the W. P. Carey School of Business General Scholarship, the Pathways for the Future Scholarship, or the APS Bill and Mary Kay Post Scholarship. All of these scholarships are due on March 1, 2024.
Similarly, in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, there are many scholarships that are available for nearly every major. Some examples include the Calvin M. Holman Political Science Scholarship, Women & Gender Studies Undergraduate Scholarships, and the Wayne W. Luchsinger Chemistry Scholarship.
"Receiving the LSP scholarship has not only funded my education but also allowed me to be a part of a larger community," Cristerna said. "Securing scholarships has allowed me to make a positive impact by giving me the opportunity to help others."
These are just a few of the scholarships that are offered, and there so many more that can be found through exploring the scholarship portal.
Edited by Grey Gartin, Sadie Buggle and Grace Copperthite.
Reach the reporter at ssudha13@asu.edu.
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