Scholarships for Health Science Students: How to Find Them

Scholarships for Health Science Students: How to Find Them

Careers in the health sciences continue to grow. Part of the reason for this robust growth is the entrance of the Baby Boomer generation into their retirement years, and subsequent increased need for health care services among this population.

At the same time there continues to be a shortage of qualified health science graduates and medical service providers, due principally to inadequate educational recruiting levels in institutions of higher learning.

Because of the huge demand for medical professionals, college students choosing health-related majors are finding funding opportunities not available in other fields. The specialized training needed to prepare nurses, medical assistants, health information managers, dental assistants, physical therapists, lab technologists, imaging professionals, massage therapists, and other medical staff people has helped to create a number of grants and scholarships for health care students over recent decades.

Grants and scholarships are generally divided into the categories of need-based assistance and merit-based funding. Read on for more details about some of the grants and scholarships available.

Grants

Grants are one of the most important sources of funding for today's health science students. A grant usually is designed to help financially disadvantaged students. The federal Pell Grant is one such award, with the amount awarded based on the need of the student. It is awarded to undergraduates and does not have to be repaid. A Pell Grant cannot be awarded more than 12 consecutive semesters, and students receiving it must maintain a certain grade point average in all classes. Pell Grants cover tuition, fees, books, supplies and also a living stipend.

Scholarships

Scholarships may be awarded for outstanding performance in athletics, academics, or certain scholarly disciplines, and generally have competitive merit-based requirements and unique eligibility requirements. For instance, some scholarships may be targeted specifically for women or minorities, or for students studying in a particular field, such as health and medical. Some examples of scholarships available in the health sciences field:

Other Scholarships

In addition to the ones listed above, state governments often offer scholarships to disadvantaged students.

You'll also want to research scholarships from private companies. Scholarships in the health sciences field are often provided by corporate sources whose interests lie in this area. These scholarships may target minorities or women in an effort to improve diversity in the workforce.

What's more, the college that you're interested in attending may also offer scholarships, so be sure to inquire from the admissions department as to their availability, the amount of the award, and the application deadline.

You may also discover some locally based opportunities for scholarships. Competition for these may be less intense than for the national scholarships -- which, though they provide large awards, are often very competitive. Sometimes, pursuing several smaller scholarship awards is a better way to go than spending time and energy going after the more competitive national awards.

Applying for Scholarships

Regardless of whether you are seeking a grant or scholarship, you will be filling out many application forms and writing essays to explain your interest in the health sciences field. It will pay to devote maximum attention to the application process and essay-writing. This is your chance to shine, and a way to demonstrate your sincerity, interest and dedication to the profession, so do your best to make a good impression.

Remember this about Scholarships

The thought of paying for college can be daunting, but fortunately, there are many varied sources to help students defray costs. While financial aid advisors at your college of choice can help, it's wise to do a good bit of the leg work yourself and diligently research what might be available to you. Always be sure you follow the exact guidelines and ask questions if you're unsure about what or how to submit.

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Are you interested in the health science field? If you'd like to learn more about one of the exciting health science programs ECPI University offers, be sure to contact an admissions advisor today for more information to get you started on your career path.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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