’)
In today’s economy, many individuals are strapped for cash. If you’re in this situation, you may feel that you cannot attend nursing school until you’re financially solvent. The good news is that there are thousands of dollars in nursing scholarships awarded to students each year.
Here are just a handful of general nursing scholarships available:
HOSA Scholarships
Health Occupations Students of America — HOSA — offers scholarships for individuals who want to pursue careers in nursing. HOSA offers scholarships in $1,000 increments to qualified high school graduates in hopes of attracting more people to the health sciences profession. For more information about HOSA scholarships, check out their website.
Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships
Daughters of the American Revolution — DAR — offers scholarships to individuals who are pursuing careers in diverse fields, such as history, law, nursing, and education. Nursing scholarships are one-time $1,000 awards. For more information about the particular requirements, visit the DAR website.
NursingScholarships.us
NursingScholarships.us is a website devoted to helping nurses find scholarships and other funding sources. This free site will point you in the right direction of the scholarship opportunities that are right for you.
Here are the scholarship categories available:
General Nursing Scholarships
State Nursing Scholarships
Religion Nursing Scholarships
Air Force & Navy Nursing Scholarships
Minority Nursing Scholarships
College Nursing Scholarships
Gerontology Nursing Scholarships
Long-Term Care Nursing Scholarships
Neuroscience Nursing Scholarships
Occupational Nursing Scholarships
Oncology Nursing Scholarships
Operating Room Nursing Scholarships
Rehabilitation Nursing Scholarships
Ostomy & ET Nursing Scholarships
This site will even show you how to write winning essays for scholarships as well as show you how to avoid scholarship scams. This comprehensive website offers the information you’ll need to get the money you want for college.
How to Write a Scholarship Essay
The essay is an integral part of the application process, so you’ll want to approach it as if your scholarship depends on it.
First, make a list of the scholarships you’d like to apply for and print the requirements and supporting documentation. The key is to write a scholarship essay that will stand head and shoulders above the rest, so you’ll want to take this part of the application process very seriously.
Second, strive to be original in your essay. Remember, the scholarship committee may read hundreds of essays so you don’t want to blend in with the stack. Instead, you want to write an essay that sticks with the reader and will warrant a second read-through during the application process.
Next, be sure to address all the essay requirements. Read and re-read the requirements of the essay and be sure to include this information. One of the biggest mistakes that scholarship applicants make is failing to address the specific requirements of the scholarship committee.
Finally, use Standard American English. If necessary, hire someone to professionally proofread your scholarship. While the scholarship committee may not be looking for perfection, they’ll notice any glaring errors in your composition. You’ll want to stand out for all the right reasons, not the embarrassing ones.
Apply early for nursing scholarships.
Application deadlines vary, so be sure to get started right away. Because of the number of scholarship applications received, many organizations require submissions months — sometimes as much as one year — in advance. Also, don’t forget to contact your college’s scholarship office to see if you qualify for local financial assistance.
Nursing students are responsible for more than just books and tuitions. Additional costs such as uniforms, stethoscopes, and other equipment add hundreds of dollars on top of the base cost of college. If you plan early, you may be able to cash in on some of the nursing scholarships available and attend college for next to nothing — perhaps even for free.
