Becoming a nurse is a life goal for many people.
Paying for college is often difficult. Tuition fees seem to always be on the rise, while elite scholarships remain a privilege for top students and athletes. For nursing students, this can seem like a disheartening situation, as there may appear to be financial obstacles on the way to their dream. Fortunately, many programs have been established to help nursing students on their way through school. With hard work and dedication, an enterprising student can get enough aid to attend nursing school for free.
Instructions
1. Volunteer for a variety of health related organizations. The key to going to nursing school for free is to successfully apply for grants and scholarships. While some need-based grants do exist, it is not always possible to finance a full education on grants alone. It is likely that you will need to acquire a combination of grant money and scholarship money in order to get a full ride. Most nursing scholarships require that applicants possess volunteer experience in a health related field, so a stint with an organization like the Red Cross will help tremendously.
2. Write a resume. Most scholarship committees ask for resumes, in order to assess the applicant's experience and qualifications. A good resume details the applicant's education history, work experience, volunteer experience, achievements, and skills. A good resume also includes a cover letter and a reference list. Cover letters should be modified to appeal to each scholarship committee you send them to. You should provide at least three references. Teachers, employers, and volunteer supervisors usually make good references.
3. Write a nursing scholarship essay. Most scholarship committees require that applicants submit an essay demonstrating their qualifications and passion. A good essay is well organized, coherent, and persuasive. Before writing your essay, write an outline of the points you want to make. These points should present an image of you as a driven, hard working, compassionate person who would make an excellent nurse. Once you have your ideas organized, flesh them out in a 500-800 word essay with an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
4. Search for any demographic or needs-based funding that you may be eligible for. There is a fair bit of grant money available for students in a low income bracket, an ethnic minority, or a disadvantaged group. This type of aid is available to students regardless of what program they are applying for. The site Collegescholarships.org has a searchable database of scholarships and financial aid, with many listings provided for needs based funding.
5. Search for merit based nursing scholarships. Merit scholarships are given to students who demonstrate qualifications, experience, and achievement. Scholarship committees generally want to see that you have good grades and volunteer experience: However, the specific criteria varies from place to place. Even if you do not have excellent grades, you may have unique accomplishments and experiences that makes you suitable for a nursing scholarship. The site Nursing.info has a large searchable database of scholarships for nursing students.
6. Apply for grants and scholarships that look promising. Organize your transcripts, tests scores, aid forms, essays, and recommendations into a complete package. Remember to apply for a combination of needs-based grants, demographics-based grants, and merit-based scholarships. Modify your essay and resume to appeal to the criteria listed by each organization. Always keep your eye on deadlines, and have your applications in well before the due date arrives. Remember that your objective is to go to nursing school for free, so make sure that you apply for enough aid to cover 100% of the program.
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