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Over 43 million American students have $37,105 in federal student debt alone.
Many students see this kind of statistic, decide that financial scholarships are the way to avoid debt when getting a degree, and rush to apply to all the scholarships they can find.
And then they don’t hear back from anyone.
This is because they’re missing the key to getting scholarships: being prepared. This means knowing which scholarships to apply for, making sure you have the right qualifications, and knowing how to apply to increase your chances.
As long as you have a plan and target scholarships carefully, you greatly up the chances that you’ll win at least one.
Ready to pave the way to your college and career dreams? Keep reading for our ultimate guide to scholarship preparedness!
Scholarships vs Grants
The first step in being prepared for your scholarship search is to be clear on the difference between scholarships and grants.
Scholarships are often awarded based on merit, like your grades or your achievements. With a scholarship, you’ll need to do an application tailored to each.
Scholarships are usually awarded by schools or organizations, like businesses and charities.
Grants, on the other hand, are usually based on need, meaning that you have to demonstrate that you can’t afford to pay for college on your own.
Federal and state governments are usually the ones who award grants.
And whether you’re eligible for grants, scholarships, or both, the good news is that you don’t have to repay either of them.
Types of Scholarships
Once you’re clear on the types of scholarships that are available, you’ll find it much easier to plan your search.
Many students think that they only have a chance at getting scholarships if they have a perfect GPA. This isn’t true!
There are many scholarships that don’t require any academic qualifications at all. For example, there are scholarships available for students who want to study a specific subject, like medical school or journalism.
There are also scholarships available for students from certain backgrounds, like first-generation college students or students who come from low-income households.
And there are hundreds of scholarships available for students who want to study in certain locations, like college in the city or college abroad.
How to Find Scholarships
Finding scholarships is something you want to do months before the application deadline. This will give you enough time to sift through the listings and see which ones you have a really good chance at getting.
Learning how to find scholarships for college students can be overwhelming at first, but it gets easier once you know where to look.
For example, you may start with a generic online search or by looking through a large scholarship database. It can take some time to sift through this information, so be patient.
As you look, you’ll get an idea of which websites, tools, or places are the best for the types of scholarships you’re looking for. Focus more of your efforts on these.
And once you find a good source and start to find good scholarships, make a list of all the ones you’d be qualified for. Don’t forget to include due dates, so you can get the application finished in time.
While some people recommend that you only spend an hour every other day searching for scholarships, this slow pace can cause you stress in the long run.
Instead, you’ll want to spend a good chunk of time searching for scholarships at the start. This way, you can put them all into a calendar and get a better idea of how many applications you need to do.
Then, you can check for new scholarships every couple of weeks, as new ones do get added throughout the year.
Online Scholarship Tools
One way to make finding college scholarships easier is to use an online scholarship tool. These are also called scholarship search engines.
You can find a wide range of tools that help you narrow down your search for college scholarships.
Some of the top online scholarship tools include:
- Scholarships.com
- Unigo
- ScholarshipOwl
- Peterson’s
Some tools ask you to create a profile and input information about what college you want to attend, as well as your college GPA.
Then the tool will recommend scholarships that fit both your requirements and qualifications. This way, you can quickly find college scholarships that are right for you.
This saves time, because these college scholarship tools automatically weed out the scholarships you wouldn’t be qualified for, so you don’t have to sift through them.
Your School
Your college or university might have a scholarship office that you can visit to ask questions about college scholarships, as well as learn how to search for college scholarships and what you need to do to apply.
If your college doesn’t have one, they might know who does.
You can also check with college financial aid offices to see if they have college scholarship lists you can take home.
If you are still in high school, ask your school’s career counselor if they know of any scholarships you could look into.
Make sure to tell them about the degree (and career path) you want to pursue.
Clubs, Organizations, and Businesses
Another way to find college scholarships is by looking for them through clubs, organizations, and businesses.
For example, local civic organizations or religious organizations might give college scholarships to students in your area. Your college or university’s alumni association can be a great source of college scholarship information, too.
For those already in college, you can also check:
- Your college’s student newspaper
- Online college forums
- College business associations
Big companies are a great source of scholarships as well. For example, Coca-Cola, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Intel all give out millions of dollars in scholarships every year.
Some employers, like Burger King, also have scholarship programs, so make sure to check this as well.
Government and Grant Options
Even if you’re primarily applying to scholarships, it’s still a good idea to apply to some grants too. This is because you may be very qualified for certain scholarships, but you never know how much competition there will be that year.
