1.  Scholarship requirements

Most scholarships have various requirements: ethnicity, citizenship, college enrollment or intended enrollment, social security number, participation in various activities, connection to stated affiliations, and many others.  Make sure that you meet all the requirements before applying. 

2.  Deadlines

All scholarships have DEADLINES.  Deadlines can occur year around, so be aware of changing scholarship dates.  Be sure to check if the deadline is “postmarked” or “received by”.  For instance if the deadline is postmarked by February 15^th, then your scholarship materials should be sent out by 4:30 p.m. on February 15^th.  If the date is received by February 15^th, then plan ahead and send out your scholarship materials at least five days before the deadline. 

3.  Recommenders

Many scholarships will ask for letters of recommendation.  The recommender can range from a professor, community leader that you volunteered or worked under, and other academic mentors (like your academic advisor or the director/coordinator of resource office).  As you advance through your college career, it is always a good idea to get to know those you have worked, volunteered, and studied under.  These will be important people to ask for letters of recommendation when applying for scholarships.  You want to know your recommender well, so that they can speak positively on your behalf. 

4.  Essays

Some scholarships will ask you for an essay.  Some of them will be circumstance essays, asking about why the foundation should consider you for their scholarship.  An essay question can range from, “What do you want to do after college?” to “Where is your standing on the War in Iraq?”  Although in high school you were able to use one essay for each scholarship you have applied for; now that you are in college this may not be the case.  Try to cater your essay to the specific scholarship and questions.  Have a friend or mentor proof read your essay.  You are in college now, so a well written, well thought out, well crafted essay will be expected.  

5.  GPA

Many scholarships will have GPA requirements.  Try to keep your GPA healthily above a 2.7 so as to qualify for the bulk of scholarships.  Make sure to check the scholarship’s GPA requirements before you apply.  If you have a high GPA, definitely start applying and looking for merit scholarships. 

6.  The Application

Some scholarship applications, especially the online applications, can seem simple and short, but you should still take this scholarship seriously.  With fewer factors to be reviewed on a scholarship application, the competition is harsher. 

7.  Add a pre-stamped post card

When sending in your application, it is a good idea to also add a pre-stamped postcard addressed to yourself.  Ask the scholarship foundation/provider to return the postcard to you when they have received your application.  Many Scholarship Foundations receive so many applications that they cannot respond to everyone via email or phone. 

8.  Good luck and contact the alumni team for help.

Completing a scholarship application is a great accomplishment.  Even if you work a job for eight hours making $7.50 per hour, you can only make up to $60 in that day.  If you work on a scholarship for eight hours, you could possibly earn from between $300 to $1,000 from that one scholarship alone.  In other words, if you spent eight hours on three scholarships and earned one of $500 that’s $60 an hour right there!  Now, that’s inspiration.  

Questions?? Call your alumni team member at (651) 917-3525 and come see us at our Admission Possible office to work on scholarships.