Recent Blog Posts
Advice for Writing a Scholarship Thank You Letter
Receiving a scholarship is a big deal as a student. Oftentimes, it represents a judge or committee’s decision to support your academic pursuits and career goals over dozens or potentially even hundreds of other applicants. With that in mind, some students choose to write thank you letters after receiving an award.
Writing a thank you note to a donor can put you under pressure, but don’t second-guess yourself. Oftentimes, just being sincere and expressing real gratitude in your letter can make a good impression. At OVC Scholarship Network, we offer resources to awards recipients and people looking for scholarships, including guides and a regularly updated directory.
What Should You Include in a Scholarship Thank You Letter in 2026?
A scholarship thank you letter follows a simple structure that donors have recognized for years. A strong letter opens with the basics, explains where you are headed, and shows what the award changed for you.
How to Complete the 2026-27 FAFSA
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is an important step in getting the financial support you need to pay for college. Even if you don’t think you qualify for aid, you could still be eligible for other opportunities and scholarships that require you to have filled out the application. In other words, you lose nothing by applying.
All that being said, actually completing the application can be daunting, especially if you are the first in your family to go to college. If you need help filling out FAFSA, My College Companion can provide you with the answers you’re looking for.
What Do You Need to Do Before Starting Your Federal Student Aid Application?
Before starting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), every student needs a StudentAid.gov account. This account, often called an FSA ID, lets you sign and submit the form online. Any parent or spouse who must provide information on your FAFSA, known as a contributor, will need an account of their own as well.
How Can Medical and Dental Students Get Scholarships?
The cost of medical or dental school can rack up high costs that leave students with debt for years after graduation. With that in mind, many students look for ways to lower costs through scholarships before taking on loans.
If you are going to school to become a physician or dentist, you might wonder what opportunities are open to you. Actually sitting down and making time to hunt for scholarships can be difficult, especially if you’re already dealing with a high course load. At OVC Scholarship Network, we offer a wide range of scholarships and other resources for graduate students in one convenient place, so you can start planning today.
What Kinds of Scholarships Are Open to Medical and Dental Students?
Medical and dental students can apply for several different types of scholarships. The first place to look is your own school. Most medical and dental programs award institutional scholarships, and these are usually based on merit, financial need, or a mix of both.
What Does "Cost of Attendance" Mean at a College or University?
For many families, price can be an important factor in deciding where to attend college. The total cost can account for many factors aside from just tuition. The extra costs can catch some students off guard, especially those working on a tight budget.
Knowing the full cost of attendance at your college or university is critical for making smart financial choices as you work toward your degree. At OVC Scholarship Network, we offer a range of need-based and merit-based scholarships to help students cover college expenses beyond just the sticker price. Our scholarships are available to students nationwide, so be sure to look at our directory for open funding opportunities.
What Is Included in the Cost of Attendance of a College or University in 2026?
Colleges and universities calculate a full cost of attendance, and that number covers several categories that students and families need to plan for ahead of time, such as:
What Is a Scholarship Motivation Letter?
Applying for scholarships involves more than just filling out a form and submitting your grades. Most organizations want to learn more about the person behind the application and why receiving the scholarship would mean something to them.
One way they do this is through a scholarship motivation letter. This part of an application explains why you want the scholarship and why you believe you are a good candidate.
Scholarship applications can look different from one opportunity to the next, so it’s important to understand all of the various aspects you may be asked for. At OVC Scholarship Network, students across the country can find a wide range of scholarships, regardless of their future career plans.
What Should You Include in a Scholarship Motivation Letter?
Your motivation letter should help the committee understand why you are applying. Instead of repeating your grades or accomplishments, explain how your experiences connect to your plans.
Undergraduate vs. Graduate vs. Postgraduate Degrees: What Is the Difference?
Understanding the degree level you’re looking for can help you compare programs and plan how to pay for school. It can also matter when you apply for scholarships, since some are only open to students at certain stages of their education.
