Eeeek! The dreaded “state your financial need” question

What do you say when you don’t know what to say . . . like when a scholarship application asks you to state your financial need?

If you’re clueless about how to reply, you’re not alone. Thankfully, other people have figured out a response . . .

Best Value Schools recommends that you briefly introduce yourself and then describe:

• how you are paying for college now,
• the difficulties you face meeting your needs, and
• how a scholarship would help.

They say to paint a clear picture of your situation, while keeping a respectful, matter-of-fact tone.

Five Paragraphs, Five Thousand Dollars

Here’s an example from an actual scholarship application essay that ultimately netted the student a $5,000 award from a private foundation. It’s brief, clear and reader-friendly:

It will cost about $3,000 more for me to continue my college education next fall than it did when I was a freshman. My income for next year (from campus employment, family contributions and known scholarships) falls about $5,000 short of expected expenses.

I have already applied my savings to previous years’ tuition, room and board.

I graduated early from high school so that I could work to earn money for college. I supplemented my daytime job with regular babysitting jobs in the evenings, plus house- and pet-sitting. I also took the ACT test three times to raise my score to qualify for a specific scholarship that my college offered.

I plan to go into guidance counseling and work in public schools. The college I attend is known for its education programs. To meet its rigorous requirements, I have logged in more than 70 hours observing in classrooms. I have also shadowed guidance counselors at two high schools, one in a small town and the other in inner city East St. Louis.

My tuition, room, board and required student fees currently total $25,520. Because the cost of attending college has increased nearly $1,000 in each of my previous three years, I must realistically plan on it increasing again next fall.

Or . . . show your need in a table

You can also explain your financial need in a table, like the one shown below. Do the math. Five clear paragraphs or one clear table . . . Either way, the potential win makes it worth the effort.