Find College and Graduate School Scholarships

Filling out scholarship applications can be very frustrating and confusing. Every scholarship has different requirements and different deadlines. It is difficult enough to finish just one college application let alone fill out several scholarship applications.

But don’t worry! I have a few tips that will help you get through the process a lot smoother.

Read The Applications carefully

Every scholarship is different. Unfortunately no two applications have the same requirements. One application may ask for 1000 word essay while another one may ask for a 500 word essay. That’s why it is so important to read and get a full understanding of what is required before you submit your application. Otherwise it will be discarded and you would have wasted precious time.

Prepare, prepare, prepare.

Have you ever heard the statement “proper preparation prevents poor performance”? The 5 P’s. This could not be further from the truth. You see, if you are smart, and I know you are, you will be applying for several scholarships in the hope of possibly going to school absolutely free. You don’t want to wait until the last minute and throw together an essay or personal statement. Prepare in advance. Practice your personal statement. I would recommend you start doing scholarship research and start writing the rough draft of your personal statement 6 months before the deadline. Take time out a few times a week to work on it. This is very important stuff. These companies look at thousands of applications a day. You want to make sure yours stands out.

Work within the space you are given.

By this I mean do not use continuation sheets on your scholarship applications. They give you specific requirements for a reason. If they say 1000 words keep it at 1000 words. This is why it is so important to prepare. List only what is important for that particular application. If you have extra space after you do that then you can add in some extra stuff. Read more… »

You must research, research, research to find the graduate school scholarships that are right for you and your situation. Do your homework and start early (it’s recommended that you give yourself at least 12 months to research and apply for scholarships – so start your junior year). Check for scholarships in your area of study, or based on where you live, your culture, your socio-economic background, if you’re an adult returning student, etc. Check with the community organizations in your city or with your church and see if they offer any scholarships. Most graduate schools award financial aid to students in the form of scholarships, fellowships and research or teaching assistantships. It is a good idea to contact and communicate with your program of interest at several universities and let them know you are interested in all forms of financial aid. In other words, shop around and see who can offer you the best deal.

The internet is a rich source of graduate school scholarships, use it! There are many wonderful free scholarship databases available. Please be wary of any site that guarantees a scholarship or asks you to pay a large application fee. Look for scholarships at the local, state and federal levels. If you are in the work force, see if your employer offers tuition reimbursement. If you are still in school, be sure to utilize your academic advisors and financial aid office. Your public library is another great resource when looking for graduate school scholarships. Read more… »