Undergraduate degrees are usually the first degrees students earn in college. Graduate programs come after a bachelor’s degree, while the term "postgraduate" can have different meanings depending on the school or program. Knowing the difference can help you choose a program and find scholarships that fit your level of study.
Scholarships may be based on your grades, major, degree level, life experiences, or other factors. At OVC Scholarship Network, students across the country can search a wide range of scholarship opportunities, even if you’re not planning a career in law.
What Is an Undergraduate Degree?
An undergraduate degree is usually the first college degree you earn after high school. Federal Student Aid classifies students working toward associate or bachelor’s degrees as undergraduate students.
Can You Apply to College Scholarships if You Aren’t a U.S. Citizen?
Paying for college is difficult for many students. For young adults in America who aren’t U.S. citizens, college costs can be even more of a problem. Many people wonder whether scholarships are only for citizens or whether your immigration status will prevent you from getting the financial help you need.
The good news is that many scholarships are open to noncitizens, including:
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Permanent residents
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International students
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DACA recipients
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Undocumented students
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Refugees
If you plan to attend college during the 2026-2027 school year, you may have more options than you think. OVC Scholarship Network can help you find and use these resources as you get ready to get the education you’ve always dreamed of.
Do You Have to Be a U.S. Citizen to Receive a Scholarship?
There is no rule that says every scholarship applicant must be a U.S. citizen. Scholarships are offered by many different groups, including:
What College Students Should Know About Scholarship Video Essays
Scholarships can be a pivotal resource for college students. Among the application requirements, many scholarships now ask for video essays instead of traditional written essays as part of their selection process.
Video essays allow applicants to showcase their personalities and talents in a dynamic way that goes beyond the traditional written essay. However, some students may find creating a video essay daunting. Here are some key points to remember to help you ace your next video essay submission.
At OVC Scholarship Network, we have scholarships available that fit many different types of students. If you’re planning on attending college or university in the 2026-2027 school year, check out our scholarships and contact us for help applying.
Understanding the Prompt and Criteria of Video Essays
Before you begin planning what you want to say, make sure you understand exactly what the scholarship committee is asking you to do. Video essay prompts often seem simple, but they may contain several parts. For example, a scholarship may ask you to describe a challenge, explain what you learned from it, and connect that experience to your future goals.
Paying for College with Divorced Parents
Figuring out how to pay for college is complicated for most people, no matter what your background is. When your parents are divorced, the financial aid process and potential lack of money from either parent add an extra layer of problems. Whose income do you use for FAFSA? What if one parent won't cooperate? What if you have not spoken to one of your parents in years?
These are real questions that don’t have easy answers. What we at OVC Scholarship do know, however, is that paying for college is much easier when you have scholarships. OVC Scholarship Network is a great place to find scholarships, and we can even help you if you aren’t sure where to start.
How Does the FAFSA Handle Divorced Parents?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, determines eligibility for federal grants, loans, and work-study programs. For students with divorced parents, the FAFSA uses the parent who provided more financial support. If that parent has remarried, their new spouse's income is also included, even if your stepparent has never contributed to your education costs, as long as they file taxes jointly.
How to Ask for a Scholarship Recommendation Letter
Getting a scholarship in 2026 is about more than good grades and well-written essays. Most scholarship committees want to hear from someone who knows you personally, which means you'll need at least one strong recommendation letter.
Asking for a recommendation letter doesn't have to be stressful if you approach it the right way. If you're searching for scholarships to apply to, OVC Scholarship Network can help you find opportunities and maximize your chances of winning.
Who Should You Ask for a Scholarship Recommendation Letter?
Teachers and Academic Advisors
The strongest recommendation letters come from people who know your academic work and your character well. Teachers, academic advisors, and school counselors who have watched you grow over time are natural choices for recommenders. A good recommender is one who can:
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Talk about specific accomplishments
If you have any questions about the OVC Scholarship Network, we encourage you
to get in touch with us, and we will respond as soon as possible.
