Tips for Completing Scholarship Applications

1. Read and follow the instructions to the application.

a. You can easily get disqualified just because you did not read the application.

2. Pay close attention to the application essay. 

a. If you are reusing essays from other applications, make sure you are changing out the name of the old essay and any times you may have used it throughout. Don’t just copy/paste without double checking.

b. Make sure you are answering the prompt, not just writing a generic prompt. This will only hurt you if you are not answering the question.

3. Find and apply to every scholarship you are eligible for. 

a. The attitude of “it’s only 500 bucks” doesn’t help us here. The less competitive, smaller (and usually local) scholarships may be easier to win and the money sure does add up. If you win a small local scholarship, you can even add that on your “list of awards/recognitions” when applying to larger national scholarships, which could help you win more money!

4. Google your own name. 

a. See what comes up. Look at your social media pages and make sure to clean them up and make sure they are appropriate and professional. This may mean removing inappropriate, vulgar or immature content. 

5. Find someone to help you review your application…every time.

a. This can be a mentor, a supervisor, or a teacher. Not only should you have someone help you for grammar typos, but you can also ask them: “Did my essay answer the prompt? Are there any other parts of my life (i.e. activities you may have forgotten that you even did) that I left out of my application that I can add to strengthen it?”

6. Keep track of all the deadlines you have.

7. Make a photocopy of your application before mailing it in. I recommend using “certified mail” tracking, “receipt requested,” or “delivery confirmation” from the USPS so you have proof that you mailed it and that your application was received.