Esports is a rapidly growing industry, and many schools are starting to offer esports scholarships. In this blog post, we will cover the basics of what you need to know about esports college scholarships and how they can help make your gaming career a reality.
1. What is an esports scholarship and how does it work ?
Esports college scholarships are awarded to gamers by their school, and they can be used just like a normal scholarship. If you receive one, this means that your college will pay for some of your tuition or other related expenses. To get an esports scholarship, the first step is usually filling out a general application with information about yourself and why you want to attend the school. Depending on your own credentials and if esports is a big part of their culture, you will be selected by either the admissions department or an esports organization within that college to receive one of these scholarships.
Esports scholarship recipients can usually use them in whatever way they like at their school (such as paying for tuition, housing expenses, or student fees).
Because esports scholarships are so new, you will need to contact the admissions department of the school and ask them about their specific scholarship details. Each college can have different requirements for eligibility and how they award these types of scholarships. However, most schools only give out one per year (at least at this time), so it is something that you will need to apply for each year.
2. How to find the right school for you
When it comes to E-sports, there are thousands of colleges across the United States that offer scholarships. However, it can be difficult to find out if your school (or even a specific program or major) has one available.
The first thing you should do is check with an admissions counselor at each college and university on your list who can tell you more about their esports programs. If your school is large enough, they will likely have an official esports organization that you can contact about their scholarship offerings.
If schools do not list any scholarships on their website or are unable to tell you more specific information over the phone, then there are still other ways that you might be able to find one at a college near you.
Many esports scholarships are given out by a school’s admissions department, so it is important to find the right person at your college who can tell you more. This might be someone from their office of financial aid or an official representative from the athletics program.
There is also some information online that will help you research which colleges offer esports scholarships and if they have a specific recruitment process.
The best place to start is by going through the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE). They are an esports organization that works with colleges and universities across America, so they can tell you which schools near you offer scholarships for gamers.
3. How to apply for scholarships
Once you have found a college with an esports scholarship, the next step is to apply for it. Most of these are done through the admissions department at your school or by contacting their esports organization. If none of them seem to be available, there are still many other ways that you can get one on your own.
If you are just looking for a scholarship that does not require any special skills, then you can start by filling out the general application at your college. This should be available on their website or even sent to you in an email if they have advertised it before.
If there is not one listed anywhere online, ask someone from admissions who would know about these types of scholarships. Many schools are not very public about them, so you may have to reach out in person or over the phone if they do offer these types of esports scholarships.
4. The importance of networking with your peers in the industry
Another way to find an esports scholarship is by networking with other collegiate gamers and organizations. This can be done through joining a few teams, attending events on campus, or even just talking to people who work in the industry.
The whole point of college is getting involved as much as possible and meeting new friends that you can learn from for the rest of your life. Esports is no different, so use this opportunity to meet other students who are just as passionate about gaming as you are.
There will be conventions and conferences during the school year that can provide an excellent networking opportunity for collegiate gamers or esports enthusiasts looking for scholarships in their field of choice. You might even know someone already attending one of these conventions that you can get in touch with beforehand to see if they know anyone at the event.
It is even possible for esports players who are traveling across America or overseas to attend college while receiving their scholarship. When it comes down to it, finding the right education program and school will always come before getting your desired position within a field of study.
Many colleges will be more than willing to work with you and find a suitable scholarship position for their students. It is possible that they may not have one already set up, but there is nothing wrong with asking if they can provide something similar so long as it fits the requirements of your desired esports scholarship program.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many esports scholarships available to collegiate gamers and organizations. Although most of these require a special skill set, it is still possible for anyone with the right passion and drive to get their own scholarship program in order.
We hope you enjoyed this article and it has helped you in your search for an esports scholarship. There is a ton of information online that can help, so use these tips to find the best possible program today.
