Applying for Scholarships
Are you concerned about paying for college? If so, don't worry. We'll give you tips on what to look for in scholarships and suggestions how to apply for them.
How to Find and Apply for Scholarships
The most daunting task of attending college can be paying for it. Researching scholarships is not tough but applying for them can be tedious. For profit and non-profit companies offer hundreds of grants and give millions of dollars in scholarships every year. A student often needs specific grades and exam scores to qualify while others can qualify you based on their experience(s) or identities. Join us as we give you tips on what to look for when applying for scholarships.
How do I Start Searching for Scholarship Options?
List out your hobbies and interests- Even though many scholarships are meritorious (awarded based entirely on your merits), there are other attainable scholarships meant for students who have certain interests or participate in particular activities inside and outside of the classroom.
Create a resume with all your past and existing extracurricular activities as there are likely scholarships available for many of those pursuits. If you belong to any local, national, or international organizations check their website for college aid, scholarships, and/or grants.
Reflect on your strengths, talents, and expertise. For instance, if you enjoy writing, you can include “creative writing” “or short stories” as an interest on your resume. Be as specific as possible to identify what you like to write. Such as short stories or poetry writing.
Some hobbies and interests may need you to give samples of your work if you are applying for their scholarship(s). For example, if you want a scholarship in art, you may need to submit an art portfolio.
Jot down your identities and communities- Scholarship affiliations can be based on your religion, gender identification, race, origin, employment status, sexual orientation, and many other identities.
Jot down a list of people you know who can serve as references based on a specific association. For example, if you want a religious scholarship, you may need a letter of recommendation from the pastor of the church you are associated with.
Check in with parents and guardians’ employers about scholarships. If you work part time, ask your employer if they offer scholarships.
Be truthful about your affiliations. You can get into big trouble if you are dishonest about your affiliations with a group to which you have no connection.
Do your research before you head into your senior year- Most scholarships have early deadlines, specifically those that apply to your cost of attendance toward any college. During your junior year of high school you should start doing your research on the potential scholarships of interest.
Go to the reference section of your local library to look for scholarships. You can find qualified scholarships by talking to the research librarian.
Speak to the guidance counselor at your high school- High school counselors may be able to guide you through identifying the right scholarships for you. They can also assist you with scholarships that may take a long time to do on your own.
If you attend a large high school with additional resources, you might run into a counselor who solely focuses on college admission and/or financial aid.
Contact the financial aid offices- Colleges and universities are consistently offering institutional scholarships. If you fill out a financial aid form, you can be automatically entered for some of these scholarships. As you complete the application you will likely specify a list of your interests, affiliations, socio-economic standing and more .
The financial aid page on a school's website will likely have the most up-to-date information on various available scholarships.
Check for scholarship opportunities at institutions you are interested in applying to.
Go online to find scholarships- There are scholarship databases provided by government or independent organizations. Use keywords based on connections and interests to search through these databases. Here are some websites that you should take into consideration.
https://www.fastweb.com/ : Fast Web is your one-stop-shop when it comes to looking for scholarships. You can also look for part-time jobs to help you pay for tuition and college expenses.
https://finaid.org/ : FinAid.org includes aid for students with dubious hobbies, interests, and connections.
https://www.scholarships.com/ : You can search for scholarships through certain factors such as state, college name, college type, or your major.
Ask if religious or community organizations offer scholarships- You might find a scholarship available at your church or local organizations. Communicate with the head of the organization to navigate their specific process.
Even if your group or agency does not offer scholarships, they can steer you in the right direction.
How to Request Scholarships
Search for pre-requisites and qualifications- A scholarship has specific prerequisites and instructions that students should follow. Some applications may be alike but they will not be the same. Many applications require students to develop an essay given a prompt, while other schools require a letter of recommendation.
Group similar scholarships together so you can complete the documents with related deadlines. Completing multiple applications with similar deadlines will help you complete them on time.
Have a whiteboard, spreadsheet, or checklist to list qualifications such as essays you need to write, letters of recommendation you must receive, and other documents that need submitting.
Ask teachers and community leaders to write you letters of recommendation- Approach the instructor as soon as possible so they can have enough time to work on it.
People should know you well before they can write your letter of recommendation. A recommendation from a well-known teacher or counselor should be ideal.
If you are applying for a scholarship related to an interest or group, make sure the person who writes the recommendation knows about you, your affiliations, and your achievements. For instance, if you apply for a religious scholarship, you might ask for a letter from a youth group leader.
Develop your scholarship application essays- Many applications require you to write an essay describing your experiences and how you stand out from other applicants for the scholarship. Be transparent, and avoid embellishing any experiences or accomplishments.
The essay should describe you in detail.
Developing an outline will help the essay stay cohesive.
Have an instructor read your essay before you turn it in.
Write the essay in several drafts before you have the perfect essay.
Apply before the deadline- Get your application ready to go before the deadline this way you'll have ample time to polish and make final changes before you send it off.
If you submit an electronic application, don't wait until the last day. Computer problems or network issues could cause you to be disqualified from the process.
Applying for scholarships while you are in college- Stay in touch with the financial aid department. There are consistent scholarships available for students in college.
For instance, aid is available to students graduating within a year. Scholarships and grants can help you shield the graduation costs.
Scholarships are available to students that want to major in a specific subject. You should declare a major by your sophomore year.
Watch out for Scholarship Scams
Watch out for guarantee claims- No scholarship is guaranteed, no matter how qualified you are. Many other students may be just as qualified in the application pool. If you are dealing with an agency that offers you a guaranteed amount of money, this might be a scam
Most scammers will use simple, one-page applications to target students who are exhausted after writing essays.
Disregard sales tactics- Authorized companies have no reason to pressure you. If the company uses phrases such as hurry up, or restricting space, the company could be scamming you.
A sales rep can say you just won a scholarship, but there is a problem. You need to attend a workshop or pay a fee. Another red flag!
Check for spelling and grammatical errors- Communication from an authorized scholarship agency would be looked over. These signs can lead to a scam.
Suspicious or shoddy formatting can be a sign that the email is from a scammer rather than an authorized company.
Check the background of the company before giving your personal information- Most of the scammers will mimic an authorized scholarship agency and send an email asking for more information before submitting the application. Before you click on any links in the email do some research on the company to make sure that the company is authorized.
The emails sent to you may be an attempt to take your identity.
