Applying for scholarships can be confusing if you have no experience with it, but if you break the process down into these following steps, you can see exactly how to find money for college and win awards over the competition.
Step 1: Search for Scholarships
Use any one of the free scholarship search engines on the internet:
Profile-based services:
- Fastweb - Need money for college? Use FastWeb’s free scholarship search to find information on more than 600,000 scholarships!
- ScholarshipExperts - Another top-quality scholarship search engine is available for free at ScholarshipExperts
When you register an account with these free services, you’ll be asked to fill out a student profile including education history, intended major, group memberships, awards, test scores, etc… Based on the answers in your profile, the website software will direct you toward scholarships and contests that you’re eligible for.
Search-based Services:
These search-based scholarship searches don’t require the student to fill out a registration or permanent profile, instead they allow the students to search for specific topics related to eligibility for scholarships like major, awards, or really anything like what you would otherwise fill in at the profile sites.
Step 2: Identify which eligible scholarships you should apply for
Just because you are eligible for the scholarship, that doesn’t mean it is worth spending your time to apply for it!
Many scholarships and contests are open to broad parts of the student population. Some might have requirements like a 2.0 GPA and legal residency in the USA. If everyone who can get into college is eligible for the award and winners are selected by a random draw, there’s nothing you can really do to improve your odds of winning. So, if everyone is eligible, its probably worth it to just fill out a form or two and have your name entered. But beware of such contests that want lengthy essays it may not be a good use of your time if tens of hundreds of thousands of other college students are applying for the same contest.
If an award describes a much more specific set of eligibility characteristics and you’re included, then this is the type of scholarship you definitely want to print out and learn more about.
Step 3: Review the Sponsor’s requirements
Make a checklist of every part of the application. Take note of every essay question, required letter, and required transcript. Pay special attention to the number of copies of the application that the sponsor requires - many times they want one complete application for each member of the scholarship review committee. This can get up to seven or eight copies of a multi-page application! This is another big reason you shouldn’t try to apply for every scholarship you can, just the printing costs can get significant after chasing a few prestigious awards.
Step 4: Complete the Application
When you’re absolutely sure of everything the scholarship provider requires, start the actual application. If there is a specific form they want filled out, make sure you download the most recent version and get it printed out, or pick one up from your school’s guidance or financial aid departments.
Presentation matters, so use an erasable pen or have some white-out handy. Scratched out text isn’t going to convey the professional image you want to put forth!
When it comes to essay questions about more general topics, make sure to tie in your personal goals and career plans. If you show a bigger concept of how certain ideals or philosophies relate to what you want to accomplish through education, it will help you out big time compared to other applicants.
Step 5: Find Someone to Proof the Application
Even if you think you’ve got the perfect application ready, find someone older who can help proof it for common spelling and grammar mistakes. Also ask them to review the application requirements and confirm that everything is present. Parents, teachers, and guidance counselors can be a big help in this final phase.
Remember to keep an eye on deadline dates and don’t put this off to the last minute. Many scholarship providers require the application to be received by the deadline date, so you’ll have to add at least a week or two for mail if its long distance.
Step 6: Collect some scholarship money (maybe)
Scholarships are typically not guaranteed, in fact most non-government scholarships that claim to be guaranteed are likely to be scholarship scams (ESPECIALLY if they want payment up front).
Apply for multiple scholarships, because competition will be significant. It may not sound like much, but if you set aside time to apply for two scholarships each month, that is a total of 24 chances every year. By the time you graduate college, you’ll have applied for nearly 100 scholarships! (Well, as you get higher in the college years, it will be harder to find awards but they are still out there in the form of paid internships, essay contests, science contests, etc…)
September 1st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
The scholarship identification and application process requires discipline and a time commitment while completing. You can’t get lazy and give up. Checkout BEN KAPLAN’s website - www.scholarshipcoach.com for a very good system.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:31 am
address:block d2 flate no: 44 abu-al-hassan isphani road gulshan-e-iqbal karach
bachelor programm
fsc passed
September 11th, 2008 at 3:12 am
hi! ive recently passed my fsc. i had got an mbbs scholarship from hec but unfortunately cud nt avail due to my family matters,. now searching for a scholarship for my higher studies. right now im doing my CA mod 2. n much interested in business and finance. kindly provide me with a scholarship if possible.
thanks.
waiting to hear from u soon
amna
September 17th, 2008 at 12:52 am
sir i have don my fsc plz sir i want to study in uk and want to do engineering from uk sir plz help me plz i will be very thank full to u adress> taji kala hamidi road bannu pakistan.
September 17th, 2008 at 12:53 am
i want to do engineering sir help me in scholor ship
September 17th, 2008 at 12:56 am
sir i want to do engineering totaly free by csholor ship
my phone number is _____________
Farid: Its not a good idea to post your phone number online publicly! I’ve taken it out to protect your information. Please follow the guide to find organizations with money for college students - I’m just as broke as anyone else and I can’t afford my own mortgage & graduate degree yet!
