Ask the Experts: Are There Scholarships for Students with Low GPAs?
The following question was submitted via our Ask the Experts form:
“This fall I will be a senior in high school. I have been looking at attending a community college for my associates and then attend a university for my Bachelors Degree in Computer Science. I have been talking to my parents and realized that they cannot afford the tuition fees. My high school life has been very rocky, but I have made outstanding improvements according to my teachers and counselor. I managed to get my GPA from a 1.7 to a 2.4 by the end of my junior year.
I plan on doing an outstanding job my senior year in order to further raise my GPA. I feel like I won’t be able to receive a scholarship or grant because of my low GPA and my freshman year. I feel like I have shown many improvements but it’s not enough. In your own personal experience would a person in my position be able to receive a grant, scholarship, or any type of financial aid?”
– Erik
Hi Erik,
Congratulations on making big changes and raising your GPA. That’s a great accomplishment all on its own and something you should be proud of.
Yes, there are many types of financial aid, scholarships, and grants that are now and will still be available to you for college! Although some grants and scholarships are limited to those with very high GPAs, many are not. And remember that there are a number of scholarships and grants for students with financial need, as well. Check with your desired colleges about merit awards and need-based awards to see which you may quality for.
In addition to talking to the financial aid offices at the schools you are considering, take a look through the scholarships we’ve listed over the past year. You would be amazed to find that many are based on an essay, community service, or recommendations, and several scholarships consider GPA as just one of several factors.
If you are planning to get your associates degree at a community college first, do your best to get great grades in those classes as well. Whatever university you transfer to is probably going to take both your community college records and your high school records into consideration.
Here’s an idea to consider right now: as you are finding scholarships and grants, create an essay detailing your own personal accomplishment in raising your GPA. It shows drive, commitment, and personal responsibility, all of which are good qualities to have. You may have other accomplishments as well; don’t count anything out.
Begin looking for money for college now. You do not have to wait until your senior year. Every month, we publish a list of scholarships from all over the country, and several are for students in all grade levels, not just seniors. The earlier and more often you apply for grants and scholarships, the more likely you are to receive them!
Thanks for submitting your question!
