No-Essay Scholarships Turn Student Data Into $2,000 Sweepstakes With 1-in-140,000 Odds
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 15
No-Essay Scholarships Turn Student Data Into $2,000 Sweepstakes With 1-in-140,000 Odds
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 15
$2,000 “no essay” scholarships on sites like Sallie Mae’s Scholly are often sweepstakes, with awards decided by random drawing rather than merit.
Applicants effectively trade personal information for a chance to win, and experts say the forms can generate leads for private student loans and other marketing.
ScholarshipOwl’s rules put winning odds at about 1 in 140,000, underscoring how the offers can function more like raffles than traditional aid.
The scholarships do pay real winners, and industry groups say low-burden applications can widen access for students lacking time or writing support.
The broader risk is that student data may be sold beyond colleges and scholarship providers to businesses targeting families with ads and services.
Are 'easy' scholarships just a raffle where your personal data is the real prize?
Is student loan giant Sallie Mae using a legal loophole to secretly sell your child's data?
Is your child’s classroom becoming a data mine for Big Tech and AI companies?