How to Apply for Scholarships
Applying for scholarships is a unique experience, especially when you take into consideration just how many types of scholarships that are our there. Because there are so many types available, no two application experiences will ever be the same. That’s why one of the first things you need to do when preparing yourself for applying for scholarships is to accept that all applications will be different and that you will need to pay equal time to each.
At this point, we’re going to assume you’ve already found the scholarships you want to apply for. The art of finding scholarships is another story altogether, but there are plenty of tips and tricks available in this section to get you on the right track. So with that list of scholarships in hand, it’s time to get down to applying, right? Wrong! You should never apply to scholarships without following these important steps first:
Read Everything (And Read It Again)
Following the directions isn’t enough. Before you let pen hit paper, or fingers hit keys as the case may be, you need to read every little word on the scholarship application. Read everything not once, but twice. This may seem excessive, but it’s absolutely necessary and I’ll tell you why. Many people’s applications are discarded simply because they failed to follow the directions. It could be going over the word limit on the essay or failing to answer one of the questions. Regardless of what the oversight is, one mistake can cost your shot at winning the scholarship. By submitting a flawless application, you are already doing better than much of the competition. Taking the extra time to make sure you’re doing the right things in the right ways is worth it if it will get your application closer to the top of the pile.
Talk Yourself Up
Honesty is a great a noble attribute, but there is such a thing as being honest to a fault. Let’s say one of the questions on the application is “what are your weaknesses?” Now, you can answer this truthfully, and you should. However, you should never portray your weaknesses as an entirely “bad” thing. For instance, if you are a bit shy, you don’t want to say that you find talking to people very difficult and would rather communicate through letters. Sure, you’re being honest, but you’re also not portraying yourself very positively.
A much better way to deal with such a situation is to acknowledge your shyness but to then go on to emphasize how you go to great lengths to overcome it and how, perhaps, being shy has benefited you in some way. Be creative. With everything that could be viewed as negative about yourself there is always a hidden silver lining. Be sure you search for that shiny aspect and utilize to its fullest potential.
Never Waive From the Topic
I can’t emphasize this one enough. When you go to apply for a scholarship, the worst thing you could do for yourself is to stray from the topic at hand. This is especially the case if the scholarship is sponsored by a particular group that focuses on a certain issue. For instance, a printer ink cartridge company might offer a scholarship as a part of their recycling program. The essay you may be asked to write has to do with ways you could conserve resources and recycle old technological products. It would be very detrimental to your chances of winning if you veered off topic to discuss oil drilling in Alaska. While a brief mention of how oil is wasted can be a nice means of transitioning into your thesis, spending a paragraph on it will only hurt you.
It’s amazing how many people’s applications will be discounted because they can’t seem to stay focused in their essays. Many applicants tend to think that showing their entire depth of knowledge on the topic is the way to show their worthiness. However, this just isn’t true and doing so often excludes you from consideration altogether.
This doesn’t just apply to applications with an essay portion, either. Many scholarship applications that do not have an essay portion require you to answer several questions. Failing to be succinct and to the point on these questions is also a sure fire way to not win.
Be Relevant
Believe it or not, a scholarship application is not the place to list everything you ever done ever! While it’s great that you were on the basketball team, a member of the chess club and in ASB, what does that have to do with a scholarship for women? While you can make these three activities relevant to your status as a woman, it is not sufficient to merely list them. If you are given the room, make sure you divulge the details about how being a member of the chess club empowered you as a woman. Some examples of this may be how chess is typically dominated by men or how being in the club helped to diversify your campus’s group.
The point is, don’t just list your accomplishments because they are accomplishments. Many applicants will do this. The applications that will stand out are those that go the extra mile and show how these activities relate to the theme of the scholarship itself.
Get a Second Opinion
Before you mail anything in, always get a second opinion. If you had to write an essay, have a trusted friend, parent, teacher or other person proofread your work and offer feedback. Also be sure to provide the prompt you were given so they can evaluate your ability to stay on target. As you know by now, focus and clarity are very important to scholarship judges.
If you just needed to fill out a form for your application, make sure you write out your answers on a separate sheet of paper first. You may even want to type them up and read them through, editing where you see fit. This takes the pressure off having to write concise yet clear answers in a confined space. Writing it out before you fill out the form will give you something to work from.
Regardless of whether you apply for an academic scholarship, an athletic scholarship or even an unusual scholarship, you can bet on needing to utilize the above tips as your prepare your application forms and essays. It is hard to go into detail about the scholarship application process because they are all so diverse, but there are a few commonalities among them all. Just remember to be clear, concise, positive and relevant and you are sure to impress those scholarship judges. While you may not win everything you apply for, you will definitely improve your odds of winning sizable amounts of cash that can significantly influence your college fund.
No matter your background, ethnicity, gender or interests, there is a scholarship out there for you. Make sure you check out other aspects of the scholarship section where you can learn about scholarships aimed at specific people with specific interests such as nursing scholarships, art scholarships and even graduate fellowships. Scholarships are not just for the students with the 4.0 GPA. You deserve scholarship money, too!