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| Scholarship Myths |
 Myth 3: Scholarships go only to the best students
Carmichael says: "It's not always the top students who are recognized by scholarships." Speaking of Clemson as a state-supported, land-grant institution, he emphasizes that they are not able to employ tuition-and-fee revenue for scholarships; rather, they must use the funds that come from individuals. He added: "You will see more dependency on private gifts and government-sponsored programs at state-supported institutions."
Some scholarships are awarded to students with a particular major. Carmichael describes this by referring to someone who, for example, is in the textile industry and wants to set up a scholarship for Clemson's textile students. Some of the students applying for that particular scholarship might not necessarily be the highest academic achievers, but they meet the criteria established by the sponsor.
Myth 4: I'm a top student, so scholarships will come to me
Few students get free rides, cautions Carmichael. Ha also adds: "In most cases, students have to depend on a variety of financial mechanisms to cover costs." Students are encouraged to examine other options available: tuition tax credits, state and federal programs, loans, and grants. The more you have going for you, the more you'll probably be awarded, but that doesn't mean you can sit back and wait for the money to roll in.
Myth 5: If I apply for a loan, it will lessen my chances for a scholarship
Parents often are not right when they think that if they get student loans, colleges will lower any scholarship money that might have been awarded. Every school establishes its own policy on this issue, and very often, taking out loans doesn't influence your chances of winning a scholarship.
Myth 6: Scholarships require a glamorous talent
Being a high school football or basketball legend helps to get scholarships for sure, but majority of students don't belong that category. Headlines tout the more sensational scholarships without telling the full story of the less spectacular ones. Firmness, researching what’s available, filling out a lot of forms, and bringing those forms to the right place at the right time is a good opportunity to get scholarships.
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