These Scholarship tips came from the same organization that gives the Nobel Peace Prize. That means some pretty smart people put them together and that it would be worth your while to look them over. Unless, of course, you come from an incredibly rich family and do not need any money for college.
General Scholarship Tips:
- · Remember, due to limited funding, not all applicants receive scholarships. The process is
competitive, and you should be careful and thorough when filling out your application to give
yourself the best possible advantage.
- · If you were not selected in the past years, re-evaluate your qualifications and application
package. Be certain that you make academic progress in the next term, earn the highest GPA
possible, and make any necessary adjustments in your application process, then reapply next
year.
- · Do not assume that because you have received a scholarship previously, that you will
automatically receive another award. Some students make the error of assuming that they will
not have to be as careful filling out their application package and writing their personal statement
when applying the second or even third time around. Be aware that there are always new
students competing for awards. You must present a high quality package every time you apply
for a scholarship.
- · Talk to scholarship recipients to get their advice on the application process, scholarship search
process, etc.
Pre-Application Tips:
- · Start to build a network of professionals and educators who are willing to advise you, write
recommendations, proofread your applications and essays, and guide you through the application
process.
- · Be ready with the necessary information and experience to apply for need and/or merit based
funding.
- · Each scholarship fund has its own specific guidelines. Before applying for a scholarship, be certain
that you meet, or will meet, all the necessary qualifications such as academic standing, specified
financial situation, and personal or professional background and explain how you meet them.
General Application Tips:
- · Have multiple copies of the application in case you make a mistake and must start over.
- · Make a checklist of what you need to have for the application.
- · Make a copy of your ENTIRE application and keep it in a folder. That way, if your submission is
lost, you can easily and quickly send another copy.
- · Unless otherwise stated, please bind all the materials for the application together. It makes it
easier to keep up with loose sheets.
- · Put your name on all of the materials; photo, every page of the essay, recommendations, etc. If
part of your application is misplaced, there will be no confusion as to what belongs to which
applicant.
- · If you have multiple names, i.e. two last names, please be consistent with which name you go
by. Do not put “James Avery” when you go by “James Avery-Johnson.” It makes clarification
easier.
- · If the application asks for a GPA or other specific information, fill in the information, do not write
“see transcript.”
- · If you want to be taken seriously, consider getting a generic email address rather than a cutesy
one like “jellybean07” or “pimpstress” or “lopezlover.” Email is used as a form of contact with
applicants. Consider setting up a separate email account for college information and scholarship
information. Make sure that your email address is clearly legible. If filling out by hand, put a
slash through zeros so they do not look like letters.
- · If a required attachment will be sent from another source, such as a high school or college
transcript or financial aid information, it is up to you to make sure the information has been sent.
- · No substitutions! If an item is requested, particularly for a need-based program, provide it. If
you don’t understand the request, ask. In competitive programs, the missing or substituted item
could tank an otherwise strong application.
- · Read your application packet and ask yourself, “Would I give an award to this person if all I knew
about them is the information presented in these documents?”
- · Don’t let a parent fill out the application.
- · Your application package represents the entire and only picture of you the selection committees
have. Always type (or neatly print using black ink) your application. Your application must
appear neat and professional.
- · Proofread your application. Pay particular attention to any spaces you have left blank. If the
answer is zero, write in 0 rather than leaving a blank spot. If the question does not apply to you,
do not write in N/A. You risk eliminating yourself for the selection process. Simply answer the
question to the best of your knowledge. Blank spaces can deem your application incomplete and
ineligible!
- · Have at least one other person review your application package, and supporting documents,
including your personal statement or essay. Find the most qualified person to proofread for you.
- · Start early! Rushing to the post office to get a piece of mail postmarked on the day of a deadline
is not really that much fun–it’s stressful! Leave plenty of time to check, double-check, and triplecheck
to make sure all directions have been followed and that you are turning in the best
application possible. Scrambling leads to mistakes. Use a calendar to keep yourself on top of
things. Remember that there is nothing wrong with turning in an application before the deadline!
- · If a photo is requested, use a suitable color head shot, not your prom photo or photo sitting on
the beach and wearing inappropriate clothing.
- · Be sure to follow guidelines. If the application asks for a self-addressed stamped postcard to
receive confirmation, include that. Don’t include an envelope; follow the guidelines.
- · If you are notified that you have received a scholarship always send a thank you note to the
donor. If appropriate, continue to keep the donor informed of your progress throughout the
year.
Personal Statement/Essay Tips:
- · The committee wants to know three things: why are you right for the scholarship, why it is right
for you, and why it is important to you.
- · Your personal statement/essay is viewed as the equivalent of a face-to-face interview.
- · Avoid long, drawn out, essay responses. While a background story is sometimes necessary, try
to get to the point but don’t be so brief that the importance is lost. Remember the committee
members reading your essay have many more applications to read.
- · If the essay prompt calls for an explanation and you provide an article, still explain what you
have done and do not simply put “See attached article.”
- · If you have a story that reflects overcoming obstacles, tell it. If not, express your appreciation
for the benefits of a solid home life; it’s still the best gift parents can give.
- · If you make a case based on financial need, you need to do so carefully and convincingly; that is,
NOT simply say, “I really need this scholarship.”
