7 answers
Gianna
Student
Saint Ansgar, Iowa
1
Question
Asked
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When applying for scholarships, what are some buzzwords to use?
I'm working in applying for some scholarships now, and I was wondering if there are any specific words that colleges look for/like in applications
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7 answers
JYOTHY JOSE
House wife
10
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
JYOTHY’s Answer
When applying for scholarships, it's important to use language that showcases your strengths and highlights why you are a strong candidate for the award. Here are some buzzwords that can help make your scholarship application stand out:
Leadership: Colleges and scholarship committees value applicants who have demonstrated leadership skills. Use words like "leadership," "initiative," and "influence" to describe your experiences leading teams or organizations.
Community involvement: Many scholarships are awarded to students who have a strong record of community service. Use words like "volunteer," "service," and "philanthropy" to describe your involvement in your community.
Academic achievement: Scholarships often prioritize applicants who have achieved academic excellence. Use words like "academic achievement," "intellectual curiosity," and "academic excellence" to describe your academic accomplishments.
Professional aspirations: Scholarships often seek to support students who have clear career goals and a plan for achieving them. Use words like "career goals," "professional aspirations," and "ambition" to describe your future plans and how the scholarship will help you achieve them.
Diversity: Scholarships often prioritize applicants who come from diverse backgrounds or have unique experiences. Use words like "diversity," "inclusivity," and "multiculturalism" to describe your background and how it has shaped your perspective.
Remember that it's important to use these buzzwords in a genuine and authentic way that accurately reflects your experiences and strengths. Avoid using cliches or buzzwords that don't apply to your situation. Finally, be sure to proofread your application carefully to ensure that your language is clear and professional
Leadership: Colleges and scholarship committees value applicants who have demonstrated leadership skills. Use words like "leadership," "initiative," and "influence" to describe your experiences leading teams or organizations.
Community involvement: Many scholarships are awarded to students who have a strong record of community service. Use words like "volunteer," "service," and "philanthropy" to describe your involvement in your community.
Academic achievement: Scholarships often prioritize applicants who have achieved academic excellence. Use words like "academic achievement," "intellectual curiosity," and "academic excellence" to describe your academic accomplishments.
Professional aspirations: Scholarships often seek to support students who have clear career goals and a plan for achieving them. Use words like "career goals," "professional aspirations," and "ambition" to describe your future plans and how the scholarship will help you achieve them.
Diversity: Scholarships often prioritize applicants who come from diverse backgrounds or have unique experiences. Use words like "diversity," "inclusivity," and "multiculturalism" to describe your background and how it has shaped your perspective.
Remember that it's important to use these buzzwords in a genuine and authentic way that accurately reflects your experiences and strengths. Avoid using cliches or buzzwords that don't apply to your situation. Finally, be sure to proofread your application carefully to ensure that your language is clear and professional
Daniel Maynes
Credit Manager
187
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Daniel’s Answer
Great question Gianna!
Many universities like to see that you are active in volunteering in your community. Also, I would be yourself and let the schools know your strengths/passions.
I would encourage you to not get discouraged if you do not get the first few scholarships that you apply for. After applying many times, I did not get my first scholarship until after the ninth try. If they were easy then everyone would be getting one! Also, many students go after the "big scholarships" but those are usually harder to obtain and get handed out far fewer times. My strategy was to get a handful of small to medium size scholarships that would add up to a large scholarship. Even though this is more work for you these small/medium size scholarships are usually easier and universities/donors hand them out more frequently.
I know it can be frustrating at times but you can do it and remember to keep moving forward!
Many universities like to see that you are active in volunteering in your community. Also, I would be yourself and let the schools know your strengths/passions.
I would encourage you to not get discouraged if you do not get the first few scholarships that you apply for. After applying many times, I did not get my first scholarship until after the ninth try. If they were easy then everyone would be getting one! Also, many students go after the "big scholarships" but those are usually harder to obtain and get handed out far fewer times. My strategy was to get a handful of small to medium size scholarships that would add up to a large scholarship. Even though this is more work for you these small/medium size scholarships are usually easier and universities/donors hand them out more frequently.
I know it can be frustrating at times but you can do it and remember to keep moving forward!
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1616
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Gianna many scholarships are based on an applicant's individuality. Making sure your including your unique interests and perspectives on the page will go a long way toward creating a memorable essay. Share the experiences and activities that make YOU unique. You don’t have to limit the experiences you share to only your senior year. Lots of students participate in sports in high school, but maybe you volunteered to help coach children. Many students have a part-time job, but maybe you started a charitable donation program at work. Consider what you can say about yourself that most other college scholarship applicants will not be able to say.
Hope this is helpful Gianna
Many scholarships come with instructions for submitting your application, such as how you format your essay, additional deadlines, or specific documents you should include. Paying attention to details and requirements can make or break whether your application remains in the running or lands on the top of the rejection pile. Double check scholarship rules and requirements to make sure you are following them.
Your high school counselor or college advisor is a great sounding board for finding the right scholarships. While you may not be applying in their office, they can help you choose which scholarships are the best to apply for. Advisors will often take the time to review your submissions and help you improve your essays and applications. You can also learn a lot by checking out past scholarship winners and how they approached their submission. Ask your guidance counselor which scholarships are the most popular and which are more tailored to your background. You can also work together to find specific scholarships from the schools you want to apply to. Talking with an expert will help you focus your search so that it serves your needs more efficiently.
