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Scholarship Application Tips: Increasing the Chances of Success

Students are sometimes surprised to find out how much time it takes to find and apply for scholarships. But it makes sense to put in the time it takes to do it right given the possibility of the monetary rewards that can be obtained. Completing scholarship applications can take a lot of time and focused attention. They must be filled out accurately, neatly and have no typos or spelling errors. Essays must be thoughtfully written and everything should be reviewed by another person if possible to make sure all submissions present the candidate in the best possible light. Below are some other tips important for scholarship success.

Tips for Doing it Right

Start the process as early as possible – Deadlines for some scholarships are early and some will require essays and letters of recommendation that will take time.

Scholarship deadlines are extremely important – If a deadline is missed, the application won’t be considered and the time taken to complete it will have been wasted.

Students should apply for all scholarships for which they are eligible – No scholarship is guaranteed and even small ones can help defray tuition costs. Small scholarships may also have fewer applicants to compete against.

Being organized is important – Keeping track of deadlines and the various requirements for each scholarship will minimize costly mistakes. Also keep copies of everything that is sent so it will be easier to re-send if needed and will also make completing other applications easier.

Extracurricular activities add value – Students should make sure to highlight their extracurricular activities, especially those that involve helping others. Leadership roles should be emphasized as well.

Professional quality applications make a difference – Another person should review all submissions since poor spelling, missing answers or sloppy essays are all ways an applicant may be taken out of consideration for a scholarship.

Each essay should be customized – Even if the essay questions are similar, the essays should be written with the basis of the scholarship in mind.