Secrets to Winning College Scholarships – What you Need to do
Figuring out how to pay for college can be a bit stressful. Luckily, there are scholarships and other forms of financial aid for the majority of students, whether freshmen or already in school. Winning a scholarships is not easy. Below find 10 great ways and steps on how to win a college scholarship.
- Be Different
In your application, during orientation, be different. Let your essay stand out from those of other applicants. You could use a unique layout for your application. Truth be told, the school’s scholarship committee or office receives thousands of applications from students, all seeking some form of financial aid. If yours is captivating, it will raise your chances of winning a scholarship.
- Apply Early Enough
You should consider applying for a scholarship early. It’s probably the only time that the office won’t be very busy going through many other applications. Chances are, someone will go through your entire application because they have the time or aren’t already exhausted from reading other applications.
- Write your application, and then proofread it again and again
After writing your application, you want to be sure that it reads perfectly. To achieve this, you should go through it over and over, checking for spelling and grammar mistakes. You can then read it out loud, just to hear what it’ll sound like. If you are comfortable and satisfied with, you can then submit it.
- Reach out to a contact on the scholarship committee
You could engage a scholarship committee point of contact either on phone or via email, before you apply for the scholarship. This shows your interest in the program and the school, but be careful not to pester them after you apply. It could cost you your chances of winning a scholarship.
- Letters of Recommendation
Most scholarships will require for applicants to submit at least one, two or three letters of recommendations. You could get a good recommendation letter from a former employer, your high school teachers, professor, mentor or coach; at least a person outside of your family, one who has seen your capabilities and is impressed by them. Their recommendations will contribute a great deal to you getting that scholarship.
- Maintain good grades and ACT / SAT scores
It might be difficult to maintain a high GPA, but a good one affects the way in which a scholarship committee reads into your application. It shows an immeasurable dedication to your studies, and that the person investing in your future won’t just be wasting their time. When looking into your test scores and GPA, they may also review your class achievements and ranks.
- How does your essay depict you?
When writing your essay, you will need to be your won advocate. Explain to the people in charge of scholarships exactly why you deserve their helping hand. Be passionate. You could state challenges you’ve faced in the past and how you managed to overcome them. Impress them with your strong points.
- What is your volunteer history?
Have you worked before, reporting to someone at a senior level or been engaged in community building activities as a volunteer? This is some of the information that you could capture when sending your application. A potential sponsor will without a doubt be impressed by a student who likes to volunteer in community work.
- Research the scholarship company or program
Before you begin your application process, you can research the program or company with which you are applying. Read segments such as mission, value and eligibility. This will help you in the long run when it’s time to answer questions; you will ultimately give the expected answers.
