HFCC Honors program graduate Hannah Kelley held a seminar on March 22 on how to look for
scholarships for transfer students. Students often ask themselves how they are going to pay for college,
but most don’t know where to start. Scholarships are out there, but for many, it seems like an
afterthought. Kelley, who was able to finish school completely free on scholarships alone, gave expert
advice on how to search, find, and be a good candidate for scholarships.

The first thing you need to consider is how much you need for school if you’re willing to go into
debt for extra education, if that should arise. Planning this out can be helpful in getting an idea of what
to expect. By joining clubs, performing relevant community service, a rigorous program, or starting a big
project that involves your directed studies can only strengthen your eligibly. This can be crucial if you’re
applying for a Competitive Merit Scholarship, which is hard to get without at least one of those things.

Another important thing is to not be afraid to take an alternate route in the pursuit of education. This
can help you expand your horizons and can make you a better scholarship candidate by incorporating
these unique approaches into your story.

Building a network can lead to more opportunities. If you’re performing community service,
you’ll likely to meet people who can help you. Keeping in touch with old professors will always be an
asset, whether you need a letter of recommendation or just some guidance. Save any business cards
you get from notable people and write how you know that person on the card.

Consider the possibility of making your own business cards. Anything you do to get your name out there
will always be invaluable. Keep a good record of work experience, leadership roles, and any significant
accomplishments. This can save a lot of time and give you extra peace of mind knowing your endeavors
are well documented.

Spend an afternoon devoted to searching for scholarships. Advance your search on Google or
Bing by limiting results to .edu sites. Ask yourself what you’re looking for and how you can apply it
effectively. What can I offer? Why do I need this? Do I have special circumstances? Am I under-
represented? These are some good sample questions that were provided by Kelley to give you an idea.

For additional resources, you can contact a school’s specific departments and request informational
interviews with professors. Professors are usually helpful and can often offer opportunities you won’t
find online.

Scholarships tend to have deadlines, so don’t let time lapse. Act with strategy; never just apply
to see what sticks. Find what sets you apart from everyone else. Do not let a fear complex affect your
search, and if it does, identify what is most difficult for you or ask someone for help. As Kelley said,
“Learn from those that have more experience than you and enthusiastically seek out knowledge and
opportunities.”