Minority Scholarships: Unique Places to Find Them
Are you a convicted felon looking for scholarships for school or education grants for felons? If so, you may want to consider how your minority status will give you unique opportunities to secure a scholarship. Even if you aren’t an “A” student, there are plenty of opportunities for securing scholarships without regard to your status as a first-time student or a returning student to school.
Most students with felony convictions make the mistake in believing they are not eligible for grants or scholarships for school. When looking for scholarships, we also often make the mistake in believing that we do not quality for funding because we did not perform well in prior college courses or in high school. When looking for scholarships, you have to think outside the box. For example, if you are a person who enjoys art, there are many art scholarships you can tap into without even majoring in art. Typically, these scholarships only require that you take an art class or that you pursue a trade and have trade school grants as well.
To find unique scholarship opportunities for minorities, always look at the financial aid office in the school you plan to attend. In addition, reach out to local organizations that provide services based on your interests. For example, if you have a passion for art, contact local art schools as many of them will provide a small scholarship to help with your school expenses. Even places that offer international horticulture jobs will offer scholarships and, in most cases, you only need to take a gardening or landscaping class as part of your school curriculum.
Hobbyist groups, community service organizations, local businesses, unions, minority groups and fraternal organizations also offer scholarships that you may be able to take advantage of as well. It is important to really look around and weigh your options, because you never know where you are going to find opportunities for scholarships until they appear. As a convicted felon, no matter what your plans may be for school in the long term, always consider options for finding scholarships where your passions are and do not limit your search only to the scholarships based upon grades.
Minority College Scholarships: What is the Advantage to Students?
Filed under: Military Spouse Scholarships, Minority Scholarships
As 2011 comes to a close, many individuals with felony convictions are looking for ways to improve their quality of life into the new year. If you are considering the opportunity to return to school, it is vitally important that you know what financial aid options are going to be made available to you and what you can do to ensure you get the maximum financial support. When attending college financial aid could mean the difference between your success and your ability to graduate – always consider every option including grants, scholarships and, when appropriate, loans for school.
One of the best ways many convicted felons are securing financial aid is through the use of your minority status on applications for financial aid. Whether you are female, disabled, a veteran, African-American, Asian, or Hispanic, you undoubtedly fall into one of the categories for which minority college scholarships may be yours for the taking. When searching for funding for school, then, it is important to ask your financial aid counselor about those scholarships that fit your demographic.
Unlike loans for school, scholarships for school do not have to be repaid. These types of financial aid also do not require that you undergo any type of background check or exposure to the FCRA, Fair Credit Reporting Act. In addition, when applying for minority-based scholarship opportunities, you are providing yourself with a greater opportunity for securing the funding as there will be fewer applicants applying. While general academic scholarships are also useful for school, for convicted felons who are minority, focusing on the ethnic based scholarships often prove to be far more beneficial
When starting your quest to secure financial aid for school, be sure to complete your FASFA online as this will be necessary no matter what type of financial aid you are applying for. With the FASFA completion, your school can determine your financial need and then, in turn, provide you with the tips and resources for securing not only the minority scholarships but also the minority grants. Even if you are attending grad school, minority scholarships should be considered every step along the way – no matter what the amount of the award may be.
As always, once you’ve advanced your own career, be sure to come back to your community and pay forward the opportunity to other convicted felons who need grants and scholarships for school. We wish you the best in your educational endeavors!


