Have you ever heard business coaches or your biz besties tell you not to offer scholarships because “people don’t value free stuff”? It’s a common piece of advice floating around, and I get it—it might even be one of the reasons you’re hesitant to offer a scholarship for your course.
This concern is valid, especially when that scholarship could be costing you money. The idea that people don’t appreciate free things often comes from direct experiences where scholarship recipients seemed uninterested or disengaged. But here’s the thing—if you’re blaming the recipients for not valuing your scholarship, you might be missing the real problem.
The issue isn’t with the people who receive the scholarships; it’s with the course design and how those scholarships are being offered in the first place. Too often, business owners treat scholarships like they aren’t valuable and will hand them out thought. This often leads to recipient not valuing the scholarship and scholarships essentially being given to the wrong people.
Designing Courses with Scholarship Recipients in Mind
People are more likely to attend and value scholarships when the course was designed with them in mind—when it addresses a legitimate problem or challenge they’re facing. A scholarship isn’t just about giving someone a free pass; it’s about offering a solution to someone who genuinely needs it but faces financial barriers.
An intentional and carefully designed vetting process ensures that the right people are chosen as recipients. These are the individuals who truly want to attend your course because it’s exactly what they need to overcome a specific challenge. The main thing standing in their way is the financial means to pay for it. When your course solves a real problem for them, and they’re vetted thoughtfully, scholarship recipients will be fully invested, engaged, and appreciative of the opportunity.
When your course design is complete, then it’s time to create an effective vetting process that ensures your scholarships are awarded to the people who want to attend your course, and also require the support of a scholarship to enrol.
Tips for Creating a Scholarship Vetting Process That Works
A well-thought-out vetting process takes time and effort, but it’s crucial to ensuring that the scholarship goes to someone who truly needs it and will benefit from it. Here are some practical tips to help you get started:
1. Set Clear Criteria
Define what you’re looking for in a scholarship recipient. This could include a passion for the subject, a clear vision of how they’ll use the course, and their level of commitment.
2. Ask the Right Questions
During the application process, ask questions that reveal the applicant’s motivations, challenges, and goals. For example, “How do you plan to apply what you learn in this course to your business?”.
3. Include a Short Interview
If possible, conduct a brief interview with top applicants to get a better sense of their enthusiasm and fit for the course.
Making Scholarships a Tool for Equitable Inclusivity
Beyond just filling seats, scholarships are a powerful way to make your courses more equitable, inclusive, and accessible. They allow people from diverse backgrounds—who might otherwise be excluded due to financial barriers—to benefit from your expertise and insights. This doesn’t just enrich their lives; it also brings fresh perspectives to your course community, making it a richer and more dynamic environment for everyone.
Remember, offering scholarships isn’t just about adding numbers to your course or bringing diversity to it—it’s about building an inclusive community that reflects the values of your business. When you take the time to create a thoughtful course design and scholarship process, you’re not only supporting individuals who need it, but you’re also contributing to a broader culture of inclusivity in your industry.
Ready to Elevate Your Scholarship Process?
If you’re finding that your scholarship recipients aren’t valuing their spot, it’s not because they don’t appreciate free stuff—it’s because the vetting process didn’t match the right person to the right opportunity.
The good news? This is totally fixable. By strategically designing your vetting process, you can ensure that your scholarships are awarded to those who will truly value and maximize the opportunity.
Need help creating or refining your scholarship vetting process? Let’s chat! I’m offering a free 30-minute 1:1 call where we can dive into your current approach and make sure it’s set up for success.
Interested? DM me on Facebook or Instagram and I’ll send you the booking link.