Scholarship Support FAQs: Get Answers

Coaching, Services, and the Debt-Free Application Process

Services for Families & Students

Need-based or merit-based scholarships available?

Yes — both.

Securing Degrees helps students access a wide range of scholarships, including both need-based and merit-based awards. Whether you’re from a low-income household, have a high GPA, strong leadership, or a unique talent, the platform matches you to scholarships that align with your strengths and circumstances.

How it works: Our customized tracker evaluates your academic background, extracurriculars, financial need, and demographics — then filters opportunities that best fit your profile. This maximizes your chance of success without wasting time on irrelevant applications.

Is Securing Degrees exclusive to low-income students?

No — Securing Degrees supports all students.

While many scholarships do target students with financial need, our system also includes thousands of merit-based and niche awards for students from middle- and high-income families, including scholarships based on:

  • Academic excellence
  • Leadership & community service
  • Field of study (e.g., STEM, Arts, Business)
  • Athletic or creative talent
  • Identity (e.g., first-generation, women in tech, veterans)

Anyone committed to graduating without debt will benefit from the system — regardless of income level.

Do you only help with scholarships, or do you offer college admissions support too?

We also support students with college admissions, personal statements, application timelines, and decision-making. For families enrolled in our 1:1 College and Scholarship Coaching plans, we provide both college and scholarship strategy—because they go hand in hand.

What’s included in the 1:1 coaching program?

Here’s what you can expect:

  • Personalized scholarship matching
  • Step-by-step planning and deadline organization
  • Unlimited essay reviews and feedback
  • Strategy sessions to make your applications stronger
  • Access to a coach who’s won top national scholarships and graduated debt-free
  • Encouragement, mindset coaching, and accountability—because this journey is emotional, too
    Every program is customized to fit the student’s unique goals and schedule.

How long do students usually work with you?

It depends. Some work with us for 5–7 months during peak scholarship season. Others stick with us throughout high school or college for ongoing support. Our programs are flexible to meet your timeline, especially if you're juggling school, sports, or other responsibilities.

Do you fill out scholarship applications for us?

No—and here’s why. Our mission is empowerment. We coach students through the process so they build skills and confidence that last beyond one application. That said, we do help you stay organized, brainstorm strong responses, edit essays, prep materials, and meet deadlines without stress. You’ll never be alone in the process.

Can Securing Degrees help international students?

Yes — with limitations.
International students can still access scholarships listed on Securing Degrees, although the majority of U.S.-based funding is directed at citizens and residents. That said, we filter and tag international-friendly opportunities and also offer strategies like:

  • Applying to U.S. colleges that offer merit-based aid to international students
  • Leveraging institutional scholarships and third-party foundations
  • Accessing country-specific awards and fellowships

Plus, international users can benefit from our essay coaching, progress tracking, and accountability systems to win the awards that are open to them.

Resources for non-traditional students available?

Absolutely. Securing Degrees is purpose-built to support non-traditional students navigating complex responsibilities while pursuing higher education. Whether you're returning to school after time away or balancing work, parenting, or military service, we’ve designed our platform to meet your needs.

We provide tailored support for:

Adult learners returning to school

Many of our users are pursuing degrees after a long academic break. Our guide to graduating college debt-free outlines scholarship strategies specifically suited for working adults and career changers.

Single parents managing family and education

We understand the unpredictable nature of raising children while studying. Our platform includes scholarship options marked for parents, automatic deadline reminders, and flexible essay review workflows so nothing falls through the cracks.

Veterans and active-duty military

Our system helps identify scholarships specifically for service members. We also support the organization of benefit-related documentation and help create strong application narratives that reflect your unique experience.

Part-time students and online learners

Whether you're studying remotely or on a reduced course load, our system is structured to align with your pace. With asynchronous support tools and remote essay feedback, everything is built to work around your life—not against it.

If you're navigating a complex educational journey and want expert support, book a free 1-on-1 consultation. We’ll walk you through how our tools fit your goals and how to begin applying with clarity and consistency.

Scholarships or all academic disciplines covered?

Yes — we cover all majors and fields.

Whether you're studying engineering, nursing, creative writing, aviation, education, or even trade programs, Securing Degrees includes scholarships tailored to your academic path.

Each user’s dashboard surfaces awards based on their declared or intended major, career interests, and extracurriculars. Plus, our platform includes essay templates that can be adapted for specific career-based prompts, helping you stand out in competitive pools.

Partnerships (for schools, nonprofits, and community orgs)

How do we get started or request a partnership proposal?

Simple—just schedule a consultation on the “Partner With Us” page or directly at https://calendly.com/vlamarsddf/partners. We’ll schedule a discovery call to learn more about your goals, your student population, and how we can support your mission. We respond to all partnership inquiries within 48 hours.

What types of organizations do you partner with?

At Securing Degrees, we’re proud to partner with a wide range of mission-driven organizations who are deeply committed to college access and student success.

Our partnerships include public and charter schools, national nonprofits, universities, youth organizations, and industry leaders. We've collaborated with institutions such as Lithonia High School, KIPP Metro Atlanta, BOOST@BerkeleyHaas, and schools across both Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County Schools.

We’ve also served faith-based groups, church organizations, Divine Nine fraternities and sororities, Girls Scouts and even partnered with Spelman College and the NFL Alumni Association to expand our reach and impact.

Each of these partnerships shares one goal: to ensure that students from all backgrounds have the guidance, strategy, and confidence they need to secure a debt-free college education.

What does a partnership with Securing Degrees include?

We tailor every partnership to meet the unique needs of your students, staff, and school community. Whether you’re a small nonprofit, a single high school, or a full school district, we design solutions that create real outcomes.

Here’s what a partnership might include:

  • Live or virtual workshops for students and families focused on building strong scholarship strategies
  • Group-based coaching programs with structured tracking systems, guided timelines, and weekly office hours
  • 1:1 support for high-potential or high-need students who benefit from deeper guidance
  • Educator & counselor development, including scholarship strategy sessions and staff training
  • Custom scholarship tools, including branded portals with curated opportunities
  • Full access to our “ScholaPro” program—our in-house scholarship support system designed to serve small cohorts or entire school districts

With ScholaPro, students receive their own user-friendly, personalized scholarship platform. It’s like giving every student access to a full-time scholarship coach—without overwhelming your staff.

We’ve successfully partnered with schools across Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Schools, KIPP Metro Atlanta, Lithonia High, and organizations such as Spelman College, BOOST@BerkeleyHaas, and the NFL Alumni Association.

Our approach is flexible, scalable, and built for impact.
Whether you're looking to support 30 students or 3,000—we’ll meet you where you are and help you build something meaningful.

Do you offer in-person events or virtual only?

We offer both. Our team can lead high-impact virtual workshops and coaching, but we also travel for select in-person opportunities depending on location and availability. If you’re planning a college fair, senior night, or scholarship boot camp—we can show up powerfully, either way.