Without a doubt, the best type of financial aid is a scholarship. They are free funds for college expenses! So always always apply. That being said, there are steps you can take to improve your chances of winning. And in this post on applying for scholarships, we'll demonstrate how! Here are some tips on what to do both before and during the scholarship application period!
Scholarships aka free money. Free money is given to students through scholarships every single day. Did you know there are more than 1.7 million private fellowships and scholarships awarded every year, with a combined value of more than $7.4 billion?
So, your chances are definitely NOT slim to none. Without a doubt, the best type of financial aid is a scholarship. They are free funds for college expenses! So always always apply. That being said, there are steps you can take to improve your chances of winning. And in this post on applying for scholarships, we'll demonstrate how! Here are some tips on what to do both before and during the scholarship application period!
Before you actually start your applications, create a folder with all the following information. You'll be able to complete your scholarship applications faster if you gather all of the (possibly required) materials and data in advance. You should submit applications for 1-2 scholarships per week, as we strongly advise. Your chances of winning go up the more applications you submit.
Simple yet crucial. This allows the scholarship providers enough time to get in touch with you if more information is required to support your application.
Scholarships are easy to put off, especially since many of them are announced months ahead of time. It pays off to send in your application as soon as you can. "First-come, first-served" is the rule for many "early priority" scholarship applications. You should take this chance to find out about deadlines, requirements, and lists of other scholarships. So remember, the early bird gets the worm…in this case the scholarship!
You can stay organized by creating a list of due dates and prerequisites (such as a letter of recommendation or volunteer experience). Even creating a schedule for scholarships is a HUGE help.
After putting so much time and effort into the scholarship so far, the last thing you want to do is miss a deadline. Set a deadline for yourself at least two weeks before the real deadline. This will help you stay on track. Use this "buffer time" to check the spelling and grammar of your application before you send it or give it to someone. Don't send the materials in late, because the committee won't consider applications that come in late. So give yourself time!
If you want to find new scholarship opportunities, the first place you should look is the scholarship portal at your current school. Keep up with any news your school might have, whether it's through financial aid officers, advisors, portals, or school emails. But don't just apply for scholarships through your school. Look for scholarships elsewhere as well. There are also scholarships in cities and communities, as well as larger scholarships available across the country.
There are a lot of tools that can help you find private scholarships and connect you to opportunities outside of your school that you might want to apply for.
As a student we know your time is held hostage by studying, commuting and having a social life! This is why we created the Scholarship Hero Subscription where you get 55+ Scholarships Sent Directly to Your Inbox Each Month for $5!
Click here to sign up!
Apply for any scholarship you're eligible for, no matter how big or small the award is. Any amount given as a prize is still free money. Many people also turn down the idea of applying for scholarships that are harder to get or that require more work, like those with longer essays or letters of recommendation. But the applications that are harder to fill out tend to have fewer applicants and more awards, so always, always try!
We know that nobody really wants MORE work to do. But if a scholarship has "optional" requirements (like an essay, a letter of recommendation, or a joke—yes, that's happened before), we recommend that you treat them as "required" and complete them.
Here's why: Taking on the extra work shows that you are motivated and have initiative. It will also make your application stand out from those of other students who didn't include the extra materials. Do more than you have to!
Applications frequently ask you to describe your hobbies and other pastimes. As uncomfortable as it may feel, this is one occasion in your life when bragging is required. Inform them of any honors and awards you've received. Put an emphasis on pursuits that showcase your skills and interests, particularly those that reveal your capacity for initiative, leadership, and community service. Don't undervalue yourself; your job and family obligations can speak highly of you as well.
Each scholarship has its own unique set of selection criteria, which are applied to evaluate each application. Learn about them and take some time to consider how you might meet each one. Include additional documentation in your application, such as certificates of involvement or letters from your references. Getting around to checking the facts and even having a friend proofread your essay would be a great way to catch any requirements you forgot to include. You might have written more than the allotted number of words, used only one space instead of two, or only listed four things instead of the five that were asked for in the prompt. You don't want to find out that you didn't get the scholarship because your essay wasn't formatted right.
Some scholarships don't demand one. But many do. And now is your real opportunity to shine! Your essay gives you the chance to showcase your more nuanced qualities, which cannot be really shown by your GPA or test results alone.
Despite the slight variations among each essay prompt, many of the same themes and subjects will appear again and again. For instance, essay questions frequently ask you to talk about a proud accomplishment or your academic and professional aspirations.
As a result, it's beneficial to have an essay that serves as a "template" that you can essentially use for more than one prompt. Each time, you'll probably need to make a few minor adjustments. However, if it was strong in the first place, you could probably "recycle" it for several scholarship applications.
Many college students don't know that they can still apply for scholarships even after they start college. Yes, you can keep applying for scholarships for as long as you want and get more free money to help pay for college.
The students who get the most scholarships are the ones who apply for them the most. Even though it's best to start your applications early, especially if you're in your senior year of high school, you can get a lot of money at any time of the year.
Scholarships do not take your money; they are there to give you FREE money to help you pay for college. So be sure to look elsewhere if an application asks for a "submission fee". Bold statements like "you've been pre-selected" or "it's guaranteed or your money back" are further indications of questionable activities.
No REAL application will demand that you make a payment.
If you win scholarships, you'll probably find out by email. So, keep an eye out for changes. As you know, any important mail can sometimes get stuck in the spam folder, so make sure to check that often as well.
The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships holds workshops throughout the scholarship application season to assist students in their scholarship hunt. For help finding and competing for scholarships and tips on how to write essays for scholarship applications, attend one of these sessions.
Yup, some providers actually check your Instagram or Tik Tok. Like potential employers, scholarship committee members often check out the people they want to give money to. So, make sure that nothing on your social media makes them doubt you.
In fact, a link to a social media profile is required for many college scholarships (sometimes of your choice, sometimes not). So, ensure you also include a link that works and can be found.
Don't forget that your scholarship application is a reflection of you! Your ability to turn in a neat, complete application on time says a lot about you. This is how the provider sees you. Put your best foot forward and send in the best application you can.
Create a copy of the entire file and keep it on document before sending your application. If something goes wrong with your application, you can always quickly reproduce it. Ensure that your name is visible on every page of the application. If parts of your application are not clearly labeled, they could get lost.
Keep trying even if you don’t win a scholarship right away. Save copies of every application that you complete so you don’t have to start from scratch every time.
Right now. Really. Scholarships have due dates throughout the year. So, every time is great! The earliest you can start applying for scholarships is before the deadlines for the ones you hope to win.
Some high school seniors will have to turn in their applications before the start of their last year. Some people will think that means after they have finished applying to college. For everyone else, it will take place during their time in college.
So be sure to give it a try!
There is no better type of financial aid available for paying for college than scholarships aka free money. Additionally, almost everyone qualifies for at least one scholarship! To easily find them, or for them to find you, Subscribe to our Scholarship Hero Subscription to get access to 55+ scholarships sent to your inbox for $5 per month.
Check out our blog as well for tips on lowering college costs, filling the FAFSA, and other topics relating to financial aid for college.
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