Scholarship

==Types==
[[File:Admiral hands out scholarship money DVIDS319434.jpg|thumb|right|A Navy Rear Admiral presents a Midshipman with a ceremonial cheque symbolizing her $180,000 Navy Reserve Officers Training Candidate scholarship.]]{{Further information|Classifications of scholarship}}
The most common scholarships may be classified as:
* '''Merit-based:''' These awards are based on a student's academic, artistic, athletic, or other abilities, and often a factor in an applicant's [[extracurricular activities]] and community service record. Most such merit-based scholarships are paid directly by the institution the student attends, rather than issued directly to the student.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://schoolgrantsguide.net/college-scholarship/|title=College Scholarship|publisher=School Grants Guide|access-date=28 May 2012}}</ref>
* '''Need-based:''' Some private need-based awards are confusingly called scholarships, and require the results of a [[FAFSA]] (the family's [[expected family contribution]]). However, scholarships are often merit-based, while grants tend to be need-based.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/loans/student-loans/grants-for-college/|title=The Complete Guide to College Grants|first1=Teddy|last1=Nykiel|first2=Anna|last2=Helhoski|date=24 June 2016|website=NerdWallet}}</ref>
* '''Student-specific:''' These are scholarships for which applicants must initially qualify based upon gender, race, religion, family, and medical history, or many other student-specific factors. Minority scholarships are the most common awards in this category.{{Citation needed|date=September 2012}} For example, students in Canada may qualify for a number of Indigenous scholarships, whether they study at home or abroad.{{Citation needed|date=September 2012}} The [[Gates Millennium Scholars|Gates Millennium Scholars Program]] is another minority scholarship funded by Bill and Melinda Gates for excellent African American, American Indian, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Latino students who enroll in college.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Gates Millennium Scholars|url=http://www.gmsp.org/publicweb/aboutus.aspx|access-date=9 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115031320/http://gmsp.org/publicweb/AboutUs.aspx|archive-date=15 January 2013}}</ref> 
* '''Career-specific:''' These are scholarships a college or university awards to students who plan to pursue a specific field of study.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scholarships College by Major |url=https://www.discover.com/student-loans/college-planning/scholarships/directory/major |website=Discover |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref> Often, the most generous awards go to students who pursue careers in high-need areas, such as education or nursing. Many schools in the United States give future nurses full scholarships to enter the field, especially if the student intends to work in a high-need community.{{citation needed | date=April 2020}}
* '''College-specific:''' College-specific scholarships are offered by individual colleges and universities to highly qualified applicants. These scholarships are given on the basis of academic and personal achievement. Some scholarships have a "bond" requirement.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Teng|first1=Amelia|title=Many slam A*Star scientist's protest against her scholarship bond|url=http://www.stcommunities.sg/education/many-slam-astar-scientists-protest-against-her-scholarship-bond|access-date=15 December 2014|agency=ST}}</ref> Recipients may be required to work for a particular employer for a specified period of time or to work in rural or remote areas; otherwise, they may be required to repay the value of the support they received from the scholarship.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Dancing out of A*Star|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/dancing-star-005756200.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141215152449/https://sg.news.yahoo.com/dancing-star-005756200.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 December 2014|access-date=15 December 2014}}</ref> This is particularly the case with education and nursing scholarships for people prepared to work in rural and remote areas. The programs offered by the [[uniformed services of the United States]] ([[US Army|Army]], [[US Navy|Navy]], [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], [[United States Air Force|Air Force]], [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]], [[NOAA Corps|National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps]], and [[Public Health Service Commissioned Corps]]) sometimes resemble such scholarships.
* '''[[Athletic scholarship|Athletic]]:''' Awarded to students with exceptional skill in a sport. Often this is so that the student will be available to attend the school or college and play the sport on their team, although in some countries government funded sports scholarships are available, allowing scholarship holders to train for international representation.<ref>''[https://www.tass.gov.uk/ Talented Athlete Scholarship]'', UK Government. Retrieved February 25, 2016.</ref><ref>"[http://www.winningstudents-scotland.ac.uk/the-scholarship/ The scholarship]", ''Winning Students''. Government of Scotland. Retrieved February 25, 2016.</ref> School-based athletics scholarships can be controversial, as some believe that awarding scholarship money for athletic rather than academic or intellectual purposes is not in the institution's best interest.<ref>Bruenig, Matt. (March 31, 2014). " The [[NCAA]] (National Collegiate Athletic Association) is an example of one. 
* '''Music scholarships:''' Some people receive scholarships for excellence in music, often taking into account their academic capacity. Some academic scholarships take into account musical skills, particularly if they are needed in the school's orchestra or [[marching band]]. Music scholarship recipients may be required to play in school ensembles.
* '''Legacy scholarships:''' At some schools, there are special scholarships set aside for children or grandchildren of people who previously attended the school.
[http://www.salon.com/2014/03/31/ralph_naders_brilliant_plan_for_college_sports_no_more_concussions_or_exploited_labor/ Ralph Nader's brilliant plan for college sports: No more concussions or exploited labor]", ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]''. Retrieved February 25, 2016.</ref>
* '''Brand:''' These scholarships are sponsored by a corporation that is trying to gain attention to their brand, or a cause. Sometimes these scholarships are referred to as branded scholarships. The [[Miss America]] beauty pageant is a famous example of a brand scholarship. 
* '''Creative contest:''' These scholarships are awarded to students based on a creative submission. Contest scholarships are also called mini project-based scholarships, where students can submit entries based on unique and innovative ideas.<ref>Scholarshipfellow (March 24, 2017). "[http://scholarshipfellow.com/countrywise-scholarships/contest-scholarships/ Contest Scholarships] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324174402/http://scholarshipfellow.com/countrywise-scholarships/contest-scholarships/ |date=2017-03-24 }}", Retrieved March 24, 2017.</ref>
*'''"Last dollar":''' can be provided by private and government-based institutions, and are intended to cover the remaining fees charged to a student after the various grants are taken into account.<ref>Kelchen, Robert. (April 17, 2014). "[http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/blog/the_political_attractiveness_o.php The Political Attractiveness of "Last-Dollar" Scholarships]", ''[[Washington Monthly]]''. Retrieved February 25, 2016.</ref> To prohibit institutions from taking last dollar scholarships into account, and thereby removing other sources of funding, these scholarships are not offered until after financial aid has been offered in the form of a letter. Furthermore, last dollar scholarships may require families to have filed taxes for the most recent year, received their other sources of financial aid, and not yet received loans.
*{{anchor|An open scholarship}}'''Open:''' a scholarship open to any applicant.<ref name="collinsdictionary">{{cite web |title=open scholarship |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/open-scholarship |website=Collins English Dictionary |publisher=HarperCollins |access-date=11 July 2023 |quote=in British English: 'a scholarship which anyone can apply for'}}</ref>