Myth: If I Match Most of a Scholarship’s Requirements, I Can Still Be Eligible

Apply for Scholarship for CollegeSubmitting a scholarship application is a lot like submitting a resume. You’ll give them your name, your experience, answer some questions, and might even have an interview. So it follows that if you don’t 100% meet all the requirements on a scholarship, you can still submit your application…right?

Apply for Scholarship for College

Meeting All Eligibility Requirements

Nope. When it comes to scholarships, if you don’t qualify for every single one of their stipulations, don’t bother sending in an application. You’re wasting their time and more importantly your own.

Reading through eligibility requirements should be your first task when it comes to selecting scholarships to apply for. If you don’t fit, move on to the next opportunity.

Save Your Time and Effort

While this may sound harsh, only focusing on things you 100% qualify for you will save your a lot of time and effort in the long run, as well as increasing your odds of winning. Why take a shot at something you’re guaranteed to miss, after all? Find a new target, there are plenty out there.

Increasing Your Qualifications

While there are certain aspects you won’t be able to change about yourself (ie: race, religion, home state), there are other requirement elements that you have direct control over. Many scholarships will require a minimum GPA  or ACT/SAT score, for example. You can improve those, and thus your odds of qualifying for more scholarships.

Use College Raptor’s new Student Loan Finder to discover personalized loan options. Compare lenders and interest rates to find the ideal student loan—for FREE!

 

Lender Rates (APR) Eligibility
Citizens logo.
5.34%-15.96%* Variable
3.99%-15.61%* Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT CITIZENS
Sallie Mae logo.
4.92% - 15.08% Variable
3.99% - 15.49% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT SALLIE MAE
Credibe company logo.
4.50% - 17.99% Variable
3.49% - 17.99% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT CREDIBLE
Lendkey company logo.
6.00% - 13.75% Variable
3.99% - 13.75% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT LENDKEY
Ascent company logo.
5.50% - 14.56% Variable
3.69% - 14.41% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT ASCENT
3.70% - 8.75% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT ISL
Earnest company logo.
4.99% - 16.85% Variable
3.47% - 16.49% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT EARNEST
5.00% - 14.22% Variable
3.69% - 14.22% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT ELFI
College Raptor is not a loan lender and does not assume responsibility for suggesting a loan to a user who may not be eligible for it. Rates, terms, conditions, eligibility, approval, and other considerations are the decisions of the lenders and may vary depending on which lender or marketplace the user selects. We urge users to carefully consider and review all loan options and terms before committing to taking out a loan.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more.