How to Organize the Scholarship Process

Four organizing strategies will see you through all aspects of the scholarship process: setting priorities, following instructions, strengthening your self-knowledge, and refining your ability to write to your strengths on a variety of topics. There are literally thousands of scholarships available to choose from. When all is said and done, the approach you use to get through this process is an approach that works for you. Regardless of how high or how low you intend to fly, these four strategies will guide you.

Deadlines, Appointments, and Supporting Materials
If you have not done so already, get a personal calendar to keep track of all deadlines for scholarship applications. As you prepare each application, create a separate file folder for that scholarship that contains all your research notes and any handouts or information sheets you have collected. Keep copies of all letters and official school documents in each scholarship folder. Make note of any telephone conversations and appointments with advisors pertaining to your application. Don't throw these notes away. Personal conversations with advisors and administrative staff contain information that you may need later. Note the date of the information, record it as completely as possible, and then file it in a folder you can find later.

Most scholarships require the following information:
Transcripts (official)
Standardized test scores (SAT, ACT)
Financial aid forms (FAFSA)
Parents' financial information (income tax returns)
One or more supporting essays
One or more letters of recommendation

In addition, the application process may include a personal interview with all or select applicants. Depending on the type of scholarship, a portfolio or audition may be required.

Application Proficiency
Proofread the entire application several times before submitting. After you have carefully edited and revised your application, ask someone you trust to read it again. A second reader could be a parent, teacher, or advisor. Remember: typos cost you points and could cost you the scholarship. Applications with blanks or unanswered questions are viewed as incomplete and are subject to immediate disqualification. Do not handwrite your application. You want to create a professional impression. With few exceptions, all scholarship applications must be typed. All college work is typed unless you are in a math lab; basic computer literacy is considered the norm and not the exception. Read all application instructions carefully and do exactly what the application asks you to do. Do not attach unsolicited documents to your application. The application will ask you to provide specific supporting documents, but if you include anything they do not require it will go against you. Also pay careful attention to word limits. If, for example, the instructions for an essay specify a word limit of 450-600 words, then stay within that limit. Exceeding the word limit is viewed as demonstrating an inability to follow instructions.

A readable, clean, complete, well-written application is impressive. Unreadable, smeary, incomplete, or poorly written applications are eliminated.

Before mailing your application, be sure you have made at least two hard copies of every single page in case your materials are misplaced or lost. Take every precaution to safeguard the privacy of your personal information and documents. Place your hard copies in the file folder you created for that particular scholarship and treat the file as if it were your bank account. When you are ready to mail your application packet, it is in your best interest to send your materials by certified, check receipt mail. When your package is delivered, a signature is required. The receipt-card with the signature and delivery date is returned to you. This is your proof that your materials were delivered and accepted on such and such date.

One Last Thing
Before mailing your application, double-check:
Have you neatly organized and included all required documents?
Do all official documents contain dates and signatures?
Have you provided correctly-spelled names and mailing addresses?
Have you corrected all spelling and typing errors?
Have you filled in all required fields in the application?