Scholarship Winners Dish on Secrets to Success

It may be difficult to convince yourself to write a scholarship essay. All of that work, and you’re not even guaranteed to win? I mean, for all you know, there are hundreds of people competing against you, and they’re all overachievers. Yes, yes, you know that it’s silly to work for months for this money and not give a scholarship opportunity a few hours. Still, it’s just that there are no guarantees. If only you knew what the winners were doing, things would be different. Well, we’re here to help with that one. We have gone through winners’ testimonials to find out the secrets of their success. Here is what we found.

Be Persistent. Most of the winners who have contacted us have received numerous scholarships. Coincidence? Probably not. To win numerous scholarships, you have to apply regularly. Stephanie Sylvester, a college student who has received several scholarships is a great example. “Just because I’m a sophomore in college doesn’t mean I’ve quit the scholarship search here at Scholarships.com,” she said. “I’m still searching and don’t count me out.” Stephanie began her search as a junior in high school and is still going strong. You don’t need to throw your hands up if you haven’t received a scholarship by the end of your senior year. Systematically apply, and you will see results.

Apply Early. The same hints that apply to college applications apply to scholarship ones. Applying early may significantly increase your chances of winning. Once deadlines draw near, applications may be skimmed through by overworked readers. You have a greater chance at having your essay thoroughly reviewed if you get a head start. Let your seriousness and responsibility shine through by getting things done early. Readers are likely to take notice.

Carefully Read Required Qualifications. This is crucial. Your time is precious and so is that of the judges who will be reading your submission. Your ability and willingness to follow simple instructions is often one of the first things scholarship providers will look for. Using your profile, Scholarships.com will help you find scholarships that apply to you. To maximize the amount of scholarships you qualify for, make your profile as detailed as possible. Nikki from Chicago had this to say on the topic, “Scholarships.com was incredibly helpful in my search for scholarships that fit my criteria. When I knew that I wanted to study abroad, I went to Scholarships.com and found so many scholarship programs for students like me.” We can help you too. If you give us the details, we’ll show you the scholarships.

Stay Positive. Many scholarships are open to all prospective college students, regardless of GPA. Just because you are an average student doesn’t mean that you cannot write an excellent essay. That is what numerous scholarship reviewers are looking for. When you are asked to write an essay on a given topic, do your best to give solid support for your thesis. Do some research and include personal thoughts as well as applicable facts. Scholarship readers aren’t looking for the perfect person, but they are looking for someone who has put obvious effort into their essay. You may feel average, but your attitude doesn’t have to be.

There are plenty of scholarships out there, for all students. By taking the advice of those who have been awarded scholarships, you may save yourself the trouble of learning what works and what doesn’t first hand. You can get a lot more than a penny for your thoughts, but you have to share them first.

Start your scholarship search by visiting Scholarships.com today!

Tips From The People Who Will Be Reading Your Scholarship Essays

Wondering what goes on inside the heads of scholarship reviewers as they read your essay? So were we. To minimize your worries and maximize your scholarship potential, we went straight to the sources. We contacted men and women who took part in the essay review process and found the qualities of a winning essay. We asked what applicants could do to stand out and what kind of essays made readers cringe. Here is what they had to say:

• Directly Answer The Question
  Too many times, writers make interesting points, but they are not about the questions at hand. If you are asked to answer a specific question, stick to it. Listing off your merits when asked about environmental problems can be tempting, but it can hurt your chances at a scholarship. If you find a way to twist your swamp cleaning experience into the essay, you’re very slick. When it is not that easy to do, just stick with the direct answer.
• Address Your Mistakes
  As nice as it would be, we can’t change our GPA’s before sending out scholarship essays. But don’t despair because of academic problems. If you have done poorly in a class, address the reasons. Explain what went wrong and what you are doing to improve. A few mistakes don’t have to spell disaster. Learning from your errors shows character, and it breathes life into your essay.
• Show That You Are Well Rounded
  There are many good students sending in scholarship essays. If you want to stand out, you need to convince the readers that you are more than just your grades. List organizations in which you took part and hobbies to which you dedicated time. Remember to explain why these hobbies and organizations make you unique. Being part of the Frisbee club might not score you many points. For all the judges know, you could have attended one game and watched the clouds go by. Explain how you contributed, recognition you have received, and, if possible, leadership positions you have held.
• Add A Personal Touch
  Credentials are great and all, but a dash of personality can take your essay above and beyond. Adding a bit of humor or sharing an interesting but relevant experience will make your essay stand out. None of us want to ruin our chances by appearing nonchalant, but adding a little personality will help you in the final round.
• Last But Definitely Not Least, Proofread
  We all know the importance of putting our papers through a spell and grammar check. Still, grammatically incorrect essays continue to be turned in. Until that stops, this point deserves to be repeated. Otherwise excellent applications can be taken out of the running because of spelling mishaps. Even when you have put a lot of time into your essay, it may appear sloppy if it is grammatically incorrect. You have a lot to offer. Make sure your essay stands out for its excellence and not its errors.

