Overview of How to Apply for Scholarships

Scholarship money is available, but you will have to work hard for it. Unfortunately, scholarships aren’t granted just because someone wants a college degree.  There are certain eligibility requirements that a student applicant must meet before it can be awarded. If you plan on scholarship money to pay for all of your expenses, don’t plan on getting a full ride from just one scholarship. You might need up to a dozen scholarships to pay for your tuition and those oh so expensive textbooks.

Start searching early

Scholarship programs have deadlines – mostly in mid or late February – so make sure you start hunting for scholarships early.  Make the trip to visit your financial aid office and inquire as to what scholarships you might be eligible for. Most colleges now list these scholarship opportunities online as well for your convenience. You’ll need to go through each one individually and see what the criteria are to apply. Apply to as many as you are eligible for. The trick is to look for scholarships that you are more likely to win—not just for the ones that offer a lot of money, but you might not be eligible for.

Don’t forget to check out online scholarship opportunities as well. There are many sites exclusively devoted entirely to scholarships such as FastWeb and ScholarshipExperts.com. Do a search, and you’ll come up with still other scholarship sites.

The application process

Once have determined which scholarship programs you’re eligible for, begin organizing your plan of attack.  Create an individual file for every scholarship program you plan to apply for and write a summary of the eligibility requirements in point form for easy reference, also noting deadlines for application.

Your application

Fill out the application form legibly. Don't leave anything blank.  If some items aren't applicable to you, then make sure to indicate it on the form. For many scholarships, you will need to submit an essay as well. Make sure that you write from the heart, the sponsor wants to know what makes you unique and better qualified than all the other applicants. Don’t just regurgitate what you think they want to hear. Keep within the word limit specified by the sponsors, and it goes without saying to proofread your essay thoroughly to check for any spelling and/or grammatical errors. In addition, you may need to supply supporting financial information such as tax forms with your application. Check that every document required is attached them to your application form before you submit your application.

Interview

You may need to attend an interview as well as submit the application for the scholarship. Dress professionally, like you would for a job interview. Answer each question to the best of your ability, and don’t stress too much if you think you’ve flubbed a question. The sponsors will expect a little nervousness. Bring your best game, and good luck! You’re on your way to taking a big bite out of your college expenses.