Scholarships can help you pay for college, but they can also be a competitive process. Receiving a scholarship hinges on many factors such as your grades, test scores, and extra-curricular activities. However, there are a few things that every student can do to increase their chances of being awarded a scholarship, says the reputed medical professional Dr. Samuel Bride.
Check out the tips
1. Start Early
The earlier you start looking for scholarships, the better. Make it a habit to check websites like Fastweb and Chegg every month or so. The sooner you start your search, the more time you will have to find scholarships that are a good fit for you.
2. Get Good grades
One of the main criteria that scholarship committees looks at is your GPA. As tempting as it may be to slack off during your senior year of high school, try to keep up the good work so that you can put your best foot forward when applying for scholarships.
3. Take AP/Honors Classes
Most scholarships require students to have taken certain courses in order to be eligible. If you want to increase your chances of getting scholarships, make sure you’re signed up for classes that will satisfy scholarship requirements. For example, many scholarships require students to have taken at least 2 years of a foreign language.
4. Participate in Extracurricular Activities
Most committees also like to see that applicants are well-rounded individuals with diverse interests. participated in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, and volunteer work demonstrate that you are capable of time management and have a variety of other interests outside of academics.
5. Write a Great Essay
Many scholarships require applicants to write an essay as part of the application process. This essay is usually about why you deserve the scholarship or how the scholarship will help you achieve your long-term goals. Make sure to proofread your essay and have someone else read it as well before hitting submit!
6. Follow Instructions
It seems simple enough, but you would be surprised how many people don’t follow instructions when applying for scholarships—which automatically disqualifies them from being considered for the award. Make sure you take the time to read through the application thoroughly so that you don’t miss any important details.
7. Be Persistent
If at first you don’t succeed, try again! Applying for scholarships can be a bit of a numbers game—the more applications you submit, the greater your chances of being awarded a scholarship will be. So don’t get discouraged if you don’t receive an award right away—keep applying and eventually something will stick!
8. Stay Organized
Keep track of deadlines and materials needed for each application using an Excel spreadsheet or notebook dedicated solely to your scholarship search. This way, nothing will fall through the cracks and you won’t be scrambling at the last minute trying to find missing materials or information.
Conclusion:
By following these tips, students can feel confident they are doing everything in their power to win scholarships! Scholarship season can be daunting, but by staying organized and being persistent students will eventually see their hard work pay off when they receive those awards letters in the mail!
