Think scholarships are only for straight-A students? Think again! It’s easy to believe that scholarships are all about grades. That you need a perfect GPA to even bother applying. But that’s just not true. The world of scholarships is way bigger and way more interesting than just “grades, grades, grades.” There are tons of “hidden” scholarships out there. Scholarships that look beyond your GPA. Scholarships that care about your skills, your hobbies, your interests – YOU as a whole person, not just your report card. Let’s unlock the secrets of these “unique” scholarships. Let’s see how YOU might actually qualify for some free college cash, even if straight A’s are not your thing.

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Beyond Grades: Scholarship Myths That Hold Students Back

The biggest myth about scholarships is that they are only for super-smart, super-academic students. This myth stops so many regular, awesome students from even trying to get free money for college. It’s time to bust that myth for good! Yes, some scholarships are “merit-based” and focus on grades. But many, many more scholarships look at all kinds of other things beyond just your GPA. Don’t let the “grades only” myth hold YOU back from finding scholarships that are perfect for YOU.

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“Unique” is Nice: Why Small, Specific Scholarships are Your Best Bet

Want to boost your chances of winning scholarships? Go unique! “Unique” scholarships are smaller, more specific awards. They are not the big, national scholarships that everyone and their brother is applying for. Unique scholarships are your hidden gems. Why are unique scholarships so great?

• Less Competition, More Chances: Big, national scholarships get tons of applications. Like, HUGE numbers. Unique scholarships? Way less competition. Fewer applicants mean YOU have a much better shot at winning.
• Made Just for YOU (Maybe!): Unique scholarships are often for students with very specific skills, hobbies, or backgrounds. If you fit that unique, you are exactly who they are looking for. That’s a great feeling!
• Smaller Awards Still Add Up BIG: Yes, unique scholarships are often for smaller amounts than those huge national awards. But don’t let “small” fool you. Lots of small scholarships add up FAST. A few $500 or $1000 unique scholarships can make a real difference in your college costs.

Unique scholarships are your secret weapon. They are your best bet for finding free college money that you can actually WIN.

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Skill-Based Scholarships: Show What You Can DO

Got skills? Then you can get scholarships! Skill-based scholarships are for students who can DO things – not just get good grades in class. Think about YOUR skills – what are you good at? There might be a scholarship for that! Skill-based scholarship examples:

• Writing Skills: Love to write stories? Poems? Essays? Tons of scholarships for writers! Just search for “writing scholarships” and see what pops up.
• Art Skills: Are you an artist? Painter? Sculptor? Digital artist? Show your art skills and win art scholarships. Art scholarships are out there for all kinds of artists.
• Music Skills: Play an instrument? Sing? Compose music? Music scholarships are waiting for talented student musicians. Show off your musical gifts and get funded!
• Tech Skills: Are you a coder? A web designer? A tech whiz? Tech skills are HOT right now. Tech companies and groups offer scholarships to students with tech talents.
• Language Skills: Speak Spanish? French? Another language? Bilingual skills are super valuable. Language scholarships reward students who can speak more than one language.

Whatever your skill, big or small, search for scholarships that reward that skill. You might be surprised by what you find!

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Hobby & Interest Scholarships: Get Paid for What You LOVE

Scholarships for hobbies? Yes, really! You can get paid for doing what you LOVE. Hobby and interest scholarships are out there for all kinds of fun stuff. Think about YOUR hobbies – is there a scholarship for that? Hobby scholarship examples:

• Gaming Scholarships: Love video games? Believe it or not, gaming scholarships are real! For esports players, game designers, even just big-time gamers.
• Sports Scholarships (Beyond the “Stars”): Yes, sports scholarships for top athletes are well known. But there are also sports scholarships for regular student athletes, for specific sports, or even for just being active and healthy.
• Writing or Art Hobbies (Again!): Hobbies like creative writing, drawing, photography, or making videos can ALSO win you hobby-based scholarships, even if it’s just a fun hobby, not your planned career.
• Volunteer Hobbies: Is volunteering your “hobby”? Do you spend tons of time helping out in your community? Volunteer scholarships reward students who are active in service and giving back.
• Unusual Hobbies Too!: Even unusual hobbies can lead to scholarships. Collecting stamps? Bird watching? Knitting? Seriously, search online for “[Your Hobby] scholarship” – you never know what you might find!

