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Rebekkah
Student
Jackson, Missouri
1
Question
Updated
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What is the smartest and most efficient way to apply for scholarships?
I'm going to attend an out-of-state college and wanting to major in zoology.
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1 answer
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1770
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Finding college scholarships takes more than one Saturday afternoon. Though scholarship applications and requirements may vary from year to year, it's never too early to begin. There are scholarships out there tailored to academic interests, talents, extracurricular activities , career goals, geographic location, and many more factors.
1️⃣ CHECK YOUR PROSPECTIVE SCHOOL
Go to their website or call the financial aid office. If you meet the qualifications, find out how to apply. Don't assume that by applying for admission, you're applying for scholarships. It's often a separate process. Be aware that scholarship deadlines can be different from those set for the college admission application. In fact, some schools ask you to submit an application for scholarships prior to your application for admissions. Raising your GPA and test scores in high school will help increase your chances of earning merit aid.
2️⃣ WORK WITH YOUR ACADEMIC ADVISOR
If you are currently a student, you likely have access to a school counselor. Take advantage! He or she may know about a scholarship that's a good fit for you. If there is a dedicated office at your school for students heading to college, find out what services they offer. Our college counselors can help you plan your financial aid strategy, too.
3️⃣ NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK
Do you belong to a church group or a local chapter of some national club. Are either of your parents a member of a union or civic groups. Does either of them work for a large corporation. Many of these types of organizations offer scholarships to members and their children. Check out the PTA, Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, churches, foundations and others in your town, which often offer scholarships based on a variety of factors. There’s often less competition for these, since they have to be awarded locally.
4️⃣ SEARCH ONLINE SCHOLARSHIPS
When searching online, I recommend that you be as specific as possible. Simply typing in "scholarships" will yield thousands upon thousands of hits. Use qualifiers such as the names of schools and programs of study to help narrow the field. A word of caution though: You should never pay money to investigate scholarships. Scholarship providers don't offer their awards to students who pay to find them; they offer them to all students.
5️⃣ BE AWARE OF SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES
Deadlines vary by scholarship. Some are the summer before your senior year, others in the fall or as late as spring. To stay organized and keep track of due dates, we recommend keeping a calendar, and making your earliest deadline the deadline for all of your applications. Finally (and this cannot be stressed enough), do not miss your deadlines. You'll have no recourse if your application arrives late, and you will have zero chance of receiving that award. Many applications will require a scholarship essay, so keep that in mind when you're planning your time.
IN CONCLUSION
While many schools have adopted "test-optional" policies, meaning they no longer require SAT scores for admission, certain scholarships within those same schools might still use SAT scores as a factor in determining eligibility, effectively making it so that while a student may not need the SAT to get into the school, they might need it to qualify for specific scholarships.
1️⃣ CHECK YOUR PROSPECTIVE SCHOOL
Go to their website or call the financial aid office. If you meet the qualifications, find out how to apply. Don't assume that by applying for admission, you're applying for scholarships. It's often a separate process. Be aware that scholarship deadlines can be different from those set for the college admission application. In fact, some schools ask you to submit an application for scholarships prior to your application for admissions. Raising your GPA and test scores in high school will help increase your chances of earning merit aid.
2️⃣ WORK WITH YOUR ACADEMIC ADVISOR
If you are currently a student, you likely have access to a school counselor. Take advantage! He or she may know about a scholarship that's a good fit for you. If there is a dedicated office at your school for students heading to college, find out what services they offer. Our college counselors can help you plan your financial aid strategy, too.
3️⃣ NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK
Do you belong to a church group or a local chapter of some national club. Are either of your parents a member of a union or civic groups. Does either of them work for a large corporation. Many of these types of organizations offer scholarships to members and their children. Check out the PTA, Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, churches, foundations and others in your town, which often offer scholarships based on a variety of factors. There’s often less competition for these, since they have to be awarded locally.
4️⃣ SEARCH ONLINE SCHOLARSHIPS
When searching online, I recommend that you be as specific as possible. Simply typing in "scholarships" will yield thousands upon thousands of hits. Use qualifiers such as the names of schools and programs of study to help narrow the field. A word of caution though: You should never pay money to investigate scholarships. Scholarship providers don't offer their awards to students who pay to find them; they offer them to all students.
5️⃣ BE AWARE OF SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES
Deadlines vary by scholarship. Some are the summer before your senior year, others in the fall or as late as spring. To stay organized and keep track of due dates, we recommend keeping a calendar, and making your earliest deadline the deadline for all of your applications. Finally (and this cannot be stressed enough), do not miss your deadlines. You'll have no recourse if your application arrives late, and you will have zero chance of receiving that award. Many applications will require a scholarship essay, so keep that in mind when you're planning your time.
IN CONCLUSION
While many schools have adopted "test-optional" policies, meaning they no longer require SAT scores for admission, certain scholarships within those same schools might still use SAT scores as a factor in determining eligibility, effectively making it so that while a student may not need the SAT to get into the school, they might need it to qualify for specific scholarships.
Thank you so much; this is incredibly helpful!
Rebekkah