This is Part 3 of a 4 part series covering the Complex World of Scholarships featuring Meredith Ritchie, a Business Support Consultant at Wells Fargo and mother to college-age triplets. See part 1 here and part 2 here.
Over the last two weeks, we have shared information on the different types of scholarships available and on how to find qualified scholarships. This week, we will answer SIX common questions about how to apply for scholarships and provide strategies to help streamline and organize the process.
Question 1: When should I apply for scholarships?
That depends. Since scholarship applications have various deadlines, take the time to make note of all of the submission deadlines for scholarships you plan to apply for. As a general rule, you should plan to apply for scholarships during the Fall of your Senior Year. Exceptions include scholarships that are tied to the school(s) you are applying to. Some of the better known examples include: Morehead-Cain (UNC Chapel Hill), the Levine Scholars Program, (UNC Charlotte), Park Scholarships (NC State University), and the Trinity Scholars Program (Duke), however, most schools—notably private institutions—have generous, if not competitive scholarships.
Pro Tip: If you are applying for any needs-based outside scholarships, be sure and gather your parents financial history like their tax returns (or proof of your formal emancipation) as you will be asked for these.
Question 2: Can I apply for any scholarship I want?
No. Most scholarships have specific criteria you must meet in order to be eligible. Some, including all listed above, require you to be nominated by your high school counselor. Look closely at eligibility requirements and follow up accordingly.
Pro Tip: Some outside scholarships will require you to attend a certain university and the deadline to apply for these may occur prior to the date that you make your final decision on which school’s offer to accept. That’s okay. Go ahead an apply for them anyway. The worse that can happen is you turn down the funds, because the award criteria no longer apply to you. In that case, the funds will go to another candidate.
Question 3: Can I use the same essay for multiple scholarship applications?
To an extent, you can and should be strategic in your approach. As you look at prompts, look for opportunities to re-use essays you have already written. In some cases, the fit might be perfect, in others, you may have to tweak the content to make it more relevant. If you need to tweak, don’t cut corners, make sure it is clear that you are addressing the relevant prompt.
Question 4: Who should I ask to be my recommender?
As a rule of thumb, ask a teacher who taught you a core class, unless the scholarship application makes a specific request. For example, some will specifically ask for a recommendation by a member of the community who is familiar with your service involvement. Make sure that you always ask before you sign somebody up to be your recommender.
Pro Tip: Ask a scholarship recommender if he/she would be willing to send their recommendation in a Word document that you can use for more than one scholarship application. Be sure to clarify the reason for this request (i.e., it is primarily for his/her convenience).
Question 5: What is a good way to keep track of all the different scholarship due dates and requirements?
Since the deadlines and requirements are so varied, I suggest using an Excel spreadsheet, a Google sheet, or any similar document to track scholarship applications in order by date.
Question 6: What is the etiquette for asking a recommender for a copy of my recommendation if I waived my rights?
If you waived your rights to view your recommendations—which you should—and you need to submit a recommendation yourself with your application, you should politely ask your recommender if they mind providing you with a copy. Always ask a recommender BEFORE you provide their contact information on any scholarship application.
Pro Tip: As a courtesy to your recommender, avoid any surprises. They are generous with their time, because they think highly of you. Finally, keep them informed as you work through the various scholarship applications.
Question 6: Once I’ve completed all of my scholarships, what else do I need to do?
Writing a quality recommendation letter takes time, so you should ALWAYS send your recommenders a thank you note expressing your gratitude to them for taking time out of their busy lives to support your college process. Moreover, since many scholarship programs require you to reapply to receive dollars each year you are in school, you want to show genuine respect and appreciation to people you may need to rely on again in future years.
Pro Tip: If you are awarded funds due to their recommendation, be sure to inform them as such (email is fine here). Use this as an opportunity to ask for their time a future application cycle.
Final Words of Wisdom
Applying for scholarships is a lot of work. While some is definitely busy work (e.g., completing forms, requesting transcripts etc.), much of the process involves writing essays designed to learn about who you are beneath the surface. As you work the journey, don’t be surprised if you learn something new about yourself.
You should feel good knowing that if all else fails, you will be better prepared to tackle the inevitable college essays that you be required to write. No doubt, this process is a long one, but the hard work you put in could save you and your family thousands of dollars in future loans and interest payments. It may be time well-spent.
For more information on how to apply for scholarships or anything related to the college process, please feel free to contact me at kathy@fineeducationalsolutions.com.
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