Winning a scholarship is as much about what you do before you apply as it is about the application itself. Jeremy Schulman If you’re serious about winning more scholarships, follow these tips to get started:
What Are Scholarships
Scholarships are awards given to students based on merit. They can be awarded for a variety of reasons, but the most common are:
• GPA – A scholarship that is given to students with high GPAs.
• ACT/SAT Scores – A scholarship that is given to students with low ACT/SAT scores, who may not have had an opportunity otherwise.
• Ethnicity – A scholarship that is given specifically for members of a certain ethnic group or race, such as African Americans or Hispanics; it may also include religious affiliations.
How To Get More Scholarship Opportunities
You need a strong GPA and SAT or ACT number to be considered for more scholarships. Lawyer Jeremy Schulman advises getting recommendations from instructors and coaches, participating in extracurricular activities, and participating in extracurricular activities. The application writing should be excellent, too.
• Do your research. The first step to winning more scholarships is, of course, doing your research. You need to know what scholarships are available and how you can apply for them.
• Get familiar with deadlines–you don’t want any surprises when it comes time for submissions. To make sure you don’t miss any deadlines, create a spreadsheet and organize your info. Create a separate tab for every scholarship application. In the first column, list all the scholarships for which you are applying, along with any other pertinent information, such as application requirements or eligibility criteria. Update this as necessary as you apply for additional scholarships.
• Update the spreadsheet throughout the year. Use it as a resource that you can access at any time, but don’t feel obligated to check in every single day or week. If you’re busy with other things, no need to stress about updating something that isn’t urgent.
• Reach out to college reps early and often. Both thinking about education and preparing your application are never too early or too late. Reach out to a representative as soon as possible, even if you’re not sure what you want to major in yet. The sooner they learn about you and Jeremy Schulman what makes your profile special, the better chance they’ll have to assist in obtaining financing for your tuition or other school-related costs.
