Attending college can be expensive, and often this is the one roadblock that people struggle with the most. However, it doesn’t have to be. By getting scholarships, you can easily afford college. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you go looking for how to get a scholarship. So we have this guide to help you get a scholarship.
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Don’t Give Up
When you begin submitting for scholarships, don’t become discouraged when you receive a few “no”s. This is all part of the process. However, if you continue your search regularly, you’ll quickly find other scholarships to apply for. Even spending only a few hours a week can help you gather enough funds for college.
Start With Scholarships at Your School of Choice
Many schools offer their own scholarships. These are regularly offered. If you already have a college that you’d like to attend, double-check if they have any scholarships specifically for them.
Even if you aren’t sure, apply to them anyway. Sometimes you may get lucky, and a school will take on an extra. Some scholarships are even awarded to multiple applicants. So apply to each one that you can at the school of your choice.
Branch Out to Private Scholarships
After you have tried the direct route of applying to scholarships from your school of choice, you can then begin to branch out to other private scholarships.
Make sure that you check locally for private scholarships. Frequently some scholarships are provided to the community. This can include high school programs, local colleges, and others that may offer some form of financial assistance for college.
While these scholarships may not be as high of a dollar amount, your odds of getting these scholarships are much better. Rather than battling against thousands of other college-bound students, you are often only pitted against a few dozen or less.
Do you need help getting financial assistance? GoForYours can help.
Submit Applications As Quickly as Possible
Pay close attention to deadlines for scholarships and get your’s in well before the date. Because there is sometimes an extended processing time for these funds to become available, you will want to start the application process as soon as you can.
Being late isn’t a great way to start your college education. However, if you read the scholarship guidelines thoroughly and submit your application as soon as possible, you will have a head start and be ready to work through the rest of the processing.
Pro Tip: Be quick, but make sure that what you submit is a quality submission. Don’t cut corners to get something turned in the same day only to face rejection due to silly mistakes.
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Narrow Down Scholarship Eligibility
Finding unique scholarship opportunities, like the left-handed scholarship, is a great way to ensure that you get the funding that you need. Make sure to narrow down a variety of your skills and other factors that could help acquire these scholarships. No detail is too small, and you can easily find scholarships for just about anything.
Things to write down:
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Gender Identification
- Income
- Unique skills
- Any athletic abilities
Who knew being left-handed was all you need for some scholarships. So don’t be afraid to explore scholarships that may seem odd.
Reach Out for Letters of Recommendation
You should reach out for letters of recommendation before you even begin to submit applications for scholarships. Furthermore, many scholarships require a few letters. These letters can be from employers, teachers, or other community members that can attest to your strengths.
Pro Tip: Have a pre-made word template for them. This will make the process quicker for them and offer you a better letter of recommendation.
Make sure to include:
- Summary of the scholarship
- Requirements for the scholarship
- Relationship to the reviewer
- Your resume (a copy is acceptable)
- What major do you intend to pursue
Make sure you thank the people who wrote a letter of recommendation for their time and help.
Use Scholarship Resources to Save Yourself Time
The internet has many resources out there to help you find scholarships and grants for colleges that you can apply for. Websites like scholarships.com and The College Board can help you narrow down your search and help you find scholarships that are perfect for you.
There are many types of scholarships and grants for colleges that you can apply for. Using these resources and any templates can help you apply for more scholarships in less time.
Grants are another great resource, so make sure to check out all of your options. Education Connection is another excellent resource to help you save time while looking for scholarships and college grants.
Don’t Only Go For Large Scholarships
While the final cost of going to college can be a pretty significant number, you should also apply for smaller scholarships. These smaller amounts can quickly add up and help cover smaller fees like supplies or housing if you are staying on campus.
The more scholarships that you apply for, the better your odds of getting one will be. Some scholarships are offered multiple times per year, and if you apply to each one, your chances of getting one are better. Even these small amounts can add up over time.
However, while only applying for small scholarships can be time-consuming, you should apply for various scholarships throughout your college year.
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Practice Your First Impression
Just like when you are applying for jobs, your reviewer will often Google you when you apply for college scholarships. This is why making sure your first impression is a good one. While social media is easy to turn private, you should have other things that are active that highlight your skills.
Refresh your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other social media accounts. If you don’t have one, you can easily make one at Squarespace or Wix.
Ready for Your Scholarship?
With these tips, you will be well on your way to getting the funding you need to finish up your college education. Just remember to be persistent and don’t be afraid to branch out your search for opportunities.
Are you ready to make the most out of your college days? GoForYours can help.