Did you know that there’s a scholarship out there for practically everything? Scholarships are available for students based on nationality, personal interests, GPA, languages spoken, extracurricular activities, and so on! There are scholarships for swimmers, pianists, fantasy football players, students who grew up with certain hardships, first-generation college students, LGBTQ individuals, you get the picture!
And here’s the key. The students who get the most money don’t apply for all of those scholarships. They find ones that fit them so that they can submit an application that makes them look like the perfect applicant!
That’s why we recommend that you start by making a list of all of your unique traits. You might be really surprised by the number of scholarships out there that fit your individual skills and qualities, so don’t leave anything off!
(If you’re not sure where to begin, sign up for Holly and answer our scholarship-matching questions. We’ll help identify your unique traits and find scholarships that match!)
1. Create a List of Your Unique Traits
You can start with this list of traits about who you are, including:
- Personal interests and passions
- Extracurricular activities
- Hardships you or your family have endured (e.g., cancer, loss of a parent, a natural disaster, etc.)
- Career interests or goals
- Academic accomplishments
- Heritage and community
- Sex/gender
- Personality traits (e.g., strong sense of leadership, great sense of humor)
- The university you currently attend or the universities you’re applying to
2. Search for Scholarships Based On These Traits –
Once you’ve got your list of unique traits handy, you can start your scholarship search! There are literally tens of thousands of scholarships for college out there. Many are easy to find, such as popular, high-competition scholarships like the Gates Millennium Scholars Program and the Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarship.
Specialized scholarships and those with less competition are usually harder to find. So, you’ll want to be extremely diligent in your research. Don’t be afraid to ask teachers, counselors, and current college students for advice.
But, also, do you resell a favor and use a scholarship search tool like holly? As we mentioned, it can help you find all the scholarships you’re eligible for, including those with less competition.
3. Develop a Prioritized List of Scholarship Opportunities
As you’re searching for scholarships, keep a list that prioritizes opportunities based on several factors:
- The scholarship deadlines
- What makes you a unique fit for the scholarship
- The amount of money you can win
Everyone’s list will look a little different. But the goal is to apply for all the best scholarships in a timely manner.
When it comes to prioritizing scholarships, don’t discount what seems like a huge, too-good-to-be-true scholarship, assuming you’ll never win it. Go big or go home, right?
For example, at the holly, we frequently offer HUGE scholarship and student loan payoff opportunities that are extremely easy to apply for! High-dollar scholarships, like the Coca-Cola scholarship, are often competitive. But it can’t hurt to try for them, because there are always winners.
On the other hand, don’t dismiss smaller college scholarships either! There are tons of scholarships out there in the $500-$2,000 range. This may not seem like a lot, but every dollar counts, and these scholarships add up!
4. Implement a Scholarship Schedule
It may sound obvious, but you should apply for as many scholarships as possible! Don’t skimp. Searching and applying for scholarships should be a regular part of your college preparation routine, much like standardized test prep. Carve out time to dedicate solely to scholarship applications. You can even consider making a scholarship schedule.
For example, every Monday, dedicate an hour to searching for scholarships and making a list of the best ones. Then, every Wednesday, dedicate an hour to applying for a scholarship on your list. Choose what works best for you and stick to it. We’re all busy, but if you make time to apply for scholarships, you’ll be thankful later!
We highly recommend that you apply to 10 scholarships per month to drastically increase your chances of winning. If this sounds overwhelming, think of it this way: that’s only 2-3 scholarship applications a week. The more you apply for, the greater your chances of winning.
And, by the way, there are plenty of college scholarships out there that are easy to apply for. Some scholarship applications take as little as 15 minutes! In your schedule, try to stagger shorter and longer applications.
5. Build a Scholarship “Toolbox” (And Save Time Later)
What, you might ask, is a scholarship toolbox? Basically, it’s just all the resources and no ledge you’ll need to slay the scholarship application process! By gathering all the (potentially) necessary items and information you’ll need for scholarship applications ahead of time, you’ll be able to crank them out in less time.
The items you’ll need for your toolbox include:
- Personal information (name, address, email address, your parents’/guardians’ information and employers, etc.).All of your school’s information (name, address, your graduation year, the 6-digit high school code, etc.)
- Most recent transcripts (high school and/or college)
- Letters of recommendation from 1-2 teachers
- Scholarship essays you’ve written in the past
- Parents’ most recent federal tax return
- Completed FAFSA and SAR report (which is generated after you complete the FAFSA)
- Your student loan lender information (if you’ve already taken out student loans)
- A recent, non-blurry photo of just you (think “headshot” style from shoulders up and without your friends in the frame)
Will you require ALL of this information for every scholarship? Not likely. But the idea is to gather all of these resources and documents ahead of time so that if you do need them, you won’t lose time searching for them.
6. Don’t Rush Your Scholarship Applications!
Make sure you’re giving each application the necessary time and consideration. You want your application to reflect your ability to be thoughtful and hard-working.
Taking the appropriate time to apply for scholarships involves:
- Reading all directions (including the fine print) thoroughly
- Familiarizing yourself with the organizations offering the scholarships
- Reflecting thoughtfully on any essay questions
- Writing a strong scholarship essay, if applicable (more on this shortly)
7. Track Your Scholarship Applications
The more organized you are, the better. And if you’re applying for a lot of scholarships (as we recommend) then the organization is key.
As holly Search allows you to save upcoming scholarships, stay on top of due dates, and keep track of the scholarships you’ve applied for (including your wins!). But a spreadsheet also works well.
Whatever your preferred method, keeping a master list of scholarships and tracking them ensures that you won’t miss out on any great opportunities. It also helps with college budgeting, since you can see how much you’ve earned and how much you’ll still have to cover.
8. Follow The Directions to a Tee
Are you required to provide your GPA? Letters of recommendation? A photo of just your face? A 250-word essay on your involvement with community organizations? Tan does precisely that! Don’t deviate from the scholarship’s guidelines and risk being disqualified for a silly reason.
It sounds obvious. But it’s so important to make sure you submit everything necessary and show that you meet the eligibility requirements. Before submitting each scholarship application, triple-check the requirements!
Here’s why: completing the additional work shows your initiative and drive. It will also make your application stand out from other students who perhaps didn’t provide the extra materials. Go above and beyond!
9. Write a Killer Scholarship Essay
Ah, the scholarship essay. Not all scholarships require one. But many do. And this is rallied, your chance to shine! Your essay allows you to show the more dimensional aspects of yourself, things that can’t be reflected in just your GPA or test scores.
This is our complete checklist for how to write a scholarship essay. It’s full of pretty much everything you need to know about writing the best scholarship essay possible!
