Scholarships are free money awarded to students
that demonstrate outstanding academic, athletic or artistic ability. They are
offered by colleges, universities, private corporations and other
organizations. Competition for this free money is high.
Students must have the highest grades and
excellent ACT or SAT scores, they must also convince the benefactors why they
deserve a scholarship. In other words, they demonstrate what
differentiate themselves from other candidates.
Here are some helpful tips on how to search for the right
scholarship for you student, how to get through the application process, how to increase your
chances of being selected, and what mistakes to avoid along the way.
Plan Ahead
1. Planning ahead is an important key to your scholarship search. Searching and applying for scholarships
takes time. Don't wait until the last minute.
2. Prepare for deadlines. There are deadlines on
applications. In addition, there are often stipulations on required courses or
other activities that must be completed in order to apply.
When to Begin
3. Don't wait until your senior year -
this is a sure way to lose
out.
4. The best time to begin thinking and planning ahead
is the sophomore or junior year in high school.
Where to Begin
5. Know what kind of scholarship you're looking
for - this will narrow the search.
6. Scholarships are academic, athletic or
artistic - know
which one is right for you.
7. General scholarships -
the competition will be keener on
scholarships open to all students.
8. Subject specific scholarships - scholarships for specific fields of study like
accounting, math,
medicine and law will narrow the playing field and should be
included in your search.
High School Resources
9. Advisors are excellent sources of information on
where to to begin looking for scholarships.
10. Guidance offices receive
information regularly from colleges offering scholarships.
11. High school career counselors are familiar with the
application process and other requirements
and can guide you through this
seemingly overwhelming task .
12. Your high school can also put you in touch with
other scholarship resources. They know where
to look.
Local Resources
13. Look for local corporations and other organizations
that are well known for giving away free
scholarships.
14. Begin with the companies where your parents work.
Many companies offer scholarships for
children of employees.
15. Check out local chapters of national organizations
such as American Legion, Boy Scouts of
America, Police and Firefighters
Association, National Guard, NAACP, Knights of Columbus,
Jaycees, Rotary, Lions,
VFW and Elks, and contact them for more information.
Federal Government Resources
student's ability to contribute. Like scholarships, the
Pell Grant does not need to be repaid.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
(FSEOG) which can pay an additional
$100 - $4,000 per year and also does not
require repayment. More information is available at
State Government Resources
18. Look at state government web sites. States often
give financial
assistance in the form of grants as
well as
scholarships.
19. Merit scholarships are often available from states
for students who have attained a high academic
status.
20. Most states offer scholarships for
minorities.
21. State governments often give scholarships to
students enrolling in workforce shortage fields such
as teaching, nursing,
technology, math or science.
22. Each state has its own criteria for offering
financial assistance. Determine what you may be
eligible for and search the
state government web site for more information.
Local Government Resources
24. Resources for college scholarships at the local
government level are very limited.
25. Search your city government's web site for
scholarship information or call the mayor's office or
local chamber of
commerce.
Corporate Resources
26. Large Fortune 500 companies are excellent sources
of scholarship money. They have deep
pockets to help students pay for
college.
27. The top ten list includes Wal-Mart, AT&T, Ford,
General Motors, United Health, State Farm,
Microsoft, Dell, Lowe's and Best
Buy.
28. Also check out soft drink companies like Coca-Cola
and Pepsi, pharmaceutical companies like
Pfizer, banks such as Chase, and even
food chains like KFC.
30. Make a list of smaller local companies who might
also have a reputation of offering scholarships
to local citizens.
Internet Resources
31. The Internet has made scholarship research much
easier and quicker. Key word searches will
result in a wealth of information.
Search by state or by subject.
32. Look at free online databases such as College
Board's Scholarship Search, Fastweb,
collegenet.com and Peterson's College
Search where you can search for literally hundreds of
scholarships.
33. Don't forget to use social resources like Facebook
and Twitter to ask others for scholarship
advice.
Scholarship Books
34. Scholarship Handbook, available to order on College
Board's web site, is one of most popular
books on available scholarships. It
contains more than 2000 scholarships, loans and internship
programs.
35. Amazon lists several books on scholarships that can
be ordered for just $10 to $20. They include
36. Check your local library or high school guidance
office for these and other books that are
available.
37. The number of eBooks has also increased and
represents an easy way for students to do their
research at home. It also
ensures that students are receiving the latest information.
Other Resources
38. National resources for scholarships should also be
investigated. These types of scholarships are
usually designed to encourage
students entering specific fields of study.
39. The National Health Service Corps scholarship
(NHCS) is awarded to students entering the
health care field.
