A common misconception among students and parents is that only straight “A” students can earn scholarships. This could not be further from the truth. In fact, the providers of most scholarships take into account a number of factors aside from your GPA in making their decisions.
Most scholarships do have a minimum GPA, often somewhere between a 3.0 and a 3.2. Make sure to check if they are asking for a weighted or unweighted GPA before you apply.
If you do meet these requirements but are, say, a solid “B” student, you should look for scholarships in several categories:
Athletics. There are athletic scholarships for every sport under the sun.
Your ethnic background or home state. Whether your heritage is Irish, Korean, or Guatemalan, there may be scholarships offered specifically for you. There also may be scholarships based on the state, county, or city that you live in.
A challenging life experience. Have you experienced a challenging event in your life – perhaps an illness or a disability? If so, there are many scholarships available from various non-profit organizations.
Your major. If you always get straight As in Chemistry and Physics, but Cs in English and History, you would still be a competitive candidate for science-based scholarships.
A great deal of this process depends on finding out what your strengths are and playing them to your maximum advantage. Do not limit your options, but make sure that you meet all the eligibility requirements for the scholarship before you fill out an application.