SayStudent Articles | How to Apply for Scholarship Money

How To Successfully Apply For
College Scholarship Money

filed: October 20, 2008

Billions of dollars in college scholarship money is made available every year, funds that are disbursed by a wide range of organizations, foundations, corporations, even from individuals to students who have successfully demonstrated a need. While there is money to be had, surprisingly many students don't take the trouble to apply for help or, if they do, their applications are rejected for reasons that they control (e.g., incomplete or inaccurate).

Like the college application process, applying for college scholarships works in much the same way. This means that applicants must not only fill out the application correctly, but clearly demonstrate why they should be the recipient of such help. By following directions carefully and using a common sensible approach, you can increase the chances that monies will be awarded to you.

Let's take a look at the steps you should take to ensure that you get a fair share of the $7 billion plus college scholarship pie:

Start Early –

If you have recently been accepted by your college or university, then starting the college scholarship process now is the best approach. You'll want to research what scholarships are available to you, confirm eligibility, and familiarize yourself with their requirements. Quite a number of scholarship deadlines are in the fall of your senior year of high school, so be mindful of deadlines.

Determine Eligibility –

Tens of thousands of different scholarships are offered each year, but you may only be eligible for a small number of them. Some scholarships are for academic high achievers, others for certain majors, while still others are ethnically based or have other requirements.

Make A Plan –

Once you have determined which scholarships you're eligible to apply for, get prepared by applying to them by deadline order. There is no limit to the number of scholarships you can apply for, but there is a limitation on your time. Still, apply for as many as you possibly can handle and make sure that you have copies of your high school transcripts, FAFSA form, SAT or ACT test scores, financial information, letters of recommendations, and your essay included. In some cases you can be expected to be interviewed as part of the application process.

Check and Recheck Your Application –

Carefully fill out your scholarship applications, leaving no lines blank and answering their questions to the best of your abilities. Be legible, clear and concise, and make one copy of every application to be sent just in case it gets lost. Send your application out by certified mail (return receipt) to ensure that they received your information.

Once you have received notification that you are the recipient of one or more college scholarships, you'll want to send out a thank you note to each donor. Remember, nobody is required to award scholarships, therefore thanking people for their generosity shows your gratitude and can also serve as encouragement to the donor to continue funding additional scholarship opportunities in the future.

Lastly, your school will explain to you how the scholarship money will be applied, which means that some colleges and universities will simply reduce your family's required contribution by that amount, use it to replace grant money, or eliminate the need for you to participate in a work-study program while attending school.

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