- · For scholarships that have a financial need component, tell your story if there is something that is
out of the ordinary. If you don’t know if your story is unusual but you wonder, ask the high
school counselor or any financial aid person, including the scholarship administrator. If
something impacted your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) that was a one time situation, most
will consider the difference.
- · Make connections between areas of study, career goals, interests, and personal philosophies.
- · You should be certain that all requested topics are covered in your personal statement/essay.
Use specific examples whenever possible.
- · Part of your proofreading should include attention to the tone of what you have written. Do you
sound like a student that the donor’s organization would be proud to sponsor?
- · Remember to BE YOURSELF. Do not try to give a response that you think will be liked by the
selection committee. All selection committees are looking to decipher your own, UNIQUE
personality, not one crafted to fit what you think the judges are looking for. An honest reply will
usually get you far.
- · Save your essays on the computer or a disk. It will save frustration when websites have errors
or it could save you time when you come across the essay question for a different scholarship.
You can pull up the old essay you wrote, edit or expand on ideas, and submit your revised copy.
That will save you time that you could use to apply for additional scholarships.
- · Really make the most of essay questions. For example, if asked, “Of all the activities you are
involved in, which one means the most to you?” Keep in mind that this does not necessarily have
to be the activity you spend the most time doing. In one case, when writing this kind of essay, a
student was torn between describing involvement in the school’s theater troupe or a role on the
school’s honor council. Though more hours were spent rehearsing for and performing in plays,
the student felt like the work as an honor prefect had done more to impact the life of the school
community and also to change the way that integrity was defined and priorities were viewed.
Therefore, the student was able to show more about personality and values by writing about
honor council.
- · If you start to feel like you’re bragging about yourself too much, don’t worry about it. In a sense,
that’s what you are trying to do. You’re hoping to impress the scholarship committee with your
accomplishments.
- · Don’t just describe what you have accomplished, but also share how you felt when making those
achievements.
Recommendation Letter Tips:
- · Ask the recommender to fill out the form if one is provided. Some scholarships have the need to
find evidence of some really specific personality trait that was set by the donor whose generosity
made the scholarship available. Eloquent letters of reference that do not touch on that one
specific trait make it hard for the evaluator to find evidence of the required trait.
- · Good examples of people to ask for references include past or present teachers/professors, past
or present employers, religious leaders, community leaders, and organization leaders. Generally,
family and friends do not make the best references. The person you ask should know you
personally and be able to attest to specific qualifications outlined in the scholarship requirements,
i.e., financial need, GPA, community service, leadership roles, etc. They should be able to write
about your character, commitment, experiences and successes.
- · The letter should be tailored to the particular scholarship, not generic.
- · Provide the recommender with a resume or list of your activities and accomplishments.
- · Always give the recommender adequate time to prepare your letter or form.
Cover Letter/Resume/CV Tips:
- · Do not include a cover letter, resume, or CV if the application does not request it.
- · Show you have worked–either with substantial responsibilities in the home or in summer/school
year jobs. This may not be an important qualification for a lot of scholarships, but
work/employment responsibilities build character as much as many other activities.
- · Provide evidence that you have made something good happen. That’s leadership. If you have
made a difference–in whatever way–share it.
- · Show evidence that you believe in something apart from the certainty you hope to make a million
dollars. What are you doing, or what do you hope to do, that will make the world a slightly
better place?
- · Never think that any accomplishment or activity is too insignificant to be mentioned. If you’re
proud of it, passionate about it, or think there is something even slightly interesting or unique
about it, include it! Now is not the time to sell yourself short!
- · Spell out abbreviations that may not be generally recognized.
- · Include part time work, list of awards, achievements, etc.
Transcript/Academic Record Tips:
- · If you have an off-semester or even a course grade that is an aberration, explain the
situation/circumstance/reason. Leaving it out there for the evaluator to guess is not in your best
interest.
- · Make sure your transcript is properly sealed, with school stamp/signature across the seal.
- · If your school’s grading system is not based on a standard scale, include a description of how
your school determines grades.
Scholarship Search Tips:
- · There are many scholarship opportunities available, so never limit yourself to applying for just
one. Research as many funding sources as you can, and learn which ones you may qualify for,
then apply promptly.
- · Find at least two search engines with which you’re comfortable–use both to search for
scholarship opportunities. Two good examples include www.fastweb.com and
www.scholarships.com. For international students, be sure to search
www.internationalscholarships.com. Remember to check the schools that you are applying to.
Many schools offer scholarships to students that seek them.
- · Use your parents/family members! Many companies offer scholarships solely to the
children/relatives of employees.
- · If receiving lots of e-mail from a search engine bothers you, set up a scholarship-only email
account. This will keep all of your scholarship information in one place, your regular inbox won’t
be overflowing, and when you use your scholarship e-mail, you are more focused on searching
for scholarship information.
- · Organize the information in a way that makes sense to you. For example, when using Fastweb,
click on the “deadline” heading to sort the scholarships according to deadline.
- · Look where you’re going! If you are headed for a specific field, look at the leaders in that field or
industry, check their websites for scholarship opportunities. For example, a pre-nursing or premed
student should check out websites for drug manufacturers or companies that do medical
research. Most companies’ websites are searchable. Try searching “scholarships.” If that
doesn’t yield results, try “foundation” or “philanthropy.”
- · You can also check the websites of major companies for scholarship opportunities.
- · Look at local organizations/groups such as churches and recreational centers.