Remember, there are millions more scholarships and grants at Scholarships.com, along with loan information and a huge resource section with great tips to help you with your scholarship applications.

And for tons more scholarship opportunities, just conduct a free scholarship search with us.

Knocking on Opportunity’s Door: Scholarships for Grad Students

Paying for four years of college is a steep bill, so steep in fact, that even if attending grad school would be profoundly beneficial, most students feel as though affording it is an impossible feat. Though grad school is not the best option for all students, for many (depending on their career choice), it can be the difference between a mediocre career and one that is fabulously fitted to your abilities. If this is the case, consider the many financial assistance options available before writing grad school off altogether—you may find that it is not nearly as impossible as you thought.

Grad Scholarship Categories

Grad school scholarships are much less common than undergraduate scholarships but they are out there. If you distinguish yourself in college by getting involved on campus, participating in your community, and earning the grades that match your social contributions, getting assistance for grad school is not as hard as it seems. The competition is tough when financial assistance is at stake, but there are also fewer students vying for the prize. If grad school will help you obtain the position that you want, boost your salary, and build your qualifications, by all means, pursue a master’s degree fervently and seek out scholarship opportunities.

Essay scholarships. Most essay scholarships can be applied toward any level of post-secondary education. The great thing about an essay scholarship is that if you find it early enough you have a unique opportunity to knock the socks off your audience. Find a peer or even a past instructor and ask for feed back on the piece that you are going to submit. Then make the changes. Essay judges are most likely no different than the people who surround you every day so their opinions are priceless. The more time you invest the greater the potential reward will be.

Employer sponsorships/ professional development scholarships. Already in lodged into a profession? Find out what incentives your employer offers for employees pursuing an advanced degree. Most employers offer some form of tuition reimbursement, possibly up to one hundred percent. If your employer does not have a sponsorship program, see if they have scholarship opportunities available for employees.

Major specific scholarships. Have you decided what master’s program you are interested in? If so, look for major specific scholarship opportunities. You will have a better chance at these scholarships because of your interest in the subject and your commitment to studying it.

Research grants. Do you have a degree related research project that you are interested in working on? If so, you may qualify for a research grant either through a university or an independent sponsor that has a vested interest in the topic you are pursuing. There is a network of support available for students committed to learning through the research process because no amount of classroom time competes with the invaluable knowledge gained through hands on experience.

Sweepstakes. However difficult they are to actually win, sweepstakes scholarships are still worth entering. Why? Because the chance to earn several thousand dollars towards your degree is worth the five seconds that you invest. Your chances of winning a scholarship sweepstakes are much much higher than winning say, the lottery, and participation is one hundred percent free. Additionally, there are few restrictions on eligibility requirements which means that even grad students can participate.

There are many scholarship and grant opportunities for graduate students at Scholarships.com, along with some great tips in our resource section!

Scholarship Strategy: Creating a Savvy, Successful Approach

One of the best things about scholarships is that for the most part, they reward the applicants who put forth the most effort. Like teachers who can instantly spot a sloppy homework assignment, scholarship judges can identify poorly composed applications without lifting a finger. Depending upon the award and how many students participate, the process of eliminating underqualified students can be competitive at best, and downright ruthless at worst. You may already be thinking "They won’t pick me, so why waste my time?" The answer: the financial assistance that is obtainable through scholarships is worth it, even if you don’t receive an award from each and every scholarship that you apply to.

Most of the students who succeeded in earning scholarships did so for two reasons:

1. They met the criteria outlined by the scholarship sponsor.
2. They approached the application process strategically and were selective in their pursuit of scholarship opportunities. It’s that simple.

There is no magic recipe that will help you win a scholarship. What there is, however, is a time tested strategy that many students find incredibly helpful in organizing their scholarship search. The students who apply these techniques usually come out ahead in the end.

