Scholarships For Women Over 40

Women over the age of forty often have a difficult time finding scholarships to help them on their quest to self-improvement. Just because they may be non-traditional students, though, does not mean that they do not need just as much help as traditional students. Scholarships for women over 40 are a bit more difficult to find, but you can succeed if you know the right steps to take and look in the right places.

Steps to Finding Scholarships

The very first thing you need to do is fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In order to receive any monies for school, whether they are scholarships, grants, or loans, you must have a FAFSA on file. Filling it out is a very simple process and you can do the whole thing online if you choose. Once you have filled that out, you need to decide what colleges you are interested in and what you think you want to major in.

This second step is typically not a problem because women over 40 are generally aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Once you have picked a location, you can start looking for specific scholarships.

Scholarships Available for Women over 40

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers scholarships for women over 40. To qualify for a scholarship you must be enrolled in an accredited institution, be pursuing a technical certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree and have a true financial need due to low income. When awarding these scholarships, priority is given to individuals who have been out of the workforce at least 5 years, people in a low-paying job with no career opportunities or persons raising someone else’s children. Other factors they consider include personal circumstances and achievements, educational background, career goals, challenges in life you have had to face and the impact of your education on your life and your community.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers a scholarship for ladies over 40 who are interested in graduate school. You can receive anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 from this scholarship, depending on your qualifications, your major and how you describe the impact of your education. If you are interested in majoring in history then The American History of Scholarships for Women awards one scholarship per year to a woman entering her freshman year who is majoring in history.

There are still other scholarship opportunities. The Brill Family Scholarship is awarded to women majoring in engineering. To qualify you must have completed your freshman year and have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA. The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) also offers a variety of scholarships that range in value from $1,000 to $7,000. There are a multitude of providers that fund these scholarships, so it is possible that you will be able to qualify for at least some of them.

Extra Tips When Applying for Scholarships

As you apply for scholarships and write the essays required, be sure to keep a copy of everything. Not only will this allow you to reuse your essays where possible, but it will also help you keep up with all of the writings you’ve done and the scholarships you have applied for. It is helpful to remember that you may send in your application in a variety of ways. For example, you can sometimes email them, you can always send them by snail mail or if, you are near the location they are headed to, you can hand deliver them.

If you are not confident in your writing ability, be sure to check out websites that give examples and tips for writing a good essay. It is also a good idea to have someone else read your essay to check for logical progression and any errors you may have missed. Last but not least, never give up. Even if your scholarship application gets rejected, keep trying. Do not give in to despair because there are plenty of funds available, even for women over 40; you just have to know where to look and continue looking.

There are plenty of available scholarships for women over 40. Do not be discouraged by your age or your perceived disadvantages. Be diligent in looking for them and be persistent in applying for them. Believe in yourself and your abilities and you will succeed.