Applying for scholarships takes time but shouldn't dominate your busy student schedule. The thought of adding another item to your growing to-do list is one of the biggest reasons students decide not to apply for scholarships. There's no secret to making the scholarship application process happen; it takes work and dedication. Still, you can do a few things to make it easier. Use the eight-step checklist below to streamline your application process.
Additionally, your parents' employers may also offer scholarship opportunities. Children of military veterans or active-duty parents have various scholarship opportunities, for example.
Pay attention to your favorite products and brands, too. They may share scholarships through email or on their product packaging. However, sifting through these scholarship opportunities can be challenging.
Students, parents, and educators find that using Fastweb's free scholarship matching tool makes the scholarship search more manageable and saves them a lot of time. Students can create a free profile using their attributes to receive notifications about scholarship opportunities they should consider applying for. Fastweb users can also organize their top-choice scholarships within their profile page to stay focused.
Once you've reviewed scholarships, pick the scholarships you want to apply for. Select the scholarship application with the nearest deadline and focus on it before moving on to the others, so you don't become overwhelmed.
Review the specific requirements for each scholarship and note the application deadlines. Some scholarships require different submission mediums and file types. These could be voice recordings or sound bites; personal statements or essays in Word documents or PDFs; social media videos or posts with a specific tag or hashtag; in-person interviews; and more.
Remember to note the application deadlines and the method for submitting the scholarship application. Most scholarship providers require applications to be submitted online. While rare, some scholarship applications must be submitted in hard copy, on paper, and mailed!
Step 1: Research and Find Your Best Scholarship Options
Many scholarship opportunities exist for all ages, from elementary to graduate school. These scholarships can be funded by small-town businesses, large corporations, national, state, regional, and county affiliations, and even community clubs and niche organizations. It’s important to know where to look for scholarships first: high school counselors are an excellent scholarship resource for high school students. Most colleges have a scholarship site that lists financial support options related to the school.Track Specific Application Requirements & File Formats
All scholarship requirements differ depending on the type of scholarship you’re applying for. There are no-essay scholarships, video scholarships, essay scholarships, merit scholarships, and more.Step 2: Gather Your Personal Information & Documents
You'll likely need to use the same personal information applications. This includes: • Contact Information: address, phone number, email address, etc. • High School or College Transcripts: official or unofficial • Standardized Test Scores: ASVAB, ACT, SAT • Letters of recommendation: Check to see if the scholarship provider wants the recommender to submit or sign your letter personally. • Proof of Citizenship: Birth certificates, passports, state ID, tribal nation ID, voter registration, etc. • Essays, Videos, Personal Statements, etc. • Financial Information: These requirements are usually for need-based awards and may include your FAFSA Submission Summary and/or parental household income and/or assets. Never provide bank account or credit card information, as these are likely scholarship scams!Build a Master Scholarship Application Folder
Creating a folder with the above-standard information is a good idea, since you'll be submitting multiple scholarship applications. Consider making a master Scholarship Application folder with subfolders for your transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, and other essentials. This will save you time, help you remember to include essentials, and boost your chances of winning the scholarship!Step 3: Prepare Your Academic Records & Transcripts
Merit scholarships almost always require transcripts as a record of academic performance, course load, and diploma status. The scholarship committee uses transcripts to prove GPA, course rigor, student involvement, and educational awards. Review the scholarship application requirements to determine if you need an official or unofficial transcript. High school students usually get their transcripts from the school counselor or office. In contrast, college students should contact the registrar's office for their transcripts.Step 4: Request Strong Letters of Recommendation
Your recommendation letters are important because they highlight your best qualities and round out any application. These usually notable people vouch for your abilities and dote on your strengths.How to Choose the Right Recommenders
Be sure you pick a recommender who likes you and has seen you at your best. The recommender should be able to provide clear examples of your personal strengths and potential. The best letters of recommendation come from teachers, professors, supervisors, managers, and notable community leaders, such as clergy members.How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter
Once you've picked a handful of people you'd like to write a letter on your behalf, ask them in person and follow up with a formal request via a note or email. Give them plenty of time to write your letter of recommendation, but also be clear about when you'll need it. Don't ask for the letters back the day before the scholarship deadline; allow extra time for your recommenders and yourself! Consider providing supporting documents, such as your student resume or brag sheet, if you have one.Step 5: Write & Proofread Your Scholarship Essays
Save your essays, as you can use parts to create or modify new ones. This includes your personal statement.Reusing Essays & Personal Statements
This is where it's wise to create a folder labeled "Essays" so you can have access to all versions. It is okay to reuse essays, but be sure you have clearly addressed the essay prompt and direction. Avoiding the essay prompt is one of the quickest ways to have your scholarship application thrown out.Tips for Proofreading and Peer Reviews
You'll need to proofread your essay a few times and on different days to avoid errors. Next, ask your peers or instructors if they'll proofread your essay two more times. Having at least two independent reviewers in addition to yourself is a good idea. Ensure you provide them with an essay prompt so they can assess whether your essay clearly addressed the prompt and followed the instructions. Pay attention to the minimum and maximum word count requirements. Scholarship judges are looking to see if you can follow simple instructions!Step 6: Organize Your Financial Aid Documents (FAFSA)
Every student should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which requires specific financial information. Depending on the timeline, some scholarship providers may require applicants to have submitted their FAFSA as part of the application. Other scholarship applications may ask for tax returns, income statements, or assets to prove financial need. It's a good idea to start gathering these key financial documents!Step 7: Gather Supplemental Portfolios & Projects
It cannot be stressed enough to begin saving your best work, as it may be the perfect supplement to your scholarship application or a requirement. Students applying for an art or design scholarship may need to share their digital portfolio or specific pieces. STEM scholarship applications may ask you to share special projects. Any extra details about yourself that help you stand out should be part of the scholarship application asset you have available. This may include volunteer work, work experience, leadership roles, and more. Again, this is a reason to begin developing and adding to your student portfolio now.Step 8: Double-Check and Submit Your Application
When you think you're ready to submit your scholarship application, step back and check that you've attached or included every required item. Double-checking and reviewing all parts of the application before submitting it will prevent your scholarship from being immediately discarded.Final Application Submission Checklist
Ask yourself questions like: Did you use the correct address? Was your personal statement included? Did the video requirement require a social post and a specific hashtag? How many letters of recommendation were required? Is this scholarship application to be submitted online or on paper?How to Keep Your Scholarship Search Simple & Successful
With some prep work and organization, you can make your scholarship application process a good experience! If your scholarship application process is simple and streamlined, completing your scholarship applications will feel much easier, fueling your motivation to keep applying. Be proactive and start the scholarship search! Winning scholarships is a numbers game; the key is to apply for many and keep applying, even if you don't win one. Students who win multiple scholarships likely have an organized scholarship application system in place and have applied for many scholarships. High school seniors should not just begin applying for scholarships during their senior year. Instead, students should start applying for scholarships as early as possible! Most scholarship winners share one trait: persistence. Set a scholarship application goal (adapt it as needed), stay organized, and keep applying for scholarships throughout your educational journey! Make your scholarship search easy by creating your free Fastweb profile. Include as many personal attributes as possible when building your profile to get the best scholarship match. This saves you valuable time!You Might Also Like
Shawna Newman
Managing Editor, Contributing Writer
Shawna Newman covers various topics related to post-secondary education, including trade schools, the military, and college. She details strategies for paying for school, such as scholarships, financial ai...
