This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated a tiny bit if you make a purchase after clicking on the links. The Savor Summer College Scholarship winners thank you!
College Scholarship Tip: It’s not ALL about GPA
This college scholarship tip proves that straight-A students do not win ALL the scholarships!
[2021 Edition]
“My student does not have straight A’s, so will not be able to win scholarships.”
TRUE or FALSE?
FALSE!
Students do not need to be at the top of their class with a perfect grade point average to win college scholarships.
In fact, some scholarship guidelines have grade point average requirements that do NOT include 4.0 or above. (For example, 3.0 – 3.8)
These organizations offering scholarship money are looking for well-rounded students who did not obsess over a perfect G.P.A. and instead have used their time in high school to volunteer, play sports, play an instrument, and/or be involved in clubs or other community organizations.
Does this sound like you or your student?
There are also many scholarships available to students that do not even have a place on the application for students to share grades.
Many of these are essay-based or have other ways for students to show their strengths, such as creating videos or photography.
Grades are only a small portion of most scholarship applications, while essays and activity sections give students a chance to share in detail who they are, how they helped others, and how they plan to use the money if they are chosen as the scholarship winner.
Great grades are wonderful, but they are only one aspect of a student and scholarship judges try and see the WHOLE student when making award decisions.
Out of my three boys, only one had a 4.0+ G.P.A.

Open to High School Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors! APPLY NOW HERE
The other two had nice grades, but they were more in the 3.6 to 3.8 range.
Did they all win scholarships?
YES! My husband and I did not have to take out any parent loans for any of our boys’ college education.
BOOM!!!
Be sure to read: How Students Can Volunteer Their Way into College Scholarship Money
All my winning scholarship secrets are revealed right here >>

Monica Matthews is the author of How to Win College Scholarships. She helped her own son win over $100,000 in college scholarships and now shares her expertise with other parents and their students. She truly has “been there, done that” in regard to helping parents and students navigate the scholarship process.
Her method of helping students in finding college scholarships, writing unique and compelling scholarship essays, creating amazing scholarship application packets, and more have taught desperate parents to help their own students win thousands of scholarship dollars. She teaches them how to apply S.M.A.R.T. with outstanding results.
Monica’s scholarship tips have been featured on many prominent websites, and she has been dubbed the “Go-To” expert on college scholarships.