PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – High schools are back in session for the new school year and for some students this will be their first time but for other they are beginning to plan their futures for after graduation.
Brian Sprague, a counselor at Parkersburg High School, said it is important for seniors who are planning to go to college to apply to scholarships.
“The opportunities are there, and college education is getting so expensive, but there are a lot of opportunities where some students could go through those four years and not owe anything,” said Mr. Sprague.
Mr. Sprague said students need to be involved in their high schools and through their communities because that gives you a better chance of receiving the scholarship you applied to.
“The biggest thing I think any scholarship is looking at,” said Mr. Sprague. “A certain level of excellence in what they’re representing and a lot of times they’re going to be giving you money and they want to know, is that going to a worthwhile individual and worthwhile cause.”
Mr. Sprague said to make sure you pay attention to application deadlines and the specific stuff you need to turn in.
“Don’t wait till the last minute to apply because some of them would be impossible to get some of that information together overnight,” said Mr. Sprague. “Plan it out and pay attention to the deadlines and timelines when they want things turned in.”
A lot of scholarships require essays along with the application and Mr. Sprague said to make sure you reach for help and have your English teachers look over it.
“Do rough drafts of your essay but I really feel like you should personalize it and make it your own because it’s easy to go to with an AI generated type of thing,” said Mr. Sprague. “I’d be very careful with that because you want to make that on your own, show your creativity and your hard work with it.”
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