Students Scholarships - Tips

General Scholarship Tips

· Remember, due to limited funding, not all applicants receive scholarships. The process is competitive, and you should be careful and thorough when filling out your application to give yourself the best possible advantage.

· If you were not selected in the past years, re-evaluate your qualifications and

application
package. Be certain that you make academic progress in the next term, earn the highest GPA
possible, and make any necessary adjustments in your application process, then reapply next
year.
· Do not assume that because you have received a scholarship previously, that you will
automatically receive another award. Some students make the error of assuming that they will
not have to be as careful filling out their application package and writing their personal statement
when applying the second or even third time around. Be aware that there are always new
students competing for awards. You must present a high quality package every time you apply
for a scholarship.
· Talk to scholarship recipients to get their advice on the application process, scholarship search
process, etc.

Scholarship Search Tips
· There are many scholarship opportunities available, so never limit yourself to applying for just
one. Research as many funding sources as you can, and learn which ones you may qualify for,
then apply promptly.

· Find at least two search engines with which you’re comfortable--use both to search for
scholarship opportunities. Two good examples include www.fastweb.com and
www.scholarships.com. For international students, be sure to search
www.internationalscholarships.com. Remember to check the schools that you are applying to.
Many schools offer scholarships to students that seek them.
· Use your parents/family members! Many companies offer scholarships solely to the
children/relatives of employees.
· If receiving lots of e-mail from a search engine bothers you, set up a scholarship-only email
account. This will keep all of your scholarship information in one place, your regular inbox won’t
be overflowing, and when you use your scholarship e-mail, you are more focused on searching
for scholarship information.
· Organize the information in a way that makes sense to you. For example, when using Fastweb,
click on the “deadline” heading to sort the scholarships according to deadline.
· Look where you’re going! If you are headed for a specific field, look at the leaders in that field or
industry, check their websites for scholarship opportunities. For example, a pre-nursing or premed
student should check out websites for drug manufacturers or companies that do medical
research. Most companies’ websites are searchable. Try searching “scholarships.” If that
doesn’t yield results, try “foundation” or “philanthropy.”
· You can also check the websites of major companies for scholarship opportunities.
· Look at local organizations/groups such as churches and recreational centers.