Students who are frustrated with the scholarship process are getting the help they need with ScholarshipUniverse. This installment of “Where on the Web?” features an easy and accessible scholarship finder for Kent State University students.
ScholarshipUniverse is a benefit for any Kent State student looking for scholarships. Although it is only in phase one, there are many resources available for students — with more on the way.
Prior to ScholarshipUniverse, students had to apply for scholarships through their academic departments. All other scholarships needed to be applied for on separate websites and the students would be tasked with finding external scholarships themselves. Not to mention the issue of knowing whether the student fully qualifies for the scholarship or not.
ScholarshipUniverse makes this whole process easier for students and administrators.
“When a student fills out a profile, they answer a series of questions, almost like a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure,’” Melissa McKenney, director of scholarships, said. “The more you answer, the more streamlined the process is and the more targeted the applications are. It gives students a greater likelihood that they are fully qualified for a scholarship.”
Once a student is matched with applications, they can filter scholarships with specific parameters and apply for scholarships based on their qualifications. If students forget to apply for scholarships they matched with or the scholarship deadline is approaching, ScholarshipUniverse notifies students, making this process even more user friendly.
ScholarshipUniverse currently has scholarship applications accessible for the University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, the Kent State University Foundation, The College of Education, Health, and Human Services (EHHS), Kent State University at East Liverpool and limited external scholarships.
While ScholarshipUniverse does not have every academic department or regional campus available at the moment, it is moving into phase two with plans of adding additional regional campuses to the website. Phase three will include all academic departments on the website for the 2024-2025 academic year.
With this timeline in mind, Joanne Agunday, assistant director of scholarships, expresses how students should still be on the lookout for new opportunities on the website.
“It's not going to hurt the students if they just keep on checking every here and there. Although we do have a targeted timeline for all the regional campuses to go on board, the different staff could be ready to be loaded even earlier than we anticipate,” Agunday said. “We will try our best to get this done as quickly as possible for the students to be able to give them time to apply for all those scholarships.”
Visit ScholarshipUniverse www.kent.edu/financialaid/scholarship-universe.
Learn more about the “Where on the Web” series.