40. The National Merit Scholarship program is open to
all students. Students taking the Pre-SAT
(PSAT) test in high school will be
nominated based on their scores to become Semifinalists and
then advance to
Finalists. They are free to choose any college or career path.
Prepare a Resource List
41. Create a
spreadsheet and list scholarships by category. Include names, addresses,
telephone
numbers and web site links. At this point, the objective is to create
a list of possibilities that
should total 50-100 potential
resources.
42. You want to
have plenty of resources to work with initially. Once you begin to examine and
compare requirements, the list may be purged to best fit your
needs.
Keep Track of Scholarship Information and
Deadlines
43. Missing deadlines is simply not an option when it
comes to applying for scholarships. Stay
organized by noting important deadlines
on your spreadsheet, such as when the application needs
to be
there.
44. Include details on application requirements,
scholarship amount, how and where to apply.
45. Keeping this information in a spreadsheet will
allow you to select a search criteria, such as by
deadline date, and help you
stay organized and on time.
Understand Application Requirements
46. Be prepared to include an essay, ACT or SAT scores,
high school transcript, class rank and
G.P.A., and up to three or more letters
of recommendation.
47. Some requirements may include a resume, written
exam to test your skills, a project to complete
to evaluate your competence,
financial information and proof of U.S. citizenship.
48. Read instructions and follow them carefully.
Failure to supply the correct information or missing
the deadline will
disqualify you and end your chances for a scholarship.
Cover Letter
49. Unless the requirements specifically say no, plan
to include a cover letter with the application.
50. Address the letter to the Scholarship Committee and
begin with Dear Committee Members.
51. Briefly state how the scholarship will help
you.
52. Thank them for considering you for the
scholarship.
Resume
53. Your resume should look professional and list
information related to the purpose of the
scholarship.
54. Open with a brief statement about your college
major and career goals.
55. List honors and awards you have
earned.
56. Include high school and community activities and
work experience. Be specific.
57. Add personal interests at the bottom, especially
those related to the scholarship.
Application Processes
58. Read and follow instructions. It is definitely not
one size fits all when it comes to applications.
59. Pay attention to how to submit (mail or
electronic), what materials must be included, and what
the deadline
is.
60. If mail submission is indicated, send your
materials by certified mail to ensure it arrives on time.
61. If electronic submission is noted, make sure of the
limitation on number of files allows and file
sizes, as well as format, such as
Word, PDF, or text documents.
Completing the Scholarship Application
62. The most important thing to remember is to read the
application thoroughly and follow all
instructions.
63. Pay close attention to essay questions and answer
them completely and thoroughly. Don't miss
any questions or your application may
be denied.
64. Find out how many letters of recommendation you
will need. Is a cover letter required? Do you
need a resume?
65. Don't rush the application process and choose a
quiet place where there are no distractions. This
will ensure your thoughts are
clear and focused. Be prepared to write a convincing explanation as
to
why you are an excellent candidate for the scholarship.
66. Allow plenty of time for proofreading. There is no
room for error.
Mistakes to Avoid in Completing an
Application
67. Some of the
most common mistakes in completing a scholarship application include: submitting
past the deadline, not following instructions, omitting necessary documents,
missing a question,
and spelling and grammar errors. Think of the application
process like applying for a job. You
want to put your best foot forward. Pay
attention to every detail in order to present yourself as
the best
candidate.
How to Write a Scholarship Essay
68. Review the purpose of the scholarship. Understand
the background of the college or organization
offering the scholarship. Your
essay should coincide with their purpose and goals.
69. Select
one or two examples of your accomplishments and provide details that will give
them a
clear picture of who you are. For example, if you're applying for a
scholarship in social services,
tell them about your experience volunteering to
build homes for Habitat for Humanity. Other
experiences and accomplishments can
be listed on your resume, but select your key
accomplishments to tell a
compelling story.
Mistakes to Avoid in Writing a Scholarship
Essay
70. Collect your thoughts and don't wander or talk in
circles. Choose a theme that matches the
purpose of the scholarship. Make an
outline first, listing important facts you want to include.
71. Don't
rush the essay. Take the time to write an attention-grabbing introduction,
interesting content, and a solid conclusion that includes what you learned from
this experience and how it
will help your career.
72. Choose a good title that does justice to your story
but also aligns with the purpose of the
scholarship.
73. It is extremely important that the essay sound
professional, so good grammar, spelling,
punctuation and sentence structure are
a must. Avoid slang. Call things as they truly are in the
interest of clear communication to your audience.
