So you've found the ultimate scholarship. Now you just need to… apply
Scholarship applications can be intimidating and frustrating. Here are a few tips designed to help you create an award-winning application that may help you get that scholarship you want!
Most important- fill out and proofread
The single most important thing to keep in mind when filling up an application form is this- the people who are going to review your application are going to get at least 9999 more applications, and much more than this for the big scholarships. They're NOT going to read that many applications, that would be nuts.
The first selection is easy- if the reviewers spot any missing information, spelling or grammar errors, or any superficial fault in your application, it goes out the window before anybody even reads it. Just like that. So make sure you follow the instructions, fill in everything properly, answer the questions directly and proofread your work.
It's about who you are, not what you do
When filling out scholarship applications you'll be facing questions that ask you to describe things about yourself. Please, don't just write down a list of your accomplishments and scores and activities- that's what most people do, and it just makes you sounds like an inhuman study & volunteer machine. You want to come out like a person, so put in some real feelings and problems into those answers and essays.
Ideally, you want the application judges yo be able relate to you as a person and like you enough so that they want to give you money. Listing down achievements doesn't do that, just try and sounds like a real normal, likable person.
Watch for the easy stuff
When filling out forms, do it on a rough draft first. If you're using a computer, use a formal business font like Ariel and a good large font-size, at least 12- if your answers don't fit in the box, shorten them, but make sure they're legible.
Put your name on every page, in case the staple falls off. Answer every single question, including the inapplicable ones, and not by putting N/A down- explain why they're inapplicable. Otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete and be eliminated.
Who are you again?
Here's a list of questions you NEED to know the answers to BEFORE you start filling out any scholarship applications. Keeping these in mind will make it easier later on.
How would you describe yourself?
How would your friends describe you?
How would your parents describe you?
How would your teachers describe you?
Which parts of these descriptions are similar?
Which parts of these descriptions are different and why?
Ideally, how would you wish for people to describe you?
What are the three most important events that have taken place in
your life? Why are they important?
What personal accomplishment makes you the most proud?
What are your three greatest strengths?
What three areas of your life need the most improvement?
What is your philosophy of life?
Why do you want to go to college?
How do you hope to be different when you graduate college?
Describe yourself and what you want to be doing ten years from
now?
What has been your most interesting class in high school? Why was
it interesting to you?
What are the three worst mistakes you have made in your life? Are
you any different now because of those mistakes?
Pick two or three extracurricular activities you participate in.
Why do you participate?
What are the three biggest obstacles you have overcome in your
life?
What person or persons have been influential in your life?
Why?
Everyone is special; what makes you special?
Writing that essay
Get personal. Write real stuff about your real life. Don't write: "I've been a member of the Science Club for 2 years". Write "Over the past 2 years, I've been an active member of the science club, participating in many activities such as dissecting a frog and growing minerals. The Club has taken up a lot of my spare time, sometimes causing me to miss dinner with my family, but it was a lot of fun and I feel that the knowledge and experience I've earned got me a step closer to reaching my goal of becoming a doctor."
Use present tense. It engages the reader more than using the past tense.
Write efficiently. Don't overkill the reader by throwing in dozens of adjectives and adverbs, concentrate on powerful nouns and verbs that do the job better and keep things shorter.
Strong intro. Make your introduction as engaging and inviting to read as possible- if the intro isn't powerful, nobody would read the rest. Your intro should NOT be a summary of the essay, it should maybe just introduce the topic but concentrate on making the reader want to continue.
Use smooth transitions. Those firstly, secondly, etc. and the in conclusion and furthermore aren't smooth. Use shorter words and where possible just commas.
Strong conclusion. Like the intro, don't summarize the essay. They just finished reading it, they know what it's about! Link back to the intro and throw in a re-emphasis of the main point.
And don't forget to proofread your essay, rewrite it a few times, let other people read it, and make sure it's good enough and free of all errors before you send it off.
These tips should get you going on writing successful scholarship applications!
Make sure you start with plenty of time ahead of the deadline. Always keep a few copies of your transcripts, recommendation letters and other documents, just in case. Submit the same essay for a few applications if it's applicable and if you're comfortable enough about the essay, this will save you time.
And most importantly,
Good Luck!
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