Some college scholarships are available only to students who attend college in a certain state or country. This is also true of government grants, so make sure to check your state government website for more information.
Keep in mind that some scholarships (and most grants) will need you to complete a FAFSA form to prove that you need financial aid.
The Scholarship Application Process
Even if you’re not applying to scholarships right now, you need to know what the application process is like. This way, you’ll know what you need beforehand and won’t be scrambling last minute.
The general process goes like this:
- Search for scholarships you’re eligible for
- Make a list of scholarships, including deadlines and requirements
- Get copies of your transcripts
- Write each scholarship application (personalize each one)
- Fill out any financial aid applications
- Submit the application
If you’re applying for multiple college scholarships, make sure to keep track of all the deadlines. This way, you won’t miss any and will have plenty of time to complete the applications.
Many college scholarships can be applied for throughout the year. Again, make sure to check college scholarship websites every so often, so you don’t miss out on any opportunities.
Read The Instructions Carefully
Make sure to read the college scholarship’s requirements and instructions carefully.
Some college scholarships may only need you to submit a simple form or essay.
But for most college scholarships, you will need to provide more detailed information. This usually includes:
- Your academic transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- An essay on a given prompt
The instructions will help you personalize your essay and application.
Remember that the people who are reading the applications don’t want to see a generic essay, as this shows them that you aren’t that invested in their scholarship.
Note that some scholarships ask you for official transcripts. You order these from your college and must keep them sealed. Some scholarships may accept unofficial transcripts and only ask you for official transcripts if you win.
Tips for Applying to Financial Scholarships
Aside from knowing the application process, you need to keep a few key tips in mind as you apply.
Knowing exactly what you’ll need for your applications (as well as having the right mindset) will have you feeling prepared and much more calm as you go through the process. Plus, you’ll have an edge over other applicants.
Get Recommendation Letters
The best way to get a good college recommendation letter is to have a good relationship with your recommender.
Also, make sure to provide your recommender with all the information they need, such as the scholarship’s deadline, what you’re applying for, and any other important details.
It’s also helpful if you can give your recommender information about yourself, such as your grades and awards. This gives them a better idea of what to include in the college scholarship letter.
To get college recommendation letters, make sure to ask early! This way, your college recommender can get their letter written and sent to you in time.
Make a Timeline
When you’re applying for college scholarships, it’s important to have a timeline so you don’t miss any deadlines.
Keep in mind that different scholarships are open for application at different times of the year. This is a good thing, because you can stretch your application process for the entire year and not get as overwhelmed.
Think about how much less overwhelmed you’ll be if you search for scholarships every other day and only apply to two or three scholarships at a time.
Compare this to how stressed you’ll be if you try to do all thirty of your applications the week before they’re due (especially if you’re going to school).
If you’re in high school, you’ll want to start your search in the fall of the year before you start college. So if you’re starting college in the fall of 2023, you’ll want to start your search in the fall of 2022.
If you’re already in college, then you want to make a list of which scholarships you want to apply for. Add each due date to a timeline. Start with the applications that are due soonest, and include the ones that take the longest to do.
Don’t forget to make a calendar for college application essays as well. Some may take you longer to write, so be sure you don’t rush this.
Scholarship reviewers will be able to tell if you rushed the essay, and likely won’t pick you for the scholarship.
Get Help From Your Network and College Advisor
Your college might have a college scholarship office that can help you with the scholarship process. They may even know of college scholarships that aren’t advertised.
Ask college professors, your college advisor, college librarian, or any other college staff if they know of good college scholarships you qualify for.
You can also ask your network of professional contacts if they know of any scholarships. This would include your co-workers, managers, and LinkedIn contacts.
If you feel really overwhelmed, go through your LinkedIn network or ask your advisor if they know of anyone you can interview about scholarship applications.
By talking to a college student who’s been through the process before, you can ask for application tips that helped them. You can also ask them how they dealt with being rejected from scholarships, and how to keep a positive mindset.
Finance Your Future With the Right Scholarships
Applying for financial scholarships takes time and energy, but if you put your mind to it, you will find college scholarships that are right for you.
Stay positive and follow the tips we’ve outlined in this article, and you’ll be on your way to financing your college education! And if you enjoyed this blog post, you’ll love the rest of our website! Be sure to check out our other helpful posts for more useful tips.
