With college student loan debt totaling to $1.48 trillion dollars, many people are left wondering if going to college is worth the cost. The answer to that question is YES! Earning a college degree proves to be the most reliable and effective path to obtaining a career that can support our wants and needs.
I have applied for dozens of scholarships and won a fair amount of money to help me pay for my education. Over time, I have figured out what seems to work and what does not for me personally. In this post, I will share my top seven secrets that will help you to win scholarship money.
Tip #1: Stay organized.
Keep a spreadsheet with all of the scholarships that you intend on applying to or that you have already applied to. Record the name of the scholarship, a link to the application, the deadline, scholarship amount, and the status of your application. This will help you to stay organized by keeping track of which scholarships you have already completed and it will also allow you to easily see what deadlines are coming up.
Tip #2: Find scholarships.
There are a number of websites out there that help you to find scholarships for free. Two of my favorites are Fast Web and College Greenlight. These sites allow you to create a profile to find scholarships that you are eligible for based on where you live, your GPA, your age, your background, etc. Be sure to check with your school’s financial aid department because they typically have resources available that many students fail to take advantage of which raises your chances!
Tip #3: Ask for letters of recommendation in advance.
Most scholarships require that you include letters of recommendation in your application. Ask for at least two letters of recommendation prior to applying for any scholarships. I recommend asking a teacher, advisor, or another adult that you have a good relationship with and one that knows your qualities and work ethic. Be sure to ask if you can have copies of the letter so that you can use them for future purposes. It does not look good when you ask for a letter of recommendation for a scholarship that is due in a week so avoid this by being prepared.
Tip #4: Reuse old essays.
Many scholarship essays have pretty generic prompts such as what are your career aspirations or how will this scholarship help you to accomplish your academic goals. There is no need to spend hours writing essays when you can simply tweak old essays that you have written in the past. If you reference a company or the name of the scholarship in your essay, do not forget to edit it out along with any dates.
Tip #5: Apply for local scholarships.
Many people try to apply for popular scholarships because they are drawn to their large awards. While the dollar amount may seen enticing, your chances of winning these scholarships are slim because of the large number of other students also applying for the same reason. The competition for local scholarships is much less than that of well known nation-wide scholarships. Ask within your communities, work, clubs, friends and family to see if they know of any opportunities. I recommend that you still apply for scholarships with large awards, but your main focus should be on local scholarships even if the award is less. Remember that there are many expenses that have to be paid for in college and any amount of money can help.
Tip #6: Apply for scholarships that require more work.
Scholarships that require lengthy essays or videos are likely to have less applicants simply because they take more time and effort to complete. Give yourself enough time to break these large projects into smaller tasks that are more manageable. Although these applications may take longer, they often allow you to have so creative freedom so have fun with it.
Tip #7: Be creative.
As I mentioned previously, many scholarships have generic prompts and many of the responses are probably similar. It is important to make your essays stand out from the others. Use scholarships as an opportunity to share your experiences and unique perspectives.
BONUS TIP: It is kind to send to send a thank you note or email if you receive a scholarship. This helps you stand apart from other candidates or recipients. It could even potentially help you to develop professional relationships and build a network.
Remember that it is very competitive to win scholarships so remain consistent and hopeful. Set a goal for yourself to apply for a certain number of scholarships each week or month. If you follow these tips, over time you will see money start rolling in.
Good luck and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments you may have!
