Here are some tips for winning college scholarships and getting closer to the ‘free education’ you've always hoped for:
- Read the entire application first. Make sure that you will have time to submit the application before the deadline (or that it hasn't already passed) and that you are eligible for the scholarship; some scholarships are only available to people meeting certain award requirements.
- Follow directions to the letter. Provide all the information that they require, without adding extra details - they might disqualify you.
- Fully complete the application. Do not leave questions blank. If a question doesn't apply to you, note that on the application by indicating N/A. Make sure you provide any supporting materials, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, and essays.
- Write a strong essay. Make sure your essay answers the question(s) posed on the application. Organize your thoughts clearly in an outline first, then write a few drafts. The more personal you can make your essay, the more impact it will have - pretend you are telling your best friend a story, but in a written form.
- Apply for multiple scholarships. Many organizations are giving away money to promising students. Purchase a college guidebook that lists the many scholarships available and how to apply for them, or search for them on the Internet.
- Make it neat. Submit only a typewritten application, with supporting documentation neatly organized and stapled.
- Make sure it gets there. Send your application by priority or overnight mail, so you can track your submission and make sure it arrives on time. Include your name and social security number on each page of the application.
- Make copies. Photocopy the entire application before you send it, and maintain additional copies of all the supporting materials you are submitting.
- Proofread prior to submission. Have a parent or friend read your entire application, especially the essay, before you mail it in.