Get paid for your hobbies? Yes, it’s a real thing! Turn your fun into free college money.

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Background-Based Scholarships: Your Story Can Be Your Strength

Your background and your story can also unlock scholarship money. Background-based scholarships are for students with specific identities, experiences, or family histories. These scholarships celebrate diversity and support students from all walks of life. Background scholarship examples:

• Scholarships for Students from Specific Ethnic or Racial Backgrounds: Many groups offer scholarships for students from specific racial or ethnic backgrounds to support diversity in college.
• Scholarships for First-Generation College Students: If you are the first in your family to go to college, there are scholarships just for YOU. First-gen scholarships help make college more accessible.
• Scholarships for Women: Scholarships for women in STEM, business, leadership, and many other fields help support women’s education and careers.
• Scholarships for Students with Disabilities: Scholarships for students with disabilities help make college more affordable and accessible for students with unique challenges.
• Scholarships Based on Family History or Affiliations: Some scholarships are for students whose parents work in certain fields, or who are members of specific groups or organizations. Your story matters. Your background matters. And your unique identity might just qualify you for scholarships you never even knew existed.

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Where to Hunt for These Hidden Scholarships: Tips to Find Them

Okay, unique scholarships sound great! But where do you FIND them? They are not always in the big, common scholarship websites. You have to hunt a bit. Here are tips to find those hidden gems:

• Cirkled In website – your One-Stop-Shop: Cirkled In website and your profile are keys to a treasure of scholarships, including some unique scholarships – that are curated, are legit and updated daily. Check out Cirkled In’s Scholarship database and find scholarships that fit YOU. 
• Ask Your Counselor – Local Goldmine: Your high school counselor is your BEST friend for local scholarships. Local groups, businesses, and organizations in your town often offer scholarships just for local students. Your counselor has the inside scoop.
• Online Scholarship Searches: Use online scholarship search sites, but use specific keywords in your searches. Search for “[Your Skill] scholarship” or “[Your Hobby] scholarship” or “[Your Background] scholarship” to find those unique awards.
• Google (Yes, Google it!): Don’t forget good old Google! Search for “[Your Hobby] scholarships” or “[Your Major] scholarships” or “[Your Identity] scholarships” and see what websites and groups pop up. You might find hidden scholarship pages you’d miss on big databases.
• Local Groups and Clubs: Think about your hobbies and interests. Are you in a club for writing? A group for gamers? A team for sports? Check with those groups! Clubs and groups often have their OWN scholarships for members.

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Action Step: Start Your Scholarship Search Today!

Ready to find YOUR scholarships and unlock that free college money? Yes! Do these things right now to start your “hidden gem” scholarship hunt:

• Brainstorm Your “Uniqueness”: List out YOUR skills, YOUR hobbies, YOUR interests, and YOUR background. What makes YOU unique? What are YOUR “areas”?
• Search Online for 3 “Unique” Scholarships: Right now, search online for 3 scholarships that fit YOUR areas. Use search terms like “[Your Hobby] scholarship” or “[Your Skill] scholarship.” See what you can find!
• Ask Your Counselor About Local Scholarships: Make an appointment to talk to your counselor this week and ask about local scholarships in YOUR town or city that might fit YOU.

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Final Thought: Unlock Your Scholarship Potential – It’s Bigger Than You Think!

Don’t buy the myth that scholarships are just for perfect students. That’s just wrong! Scholarships are for all kinds of students – students with all kinds of skills, hobbies, interests, and backgrounds. Start digging for those “hidden gem” scholarships. Your scholarship potential is way bigger than you think. Go find your free college cash – it’s waiting for YOU!
Need more tips on college applications, scholarships, or just how to survive this whole process? Cirkled In has your back—check out Cirkled In resources to help you through every step of your college journey!

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Check out Cirkled In and start owning your future today!