Ask Others to Critique Your Essay
74. Proofread, proofread, proofread everything before
you send it. This means not only using spell
check but also giving your draft to
teachers, counselors and friends to proofread for grammar,
punctuation, flow and
how well it answers essay questions.
75. Do as many drafts as necessary to produce your best
work. The essay should clearly articulate
what you have accomplished and in what
ways you are an excellent recipient for the scholarship.
There is no room for
errors and you only get one shot at it, so take the time to do it well. Your
efforts will be noticed.
Letters of Recommendation
76. Letters of recommendation are meant to support your
application by reinforcing your
capabilities. They are powerful tools
because they provide a testimonial from someone who has
had personal experience and first-hand interaction with you.
had personal experience and first-hand interaction with you.
77. Letters of recommendation should come from people
who know you on a professional level. This
could include teachers who know what
kind of student you are, counselors who have worked with
you on outlining your
career path, current or past job supervisors and people with whom you did
volunteer work.
78. Don't ask relatives. It is impossible for family
members to be objective, and these sources will
not be taken
seriously.
79. Use company letterhead. It not only looks
professional but gives the scholarship committee
important contact information
if they have questions.
80. Ask a wide cross section of writers to help.
Counselors, professors and former supervisors will
highlight various
capabilities and provide the scholarship committee a wider perspective on
you.
81. Encourage the writers to be specific. They need to
describe exactly what you did, what strengths
were demonstrated and how this
makes you a strong candidate for the scholarship.
82. Give the writers plenty of time. Plan on four weeks
or more if necessary and make sure they
know what the deadline is.
83. Send each writer a nice thank you note to show your
appreciation. Offer to keep them informed
on your progress.
A Competitive Approach to Scholarship
Searching
84. Use a strategy that includes searching for broad
scholarships available for all students as well as
subject specific
scholarships, and scholarships for minorities.
85. Don't just go for the big bucks. The larger the
scholarship, the more competition there will be and
the tougher it will be to
win. Many smaller scholarships can add up to more money for school, so
don't
overlook them.
Follow Up After Applying
86. It is always a good idea to follow up after sending
your application materials to confirm they
were received. Things can go wrong
with the mail, and electronic submission also has its
glitches. So certainly
call or email to make sure it arrived.
87. Plan to send application materials far enough in
advance to allow for a second submission, if
necessary, to avoid missing the
deadline. When calling, you may also ask when they plan to
announce the
winners.
Send a Thank You Note After Receiving a Scholarship
Award
88. After receiving notification of a scholarship
award, a thank you letter should be sent immediately
to the benefactor. No
emails or phone calls. This should be done in a handwritten note on
nice
stationery.
89. Proofread several times and check for accuracy on
spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Use the
same attention to detail as when you
were applying for the scholarship.
90. The letter should be addressed to the president or
highest ranking person such as the executive
director. Explain what the
scholarship means to you personally and how it will benefit you. Then
thank them
again.
How to Get Scholarships Renewed
91. Read the renewal clauses of each scholarship being
considered before applying to ensure you are
able to meet the requirements. If
you don't see a clause or don't understand it, call the college
financial aid
office and ask them for help.
92. Academic scholarships will require students to
maintain a specific G.P.A. If they fall below, they
may lose out on the
scholarship.
93. Some scholarships will automatically renew if all
qualifications are met, and others may require
students to
re-apply.
94. Scholarships that are subject specific will not
allow students to change majors or they will forfeit
scholarship money.
Scholarships from a particular college or university would require that a
student remain at that institution in order to get the scholarship
money.
95. Athletic scholarships require playing the sport. Be
sure you understand the consequences for not
playing due to injury or poor
academic performance.
Watch Out for Scholarship Scams
96. Real scholarships will never ask for money,
credit card information or guarantee a scholarship.
Also beware of companies who
charge for their databases and offer to complete your application,
essays and
letters of recommendation for a fee.
97. If a company
contacts you and says you've won a scholarship for which you never applied, its
a
hoax. If the company does not have a web site or phone number to contact them,
it is probably a
scam. Legitimate organizations will most likely have a history
of giving and press releases on
their web site relating to past scholarships
awarded.
What does scholarship money cover?
98. Most scholarships pay for tuition and fees. A full
scholarship will cover most all expenses,
including tuition, room and board,
books and some even offer a living stipend as well.
99. Other scholarship expenses that can be covered
include lab fees, course supplies, and waivers on
the application fee. Be sure
to read scholarship information carefully to understand what is
included before
you apply.
How Many Scholarships are Allowed?
100. Scholarship
money is one part of a financial aid package which could also include grants. As
long as the scholarship money does not exceed the total cost of college
expenses, there is no
limit on how many you can receive.
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