It’s no secret that nursing school can be a little bit pricey. With tuition, textbooks, and other medical equipment you need, it can be tough to come up with the money to pay for your education. While it’s a good idea to look into loans that you are eligible for, there is also a lucrative way to get the funding you need for your education. I’m talking about nursing scholarships. While most assume that scholarships are reserved for athletes and whiz kids – that’s simply not the case. There are numerous companies and institutions that offer scholarships for nursing students, you just need to know how to find them, apply, and set yourself apart from the pack. Luckily, we have a few tips and tricks for snagging that nursing scholarship.
5 Tips for Getting a Nursing Scholarship
1. Know Where to Look
One of the biggest obstacles that many nursing students will face is finding the best scholarships that they are eligible for. One of the easiest ways to search for scholarships is to contact your school’s career center. They are focused on making your time at school go as smoothly as possible, so they will be happy to point you in the right direction when it comes to finding the best scholarship opportunities. Another great way to find scholarship opportunities is to look online at the various scholarship databases available. These places will compile a variety of different scholarships that could help pay for your nursing education.
2. Brush Up on Your Writing Skills
Many scholarships will require you to write an essay. They might cover a topic as simple as “why do you want to be a nurse?” Or they might ask something a little more broadly, such as, “What is one way you have battled adversity?” Either way, it is important that you are able to articulate your thoughts well so you can write a compelling and competent essay. Make sure that before you submit an essay, you have someone proofread it for any spelling or grammatical errors. It is also a good idea to go back and make sure that you have followed the formatting and submission guidelines. You could write an amazing essay that goes unread simply because it was formatted incorrectly.
3. Try, Try, and Try Again
Have you ever quit before trying? This is just another major issue that many nursing students will face when applying for a nursing scholarship. Some nursing students will simply give up after not receiving a response following their submission of their application. Persistence is important when applying for scholarships, and you can never apply for too many. Some scholarships just ask for your name, address, and a few other pieces of information, so why not apply? You can never have too many nursing scholarships, so make sure that you are really giving it your all when it comes to applying for any nursing scholarship. In the end, it is better to apply to multiple scholarships, be awarded several of them, and come out of school with little to no debt – something most people wish they didn’t have to deal with.
4. Stay Organized
To maximize output, many nursing students will choose to create a spreadsheet or calendar that details the requirements, guidelines, due dates, and status of the submission. This is a great way to stay organized and to keep track of all your applications and how they are faring. Snagging a nursing scholarship is often a matter of persistence, and a well-organized schedule or spreadsheet will allow you to create the best plan of attack to get as many scholarship opportunities as possible. Consider using Excel or Google Sheets to really excel in your organization skills… Pun intended!
5. Set Yourself Apart From the Rest
Most schools or companies that are offering scholarships will receive hundreds, if not thousands, of scholarship applications. This means that you’ll want to separate yourself from the pack. If you’re writing an essay, try to make it personal. They want to know who you are as a person and how you can impact the world as a nurse. Make sure your content is engaging and clear so your readers will enjoy your essay. If you talk about an issue that you have previously faced, emphasize on how you resolved the situation. That is what will get the admission officer’s attention. It’s time to show off your writing skills so you can land the nursing scholarship you deserve.
It’s your time to shine
So, did these nursing scholarships help you? Are you motivated to start applying and writing those essays? We hope you are! We know how difficult and stressful it can be when applying to nursing school, but remember, stay true to yourself, and try your best! You will do so much better when you let go of the stress and apply yourself in each of your nursing scholarship submissions.
Now, go out there and shine on! Get that bread! Let us know of any tips you have that have worked wonders for you!