September 18th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Dear Mr/Mrs
September 18th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I want to study about Coputer Science college level.Please help me
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 am
I am in a great need of your help. It can change my life. I want to continue studying but my parents can’t cater to my educational needs as they are already under heavy debt! Please help me and in return you will be blessed with loads of prayer.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
i am mahdi kalantari 28 years old.graduated in dental technecian from iran .taking up dentistry in philippins.im intrested to take spesialist in prosthodontics dentistry.thanx
October 15th, 2008 at 4:48 am
SIR I WANT TO STUDY MORE BUT CANT……..
COULD U HELP ME IAM ERY POOR FROM THARPARKAR SINDH
ANY ONE MAY HELP ME.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:55 am
sir i very much keen on study dentistry.help me please
October 17th, 2008 at 3:09 am
I am a Sierra Leonean in the west cost of Africa and would like to study in China. I wwill be vey greatful if you can help me please.
Thanks
Best Regards.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:19 am
i need your help,am 18yrs and african…looking forward for a scholarship in any country
October 27th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Sir i m an afghan girl,i realy want to get education in the best college of india, but my family cant afford it.i have permission from my family side to study in india.
i m looking forward for a scholarship with this hope that you will help me in this case !
i will be waiting for your reply…..
thank you !
October 29th, 2008 at 2:35 am
I have HND in Quantity Surveying.I like to do my higher education (degree) in India under scholership.pls send more details as soon as possible.
THANK YOU
October 29th, 2008 at 2:42 am
sir
Im from Sri Lanka. I finished my HND in Quantity Surveying.Now I want to do My Higher education (Degree) in India under Scholership.
pls send me more Details.
THANK YOU
November 9th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Dear Sir,
I have finished 10+2, and i want to read and learn more about animals, but recently i m doing job as an secretary and reading the subject which i dont like.
Thank you
November 17th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Sir;
APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FOLLOW UNIVERSITY
COURSE IN MEDICINE
I was selected to the faculty to medicine to follow
medicine course for A/L 2005 batch at the Eastern
University, Srilanka . There are five members in my
family.
My father died when I was four years old. I have two elder
brothers and a sister. My mother is a house wife. My first
brother got married and the second brother is studying at
Manchanthoduwai Technical College . My elder sister
doesn’t have any work.
Only our income is my father’s pension. In current
situation even it is not sufficient for our day life.
In consider our family’s current financial situation I
can’t follow this course because of the, Cost of books,
Equipment, Stationeries and other expenses.And also we are
the first batch of students so we cant get books from
seniors. I wish appeal to you to consider my fund ways and
means of assisting me financially to enable me to follow
the
above course.
I will send you further my details
. I am expecting your kind reply.
Thank you
November 19th, 2008 at 11:56 am
CURRICULUM VITAE(C.V.)
Personal Details
-Name-Temesgen Belachew Tefera
-Sex-Male
-Age-26
-Date Of Birth-1982 G.C
-Place of Birth-Wogdi , Ethiopia
-Marital Status-Single
-Health-Excellent
- Nationality- Ethiopia
-Language - Amharic/ Flenent in English
Eduational back ground
Ø Time of Graduation = 2004 G.C
Ø Year of Graduate 2 years ( Diploma 12+2)
Ø Departement ( Field) =Medical Laboratory Technolgy from Alemaya University
Commulative GPA= 3. 68 No of “A”
No of “B”
No of “C”
No of “D”
No of others
= 18
=8
=1
-
-
Ø Grading system=
Ø
Ø Working experiences = 4 years & above at hospital&health center
HOBBIES
Ø Reading books,magazines sport materials ( Especially foot ball)
§ ADDRESS OF APPLICANT
-Name: Temesgen Belachew Tefera
-Addres: Ethiopia ,Deessie(City)
- Mobile : +251913426090
-Tel: +251334450176 (Residence)
-Tel: +215331118963 (office)
REFERENCE
-Name: Tesfaw Abi Eregna
-Addres: Ethiopia ,Dessie
- Mobile : +251914602300
E-mail ADDRES
–Name: Temesgen Belachew Tefera
-E-mail: temsgn@yahoo.com
-Name: Seifu Belay Yesuf
-E-mail: seifu.belay@yahoo.com
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN (Country,University,College
Dear sponserd; University, college(any country) I would like to apply to sponserd free scholarship & grant in your institution, i.e university, college to continue my education.
I undersigned applicant held my Diploma in the field of Medical Laboratory Technology from Alemaya University issued on July 10,2004G.C,since from the beginning I am trying to proced the next steps to be learn, but I can not affordable because I have so many circumstances, especially shortage of money. I need much more to continue, though I didn.t succed by the explained problems & others ( No Accessiblity)
Now I would like to apply for the educlation that could be available in the field of medical
Laboratory Technology,Medical Science/health science,and other fields in your Institution.
So,I submmited required documents with the application letter & Curriculum Vitae(CV.) according to your volunterness,if you are trying to join me in your university/ college I am ready enough to come & continue Education.
Hopping that you will consider my application, I look forward to hearing from you at the earliest.
“ Sincerely Yours”
Temesgen Belachew