Make a list. Gather the information for all of the scholarship offers that you are qualified to apply for. The latter part of this suggestion is essential—do not spend valuable time applying for scholarships for which your GPA, major, community involvement requirement, or any other criteria does not meet the standard. There are likely hundreds of awards for which you specifically qualify, so focus your attention on those. Read through your list and eliminate all awards that you are not qualified for.

Assess each individual opportunity. This will take time, but in the end your investment will pay off. After narrowing down your list so that it only includes the scholarships that are most relevant, consider the following categories:

• Deadlines. How long do you have to complete the scholarship?
• Difficulty of preparation. Considering the deadline, do you have time to thoroughly prepare for this award?
• Award amount. How much is the award worth? If it is only worth a couple hundred bucks, consider whether or not you are willing to spend your time on it. Keep in mind that every little bit does help and that you have a greater chance at receiving slightly smaller awards as opposed to full tuition grants, simply because they are less competitive.

Prioritize your opportunities. Now that you have determined the value of the scholarships that you have selected based on when the deadline is, preparation required, and the amount of the award, create a rating system. A simple way to do this is to rate each scholarship with a ( + ) or (– ) sign next to the award. For example, an award with three plus signs is a scholarship for which you must apply. The deadline is far off, average preparation is required, and the reward it $2000. On the other hand, a scholarship with two minus signs might cause you to reconsider before taking the time to apply. It could be that amount of preparation required simply exceeds the amount of effort you are willing to exert because the scholarship award in only $100.

Begin applying. Alright, you’ve determined what scholarships you are actually interested in applying for. Chances are your list is a good bit shorter now, and much more feasible. Begin submitting to the scholarships that you have ranked highest in priority. Good luck!

Check out Scholarships.com for more scholarship strategies and search tips.

Efficient Essay Writing for the Uninitiated: Win Multiple Scholarships with one Good Essay

I have always been a proponent of students starting to prepare for college as early as possible, not only by striving to excel scholastically, but also by learning all they can about the process of applying for and acquiring financial aid. Unless you are independently wealthy, a crucial step in the process of getting into the school of your dreams is learning how to win free money. You can begin your freshman year in high school by conducting a free scholarship search at www.scholarships.com and by perusing the site for additional financial aid information. Before you go out in search of loans, you need to realize there is free money out there, but a lot of people won’t put in the necessary amount of time and effort required to get it. Doing so could give you the edge you need, provided you are willing to do the work. The trick is to give your best effort, follow directions to the letter, and be as efficient as possible. Follow the steps below, and you might not have to pay for your college education for decades after you have graduated:

• The Multiple Entry Essay
  Many scholarships require an essay. The majority of them will provide an essay subject or subjects, and most will only allow a limited number of characters or words per entry. Gather all of these scholarships in one place and compare them. Make a list of the scholarship providers to whom you might safely be able to submit the same essay without hurting your chances of winning. If you can enter a single essay multiple times, you will cut the amount of time you need to spend applying to each considerably.
• Follow the Rules
  By no means am I suggesting you should try to find a way out of doing a good job- just that you do a good job as few times as necessary so you can spend more of your time visiting colleges and doing the many other things you will need to do your senior year. If a scholarship provider feels you haven’t put forth the proper effort or ignored the rules, you may not have a shot at winning the award, no matter how good your essay. Pick the scholarship opportunity with the strictest rules and begin with that one. Next, add any criteria from the others to ensure you won’t be disqualified due to any procedural oversight. Now all that’s left to do is write an essay that will satisfy the requirements of all of them while giving you the best chance to win.
• Don’t Know How to Write Essays?
  Most of the scholarship providers to whom you will be submitting an entry have a website, and many use it to post previous winning submissions. Read these essays for inspiration. Take a cue from their grammar, sentence structure, the way they addressed the subject, etc. Get a feel for what scholarship providers generally seem to want in an essay, and then give it to them. If you have difficulty with spelling and/or grammar, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance from teachers, parents, and friends. They might be able to provide you with valuable pointers.
• Make An Impression With Good Presentation
  Believe it or not, some scholarship providers actually specify the font type and size as part of their scholarship essay requirements. If you have access to a computer and printer, take the time to prepare a type-written essay following any formatting requirements or guidelines set forth by the scholarship provider. If you have the time and know-how, create address labels for the envelope. Every little detail towards a clean and professional presentation will make an impression on the person reading your essay.
• Which Scholarships Take Priority?
  The obvious answer is, “Whichever scholarship is worth the most money.” But only assuming you haven’t put things off for too long. If it is February of your senior year in high school, see which ones still have deadlines you can make – there should still be plenty. It is imperative that you respect their deadline and get your scholarship application and/or essay in on time. Put those with the closest due date at the top of your list, and don’t bother with one if you aren’t confident you truly qualify and stand a good chance of winning it. Once you have finished the ones that are a “slam dunk,” you may still have time to go back and apply to the ones in the “maybe” category. If you start early enough (think October of your senior year), you will definitely be giving yourself an advantage. You might not be able to get an application for all of them yet, but the rules and requirements of some great scholarships may be available. You can use these to get an early start on your application or to get a feel for what scholarship providers will be looking for. Start early, and time won’t be an issue. You will be able to base priority strictly on the largest amount of money being offered and on confidence in your ability to win each scholarship. Good Luck!

