10 Things You Need To Know to Win Scholarships

• DO read and answer scholarship application questions carefully and thoughtfully. For example, is the application asking if you are a sophomore in college now, at the time you are applying, or if you will be a junior in the fall term when the award will be disbursed? This question could be a basic selection criterion that if answered incorrectly may disqualify you from even being considered for a particular scholarship.

• Spell check essays with a spell check system and with an actual person — Mom, Dad, or a friend who is an English major. There is no excuse for poor grammar and punctuation!

Allyson Collinsworth works with The Office of Loans and Scholarships at the United Methodist Church

Applying for scholarships can be exhausting – sometimes more exhausting than applying to college itself! How can you make your scholarship search more efficient and effective? Allyson Collinsworth of The Office of Loans and Scholarships at the United Methodist Church has ten must-do tips for students looking to earn scholarship money this year.

• Follow up with the scholarship provider on the status of your application or award via the instructions provided. If there is an online personal page for you to view status updates, use it! If the provider notifies applicants by e-mail, read your e-mail and check spam and junk folders for lost e-mails. If you don’t receive feedback from the provider, contact them directly.
• It is your responsibility to read and follow the instructions of a scholarship application — from answering questions on the application, to understanding how you will be notified about an award, or how you will claim and receive the funds. DON’T bring negative attention to yourself and your application by asking the scholarship provider for clarity on a question when it is clearly stated in writing on the application instructions. Breathe, think, and read before you ask.

[READ: Transfer Students: College Scholarships for Prior Learning]

• Apply early for scholarships! DON’T wait until the last minute. DO your homework, and know when applications open and close. Give yourself and your references time to submit quality work.

[READ: Four Types of Scholarships – And Which Is Best For You][StudentAdvisor lists thousands of scholarships on ScholarshipAdvisor, for web and iOS.]

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• Know the background, guidelines, and donor wishes of the scholarship program for which you are applying. Demonstrate this knowledge in your essay or through your references’ remarks. If you spend time on the application aligning your qualities, experiences, and education to the specific requirements and initial purposes of a scholarship program, you will be a front-runner for selection.

We all know that paying for school is tough. However, there are thousands of scholarships out there that want to help alleviate the cost of college!