Keeping in touch with Western's Scholarship Center can pay off
Every little bit helps, especially now, said Linda Danke. And Western’s Scholarship Center, which Danke manages, can help students find every little – and big – bit that they can.
The center’s Web site, www.finaid.wwu.edu/scholarships, is updated two to three times a week with new links to scholarships, Danke said. It’s an important resource for families regardless of their income, because about 40 percent of the scholarships are awarded without regard to financial need, she said.
The scholarships range from big-money, national awards in which Western students have been competitive in the past, to smaller, local funds.
In addition to links to applications, the Scholarship Center’s Web site also offers advice on how to apply for scholarships, including making the most out of a personal essay.
About 1,600 students annually get scholarships through the university, Danke said, and about the same number receive private scholarships.
Scholarships replace loans, not need-based grants in Western students’ financial aid packages, said Clara Capron, director of financial aid.
“We reward resourcefulness and do what we can to reduce excessive educational indebtedness,” Capron said. Danke offers some advice for students looking for scholarships:
- The majority of Western’s scholarship deadlines are in early spring. Watch deadlines and make sure your application is complete. Late or incomplete packets might not get consideration.
- Check with the department in your major. Several offer significant financial assistance to students.
- Be wary of offers to track down scholarships in exchange for a fee. Western offers those resources for free.
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