scholarships for college students who are already enrolled

[Anonymous]

I was listening an episode of NPR's Life Kit podcast that offered financial advice to college students, and the woman profiled mentioned looking for additional small scholarships while she was in college. link and except below:

https://www.npr.org/2025/09/11/nx-s1-5519357/the-broke-college-students-guide-to-managing-money

"Many students think that once they're in school, it's too late to look for scholarships. "This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to paying for college," Espinal says. Scholarships are still very much available for college students. You just have to take the time to look."

It surprised me because I didn't really know that this was a thing. Does anyone have experience with their kid landing (usually small) scholarships after they've already started college?

[Anonymous]

Yes, and it wasn’t that small. Like 50% of tuition. It is not well advertised at their school. Required an essay and letters of recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Yes:
1. My mother’s estate funds scholarships only for upperclassmen with demonstrated merit.
2. My older child just received an additional scholarship from private donor as a senior.
3. My youngest get child just received an additional scholarship from university as a sophomore.
4. Our state offers scholarships for certain majors for sophomore-senior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes:
1. My mother’s estate funds scholarships only for upperclassmen with demonstrated merit.
2. My older child just received an additional scholarship from private donor as a senior.
3. My youngest get child just received an additional scholarship from university as a sophomore.
4. Our state offers scholarships for certain majors for sophomore-senior.

If your mom has an "estate" and you are that comfortable, I don't get why you need aid.

[Anonymous]

How do you search these opportunities out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you search these opportunities out?

Honestly, Google.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes:
1. My mother’s estate funds scholarships only for upperclassmen with demonstrated merit.
2. My older child just received an additional scholarship from private donor as a senior.
3. My youngest get child just received an additional scholarship from university as a sophomore.
4. Our state offers scholarships for certain majors for sophomore-senior.

If your mom has an "estate" and you are that comfortable, I don't get why you need aid.

Some scholarships are not aid. They are on merit/academics/other special talents or interests, like music. Just because someone is super rich does not mean they cannot get a scholarship. It means they can't get financial aid. It's also possible that her mother's estate does not contribute in anyway to her earnings or wealth. The estate-funded scholarship may also be $500 a year. Some people really are uppity about perceived unfairness!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes:
1. My mother’s estate funds scholarships only for upperclassmen with demonstrated merit.
2. My older child just received an additional scholarship from private donor as a senior.
3. My youngest get child just received an additional scholarship from university as a sophomore.
4. Our state offers scholarships for certain majors for sophomore-senior.

If your mom has an "estate" and you are that comfortable, I don't get why you need aid.

They are merit scholarships not aid.

[Anonymous]

My kid did, but the money came from their school. VT is known to be stingy with merit, but especially in the engineering fields, once they are out of general engineering and in a specific major, the departments have scholarship money to award.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes:
1. My mother’s estate funds scholarships only for upperclassmen with demonstrated merit.
2. My older child just received an additional scholarship from private donor as a senior.
3. My youngest get child just received an additional scholarship from university as a sophomore.
4. Our state offers scholarships for certain majors for sophomore-senior.

If your mom has an "estate" and you are that comfortable, I don't get why you need aid.

They are merit scholarships not aid.

The point of the question is that if someone's family is wealthy enough to endow a scholarship, then their descendants (particularly grandchildren) should not need to be applying for scholarships - save it for someone who truly needs it.

[Anonymous]

I believe my specialized industry offers small scholarships to upper classmen who say they want to pursue a career in the industry. I don't think it is a lot but it is something.