Hope this is helpful Gianna
Doc recommends the following next steps:
Elyse Brogdon
Director of People + Processes
19
Answers
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Updated
Elyse’s Answer
Hi Gianna,
Great question! While there are always certain skills/buzzwords that will stand out (leadership, teamwork, volunteering), there are actually two more important factors in writing a strong scholarship application:
1) Answer the question they are asking! Buzzwords might be great, but if a scholarship is wanting to hear about a personal experience in your life, and you are writing about the highlights of your educational resume, you are less likely to stand out. Be specific, and really pay attention to the prompt at hand (as opposed to submitting a general essay that could have gone to any scholarship).
2) Be genuine! The most standout scholarship essays are the ones that are clearly authentic to the individual, and where the purpose/prompt for the scholarship has clear + direct personal importance to the individual.
Best of luck with your applications!
Great question! While there are always certain skills/buzzwords that will stand out (leadership, teamwork, volunteering), there are actually two more important factors in writing a strong scholarship application:
1) Answer the question they are asking! Buzzwords might be great, but if a scholarship is wanting to hear about a personal experience in your life, and you are writing about the highlights of your educational resume, you are less likely to stand out. Be specific, and really pay attention to the prompt at hand (as opposed to submitting a general essay that could have gone to any scholarship).
2) Be genuine! The most standout scholarship essays are the ones that are clearly authentic to the individual, and where the purpose/prompt for the scholarship has clear + direct personal importance to the individual.
Best of luck with your applications!
Gabriel Hennsssey
Financial Aid Administrator
69
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Gabriel’s Answer
It’s not just buzz-words…
Please take with a grain of salt, but I have worked in financial aid for over 20 years.
First and foremost, never pay to apply for a scholarship. They are trying to give people money, they should not be asking for money.
There are sites like scholarships.com. These are trusted in the financial aid community. My one piece of advice…they will notify you when scholarships become available. If you create an account at one of these sites, I suggest you create an e-mail account just for this purpose. The caveat being that, by creating an account, you agree to some unsolicited messages that help fund them. If you use your day-to-day e-mail, you might get tired of seeing unwanted massages and just block or ignore. If you have a separate e-mail just for this purpose it will be easier to pick and choose what may apply. Just go in once a week and clear it out.
Make sure your demographic information is correct at your desired colleges. Many universities base it on what you put on your admissions application. And those apps vary from school to school. But many universities, like my own, had endowed scholarships for kids if they meet certain requirements. Our app doesn’t ask about religious beliefs, but if we know…there may be funds available.
Finally, please remember…not every scholarship is intended for new freshman students. There is an INSANE amount of data that goes into who can or can’t get an outside scholarship…but just read the app before you apply.
Hope this helped a little. You got this!
Please take with a grain of salt, but I have worked in financial aid for over 20 years.
First and foremost, never pay to apply for a scholarship. They are trying to give people money, they should not be asking for money.
There are sites like scholarships.com. These are trusted in the financial aid community. My one piece of advice…they will notify you when scholarships become available. If you create an account at one of these sites, I suggest you create an e-mail account just for this purpose. The caveat being that, by creating an account, you agree to some unsolicited messages that help fund them. If you use your day-to-day e-mail, you might get tired of seeing unwanted massages and just block or ignore. If you have a separate e-mail just for this purpose it will be easier to pick and choose what may apply. Just go in once a week and clear it out.
Make sure your demographic information is correct at your desired colleges. Many universities base it on what you put on your admissions application. And those apps vary from school to school. But many universities, like my own, had endowed scholarships for kids if they meet certain requirements. Our app doesn’t ask about religious beliefs, but if we know…there may be funds available.
Finally, please remember…not every scholarship is intended for new freshman students. There is an INSANE amount of data that goes into who can or can’t get an outside scholarship…but just read the app before you apply.
Hope this helped a little. You got this!
Megan Busey
Medical assistant and social worker
38
Answers
Canal Winchester, Ohio
Updated
Megan’s Answer
Hello,
That's great that you are going to college and applying for scholarships. They can be a much needed help, and I highly recommend you apply to as many as you can, even if they may not be in your field of study. You may be surprised that you qualify for more than you think.
As far as buzzwords that I found help me were, intern, volunteer, school officer, 4h, and of course a great GPA. Scholarship rewards are often given to those who make a difference in their community, or show they are a leader.
I also like to include a narrative on why you deserve the scholarship, and how you will use it. Key topics for that would include how you would use it to make a difference and how receiving the scholarship will help you.
I hope this helps and all the best of luck!
That's great that you are going to college and applying for scholarships. They can be a much needed help, and I highly recommend you apply to as many as you can, even if they may not be in your field of study. You may be surprised that you qualify for more than you think.
As far as buzzwords that I found help me were, intern, volunteer, school officer, 4h, and of course a great GPA. Scholarship rewards are often given to those who make a difference in their community, or show they are a leader.
I also like to include a narrative on why you deserve the scholarship, and how you will use it. Key topics for that would include how you would use it to make a difference and how receiving the scholarship will help you.
I hope this helps and all the best of luck!
Melanie Boberg
Student Teacher
27
Answers
Normal, Illinois
Updated
Melanie’s Answer
As a student who has received scholarships and continues to apply for them, my biggest tip for applying to scholarships is to add a personal touch to your application. They will see so many applications with the same buzzwords and experience. They want to see students that are well-rounded and are passionate about what they are learning and their career path. Always include any and all experience you have being involved in school and/or volunteering and any employment. This shows you can juggle a lot of experiences at once and are ready to take on more in college. Then, when writing your essay, make sure to not only highlight your flexibility, but also include a personal aspect. For me, this looked like explaining why I want to become a teacher and telling a descriptive memory that highlighted that process for me. This shows that I have always been passionate about my career path and that I am not just involved to receive scholarships. Make sure your true self shines through and that you highlight your ability to balance different aspects in life!