For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit Scholarships.com

Create Success: Find Money for College at Scholarships.com

It's true, after you receive your first scholarship the sky becomes your limit. You've succeeded in gaining recognition and praise from someone other than a family member. Bonus cash aside, earning such recognition is an impressive achievement that should motivate you to continue achieving other great things throughout your life. Getting to college is just the beginning. Once you're there you begin deciding who you will become by focusing on points of interest in your life. Having a passion for your interest will always put you head and shoulders above the rest in class, in your social life, and in your career.

If you are just looking for easy money, the truth is, a scholarship may be difficult to obtain. But if you are attempting to distinguish yourself from your peers, set a standard for excellence, and ease the financial burden of college so that you can focus on your studies, you have a much better chance at succeeding. Before you begin your scholarship search remember that success is created, not found. Likewise, money is earned and, not surprisingly, typically follows success.

How to Create Success.

Research. Research the scholarship opportunities available to you. You should have a good idea about what your options are before you begin submitting. There are millions of scholarships available, but you won't qualify for all of them. Gathering information about your options should help you prioritize the offers in which you are interested.

Prepare. Research should give you an idea of the criteria for the scholarships for which you qualify. If you fall short in any areas like community service or extracurricular activities, get involved while you have the chance, and establish a background in these areas. Additionally, build your writing skills. This is critical because most merit scholarships require that you respond to an essay question or submit a writing sample. Prepare a couple of solid essays on vanilla topics like your future goals or interests. These are good practice, and you might even be able to use them for some of the scholarships for which you are applying.

Organize. Many scholarships will require you to submit the following articles:

• Letters of recommendation from teachers or employers
• A small photo
• Cover letter
• History of community service
• School transcripts
• An essay

Have these items compiled ahead of time so that when you find a scholarship you are interested in you are prepared to apply as soon as possible.

Submit. Submit your portfolios to the scholarship providers in whose awards you are interested. If you choose to send your application by mail, be sure that the address is correct. Follow the guidelines, and be certain that you meet all of the criteria for a specific scholarship so that you don't waste your time.

To start your scholarship search or to find more financial aid information, visit Scholarships.com

Beware Scholarship Scams

Scholarship scams are so common, that one could easily think they’re a new form of art. Don’t allow yourself to be duped by a scholarship scam artist; you’ll end up spending valuable time and unnecessary amounts of money for absolutely nothing. These scams are fairly easy to avoid as long as you recognize the warning signs which you’ll find in large clusters whenever you happen upon a scholarship scam.

Things to look out for:

• A large processing fee and a small award. Or a processing fee of any size coupled with a small award, really. When you see this, most likely, the scholarship provider is offering the award solely for the purpose of collecting the processing fee. Chances are that most scholarships with a fee attached won’t pay up in the end, even if they have received enough income from the supposed “processing fee” to cover the cost of the award.
• Scholarship databases that charge you to register. Scholarship information is and has always been public information. Stick to the reputable, free scholarship search services like Scholarships.com. Typically, scholarship search services that charge a fee claim to have awards in their database that you can’t get access to anywhere else. This is simply not true. Scholarship providers want you to learn about their scholarship, and as such, they make it as easy as possible to find information about their award.
• An announcement that you have won an award for which you have not applied. Even in the 21st century this still isn’t possible, so don’t be fooled. You always have to apply for scholarships in order to receive them. If you receive an e-mail that says you have won a scholarship from an organization that you have never heard of, let alone applied to, ignore it. Such e-mails could easily be an internet phishing scam or some other type of ruse.
• Companies who claim to do all of the work for you. You and only you can apply for scholarships. If a company requests compensation to apply for scholarships for you—don’t buy it. Scholarship offers typically request a fair amount of personal information, writing samples, and require a considerable amount of work that no one other that you can do.