Start ASAP<\/h2>\n
Believe it or not, you can find scholarships as early as middle school\u2014so it never hurts to start searching early! But if you\u2019re past middle school (which many of you are), you should kick your scholarship search into high gear. Then keep searching all senior year, and even when you\u2019re\u00a0in<\/i>\u00a0college. Basically\u2014search for scholarships until you graduate or all your college costs are paid\u2014whichever comes first.<\/p>\nMake a List of Your Criteria<\/h2>\n
Having a cheat sheet of your\u00a0strengths, interests, and other unique qualities<\/b>\u00a0make searching for scholarships a lot easier. Here are some basic scholarship search criteria to consider:<\/p>\n And that\u2019s just the beginning. There are tons of niche awards out there too. So keep your eyes open\u2014you never know what you might win a scholarship for.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll probably do most of your research online. These scholarship search engine sites are great places to start:<\/p>\n However \u2013\u00a0don\u2019t use just one scholarship search engine<\/b>. Their databases can vary a lot, so compare what they offer. You should also sign up for notifications from these sites and others, so you get alerts when deadlines are coming up or they add awards matching your criteria.<\/p>\n Besides scholarship search sites, check out all the other places you might find scholarships:<\/p>\n Search relentlessly. Cast a wide net, but also remember that the more specific you can get with your scholarship search, the better. For example, you are going to face a lot more competition for a general music scholarship than for an award just for students who play the oboe.<\/p>\n Since you\u2019re searching far and wide, you\u2019re bound to come up with a pretty big list of scholarships\u2014each one with a unique deadline and application requirements. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to stay organized.<\/p>\n A good way to do this is to\u00a0keep a running scholarship search spreadsheet<\/b>. It\u2019s handy for keeping track of awards and all their details. Include fields like deadline, amount, if it\u2019s renewable, application requirements (essay, recommendation letter, interview, etc.), and more.<\/p>\n When we say apply to all of the awards you\u2019re eligible for, we mean it. All of them. From big, prestigious national awards to teeny-tiny local scholarships, there are literally\u00a0billions\u00a0<\/i>of dollars in awards out there. And every year a lot of them go unclaimed just because no one applied!\u00a0So do your best to improve your odds.<\/b><\/p>\n This means conducting a super thorough scholarship search, finding time to write thoughtful essays, and not giving up as you trudge through one\u2026more\u2026application. It also means applying to all those easy \u201csweepstakes\u201d-style scholarships, because, hey, what have you got to lose? Just keep in mind that your chances of winning those awards are small, since they attract\u00a0tons\u00a0<\/i>of applicants.<\/p>\n Even though you should apply for\u00a0lots<\/i>\u00a0of scholarships, make sure you truly qualify for the awards before you start your applications. Try to get eligibility requirements directly from the awarding organization if you can, just in case your scholarship search engine results are outdated.<\/p>\n We\u2019re not going to sugarcoat it: applying for scholarships can mean a lot of writing. But remember: this is your chance to convince the scholarship organization why\u00a0you\u00a0<\/i>deserve this money. Take advantage of the opportunity. Carefully read the essay prompt, and make sure you understand what\u2019s being asked. Then tell a unique, thoughtful, specific story. Your story.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll probably be asked to write scholarship essays about who you are and what matters to you. It helps to sit down and think about those heavy topics in advance. Ask yourself: What do you care about most and why? How have you made the world a better place? Where do you see yourself in the future? Jotting down your thoughts can help you formulate essay ideas, and may help you come up with additional scholarship search criteria.<\/p>\n Who\u2019s awarding the scholarship, and what do they care about? Spend some time on their website to get a sense of their goals, mission, and values. Then make sure your scholarship application speaks to those things. Put yourself in the scholarship reader\u2019s shoes: Are you the kind of student they\u2019re looking for?<\/p>\n Missing a scholarship\u2019s deadline will ruin your chances. In fact, you should send your applications in a week or two early if you can.\u00a0This gives you enough time to submit your best work\u2014and you really need to give it your all to be a competitive scholarship applicant. Plus, beating the deadline gives you a buffer in case something goes wrong with your application (not that it will\u2026).<\/p>\n Be sure to edit your scholarship applications for spelling, grammar, and tone. Also, make sure you answered all the questions and essay prompts correctly. The competition for free money is fierce, and a sloppy application can easily throw you out of the running.<\/p>\n Put effort into small things \u2013 like making sure your online presence is respectable, you\u2019re polite and mature if\/when you interact with scholarship administrators, etc. In short, give your scholarship search your all. It will be worth it in the end.<\/p>\n There you have it\u2014your guide to finding scholarships and crafting winning applications. You can do this! And if you have any questions, leave a comment or get in touch on Twitter:\u00a0@JessicaTomer<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0@CoDSchoolSearch<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You need scholarships to pay for college. We know where to find them and how to win them. Let\u2019s do this. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3183,"template":"","class_list":["post-3181","advice","type-advice","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","abound_advice_topics-financial-aid","abound_advice_topics-affordability"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
Know Where to Look<\/h2>\n
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![\"Ways](\"https:\/\/abound.college\/gradschool\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/05\/Ways-to-Afford-Grad-School-as-an-Adult-Student.png\")
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Be Organized<\/h2>\n
Apply to Every Scholarship You\u2019re Eligible for\u2014Seriously<\/h2>\n
Tips for Winning Scholarships<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Make Sure You\u2019re Actually Eligible<\/h2>\n
Write Kick-Butt Essays<\/h2>\n
Think About Your Story in Advance<\/h2>\n
Get to Know the Awarding Organization<\/h2>\n
Do NOT Miss the Deadline<\/h2>\n
Proofread Your Applications<\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t Forget the Little Things<\/h2>\n