How to Find and Apply for Scholarships

Getting a tertiary education can qualify you for your dream job ― or at least a very comfortable salary. Yet reports show that college tuition rose 179% in the last two decades in the US. 

With out-of-state colleges averaging around $24,500, according to reports, this education may be too expensive.

That's where scholarships come in. They pay for some of the costs of your education, freeing you to study what you desire. 

To maximize this opportunity, learning how to apply for scholarships is essential. This blog will give you simple steps starting from your search to monitoring your applications. With these steps, your application will have a higher likelihood of a positive response.

Part of improving your applications is having a deep understanding of scholarships and what they can do for you. So, let us start with that.

What Are Scholarships?

A scholarship is a financial aid that helps you pursue an education. This education could be in a high school, college, university, or some other educational institute such as an art academy. 

Furthermore, this financial aid can offer the above in any combination and in varying quantities. Aside from paying for your tuition, a scholarship may also cover the following costs:

• Housing

• Food

• Amenities

• Equipment or material

• Travel

When you are applying for scholarships, you will also notice that they may restrict who can apply. This restriction could depend on where you live, your minority status, or your military service. Alternatively, learning institutions could base their acceptance criteria on merit, skills, accomplishments, or community service. 

Usually, there will also be other criteria, such as minimum grades or a compelling personal statement. Once you get the scholarship, you may also have restrictions such as retaining a certain level of performance or paying taxes on the scholarship amount.

Note: If a scholarship asks for payment before you receive aid, it may be a scam.

How Do I Apply for Scholarships?

Supposing you wish to reduce the cost of getting an education, you should seek out multiple scholarships. Although one may pay for all your needs, it is best to search for multiple to ensure you receive one, even if the others lead to rejection. 

Notably, this is not a process you will do only once. Even after receiving a scholarship, you can continue to look for others to replace your current scholarship when it expires or if you want to get another degree.

The following steps will guide you through the most effective process of getting a scholarship: 

• Use the Right Searching Tools

To start applying for a scholarship, you should first ask yourself, “how can I find scholarships?” Simply, you need to quickly start looking at the right resources. So, even a full year before you plan to attend the school of your choice, you should search for scholarships in the following places:

• Government websites

• College/university websites

• Newspapers

• Bulletin boards

Pro tip: If you are still in high school or recently graduated, consider asking your school adviser how to apply for scholarships. If you have attended college or university, your dean may be able to guide you toward promising scholarships.

• Narrow Your Options Wisely

Once you have your list, check whether you are eligible for them and if they are up-to-date. Once you are sure that they are valid, you may narrow down your choice to those that best fit your needs. 

• Stay Organized

Now that you have narrowed your scholarship options, you should organize yourself to apply for them properly. This means keeping at hand official copies of recommendation letters, academic records, resumes, curriculum vitae, and standardized test score results. In addition, you should note all the application deadlines on a calendar so that you can submit on the first day that they allow submissions. 

• Submit Your Applications

When you are organized, you can start applying for multiple scholarships. Still, ahead of any application, you should double check the requirements and that your application meets them. Also, you should proofread and revise your personal statement/essay.

• Monitor Your Applications

Finally, you should check up on your application. If you do not receive a response when you should have, you should contact the institution and verify the status of your application and whether there have been any changes to the process.

Top Tips to Increase Your Chances of Receiving a Scholarship

Respecting the guidelines of a scholarship is the best way to ensure acceptance. Nevertheless, there are other things you can do to make your application stand out. 

As you apply for scholarships, you should use the following tips to maximize your chances of a successful application:

• Boast about unique talents: You will stand apart from other applications by highlighting your unique skills.

• Serve your community: Your application may receive a better review if you mention how you have served your community. 

• Stay honest: Discrepancies and lies may reduce your chances of receiving a scholarship.

• Customize your statements: Even if you choose to reuse elements of your essay, you should always tailor it to the scholarship you are applying for.

Summary

As you have noticed, learning how to apply for scholarships is not too difficult. You can easily find them from a number of sources, such as college and government websites. 

From there, the process is all about remaining diligent and persistent. So long as you focus your attention on worthwhile scholarships and keep yourself organized, you will be able to submit all your applications on time. With a quick review of your applications, you can eliminate mistakes that would have otherwise affected your application. 

Are you ready to apply for scholarships? Tell us how your search is going in the comment section below!

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I apply for a scholarship?

You should always apply for a scholarship as early as possible. Usually, the scholarship website will mention the dates when their submissions are open. In any case, it should be before the school year starts.

How much GPA is required to get a full scholarship?

To get a full scholarship, you will usually need a 3.0 GPA. That said, a particularly competitive scholarship may have a higher requirement or use different criteria. In any case, you should verify the scholarship's specific website.

Can I get a 100% scholarship?

Yes, you can get a 100% scholarship that covers your entire tuition. In fact, you may even get a scholarship that also pays for the costs such as housing and food. However, you should consider that such scholarships are generally more competitive.