Scholarship Myths May Be Costing Families Free Money for Higher Education

Core Insights - Nearly 40% of families miss out on scholarship opportunities, leaving millions of dollars unclaimed each year [1][2] - Common misconceptions about scholarships include beliefs that they are only for students with exceptional grades (46%), only for incoming freshmen (36%), or that families earn too much money (32%) [2][3] Scholarship Utilization - Scholarships are an effective way to reduce out-of-pocket college costs but are often underutilized or unclaimed [2][3] - Sallie Mae emphasizes the importance of raising awareness and dispelling myths surrounding scholarships [3] Sallie Mae's Initiatives - Sallie Mae offers free resources and tips to help students find and apply for scholarships [3] - The Sallie Mae Fund, in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, has awarded nearly $4 million since 2021 through the Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program [4] - Sallie Mae provides a $2,000 no-essay scholarship each month to simplify the application process for students [4] Scholarship Application Tips - Students are encouraged to start early and apply for scholarships every year, as nearly half of all scholarships are available to current college students [5] - Completing the FAFSA is crucial for accessing billions in scholarships and federal financial aid [5] - Free scholarship search tools, such as Scholly Scholarships, can help students find scholarships tailored to their interests [5] - Unique scholarships exist for various interests, and many do not require essays [5]