Grade point average is but one of many factors for most scholarshp committees.
Winning a scholarship is a great way to offset the high price of going to college. Most scholarships are highly competitive, however, and many are available only to students with exceptional academic credentials. Getting a scholarship with a 1.5 GPA is bound to be a challenge, but it can be done, particularly if you excel in other areas outside of the classroom.
Instructions
1. Evaluate your non-academic interests. Make a list of your hobbies, extra-curricular activities, sports and volunteer experience. This list can help you find scholarships that don't rely on your grade point average.
2. Research non-academic scholarships. These scholarships are often based on your extra-curricular activities, sports or volunteer work. Others are awarded based on ethnicity, cultural heritage or where you attended high school. Academic scholarships are not likely to be an option with a 1.5 GPA.
3. Look into any working scholarships available at your colleges of choice. Some schools have scholarship are programs that offer tuition money in exchange for volunteer work or an internship. Since these kinds of programs are set up on a pay-for-play or work study basis, your GPA may not be as big of a consideration in the application.
4. Get strong recommendation letters. Nearly all scholarship committees want to see not only your transcripts, but also recommendations from those who know you and can speak objectively to your strengths. A strong recommendation from a teacher, employer or guidance counselor may help offset a low grade point average.
5. Write strong applications and essays. Paying careful attention to your application and focusing on a well written essay can help show your strengths despite a low GPA.
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