Scholarship Season is Here!

By Rebecca Parker

Scholarships. Most college students want them. Aviation students need them. So, why do very few apply for them?

According to US News & World Report the range for a 4-year degree tuition is about $41,000 to $63,000. Flying Magazine quoted pilot training to average almost $88,000. EducationData.org highlights that over 1.7 million scholarships are awarded annually, averaging 46 billion dollars!

Students, there is money out there to help support your passions. As an Associate Professor of Practice in Commercial Aviation I have been on many advisory committees to recommend scholarships. Additionally, I have been on the Women in Aviation International 2024 Review Committee for the prestigious Harvard University Women in Leadership Scholarship.

Today, I am going to share with you some easy steps to improve your chances of being selected.

1. Research and apply for all scholarships. Even if you don’t think you’re as good as everyone else. Many scholarships go unawarded because of the lack of applications. Go for it! Worst case, they say no. I was 1 of 30 selected in 2023 to attend the Women in Aviation Emerging Leaders Scholarship to Harvard. The candidates were worldwide. I thought to myself that there was no way I would be honored with that gift. Shoot for the moon and never give up!

2. Fill out the entire application and take your time. Your submission will stand out in a negative way if you are missing data, have poor punctuation, or include the wrong information. Read the instructions on the forms. You don’t want to be excluded because you have a simple grammatical error.

3. Put your best foot forward with your resume and essay. Your resume should be organized via date and section, easy to read, and have snapshots of your experience. I recommend one or two pages. Include your education, work experience, volunteer activities, awards, and pilot licenses. Next, create an essay that answers the question of who you are. Show your personality in your writing. Make it personal and genuine. Finally, make sure someone helps you proofread.

Here are some excellent places to start looking for scholarships: Women in Aviation International, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, University Aviation Association, Black Pilots of America, Experimental Aircraft Association, 99’s, National Business Aviation Association, and many more. There are scholarships for every rating, region, ethnicity, gender, and everything in between. It just takes a little time to research.

To the readers who have made it this far in reading, I’m going to tell you like I tell my students:

“ Y’all, scholarships are not scary! Take it one step at a time. Breath in and out. And enjoy the ride.”