Scholarship Tips for Success

Read the Fine Print - Be sure you meet all qualifications prior to spending time on a specific scholarship.

Play the Odds - Apply for several scholarships. Don't limit yourself to one or two applications. Also, smaller, local scholarships for your specific school are likely to have less applicants and competition.

Know your Odds - Some scholarship sponsors will publish the number of applicants and the number of scholarships awarded the previous year. If not, it is ok to call the scholarship sponsor and request this information. If there is only 2 scholarships available and the sponsor received 2,000 applications, you may want to invest your time into a different scholarship application.

Focus on your Strengths - If you are an athlete, focus on athletic scholarships. If you are an 'A' student, focus on merit-based scholarships or those based on GPA. Don't randomly select scholarships that you don't likely have the experience or skill to win.

Meet all Deadlines - Mark a calendar and track all required application deadlines. If you miss a deadline, you will be automatically disqualified.

Be Prepared - Scholarship applications often require similar information. To save time create a folder that includes a copy of your tax forms, your resume or work history, community service or volunteer experience, school clubs and activities, transcript, and recommendation letters. Keep a copy of every application and essay you submit in this same folder. It will save you time and keep you on track!