Scholarships are a great way to help pay for college, but staring down a pile of applications can seem intimidating. With so many different scholarships, it can be difficult to know what review committees are looking for. Here are a few ways that you can make yourself a great scholarship candidate.
Get Involved in Extracurricular Activities
A lot of scholarships are looking for students who are involved in extracurricular activities. This can include activities through your school such as athletics, student leadership, clubs, arts, etc., but it can also include work history, volunteerism, clubs/athletics outside of school, and more. You don’t have to be involved in everything, but it is a great idea to find a couple of activities that you like and stick with them through your high school career. AnActivities Resumeis a great way to keep track of your extracurricular activities.
Demonstrate Moral Character
Scholarship committees are looking for individuals who show integrity and moral character. You can show this in your everyday life by working hard, doing your best, and treating others with respect. However, you also need to show your character through your online presence. Try Googling your name and see what information appears. This information will be visible to a scholarship committee if they decide to look you up. Go through your social media accounts and make sure you are presenting yourself in a way that you can be proud of.
Develop Perseverance
The ability to persevere despite setbacks or mistakes (also known as grit) not only helps you during your college and scholarship search, but it is also a great life skill. For scholarships specifically, committees are looking for individuals who can keep working toward a goal, even if they encounter obstacles. Take a look at your life right now and ask yourself, how have I persevered? How have I learned from past mistakes? You probably have some answers to these questions already, but you can develop your grit further by not giving up when you come up against obstacles at home or in school. In a scholarship application, you will show that you have perseverance by working hard at school, challenging yourself with sustained effort in extracurricular activities, and learning from your mistakes.
Overall, scholarship committees are looking for well-rounded students who are good investments for their scholarship funds. If you are involved and can present yourself in a good light, you can make yourself a good scholarship candidate. Good luck!
FAQs
Scholarship committees are looking for individuals who show integrity and moral character. You can show this in your everyday life by working hard, doing your best, and treating others with respect. However, you also need to show your character through your online presence.
What makes me stand out for a scholarship? ›
Many scholarships are based on an applicant's individuality. Putting your unique interests and perspectives on the page will go a long way toward creating a memorable essay. Share the experiences and activities that make YOU unique. You don't have to limit the experiences you share to only your senior year.
How do I make my scholarship application stand out? ›
Scholarship Application Essay Tips
- Plan ahead. Don't procrastinate! ...
- Talk about your accomplishments. Be clear and to the point. ...
- State your need. What is your financial situation? ...
- Keep it simple. Don't use unnecessary words (i.e., don't use three words when one will do) ...
- Make it easy on your reader.
Apply, Apply, Apply!
The more scholarships you apply to, the better the chances that you will be accepted. They also say that practice makes perfect! Writing scholarship essays or submitting applications will become easier with time and practice.
What makes you the best candidate for this scholarship essay? ›
Show your grit. This is where your scholarship essay might get personal. You might deserve this scholarship because you have persevered through some personal struggles. Those struggles might be more serious–for example, related to family income (growing up poor) or physical obstacles (a disability or injury).
What makes you a good candidate for this program essay? ›
I would try to set yourself apart from others, bring up things you are really good at, what you could bring to this program to make it better, ex: your willingness to learn, your new ideas. Include any extracurriculars that concern the thing you are applying to.
How to answer what makes you a good candidate for this scholarship? ›
A good answer is concise, provides a brief bio, and highlights why you're the right person for the scholarship. Use your answer as an opportunity to spotlight the achievements, personality traits, skills, and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for the scholarship.
How do you make yourself stand out in a scholarship essay? ›
Get Personal and Be Specific
An essay that feels genuine and offers insights into who the applicant is on a deeper level will stand out in a crowd of academic essays that may be boring for readers who review hundreds and sometimes thousands of applications.
What should a scholarship essay look like? ›
That means using 1-inch page margins, 12-point font size double-spaced (or 1.5 spaced), and a “standard” font like Times New Roman in classic (default) black. Don't get creative with fonts or colors here. You want the content of your essay to be what stands out, rather than your unorthodox formatting.
What not to say in a scholarship application? ›
Don't use words like “finally”, “in sum” or “in conclusion”. Don't repeat or sum up in any way. Don't start too many sentences with the word “I”. Don't tell the reader explicitly, “I am a unique and interesting person.” Instead, let the reader glean this from your unique and interesting essay.
If you feel that you do not need the scholarship and know that there is someone who desperately needs that scholarship, you MAY reject it.
How long should a scholarship essay be? ›
Your essay should be around 500 words or less. want it to be too long where you may lose the interest of the reviewer assigned to reading your essay.
What makes you standout from other applicants sample answers? ›
Make a point of emphasizing your most exceptional qualities and strengths relevant to the position. Your achievements and accomplishments. You can talk about your accomplishments at your previous organizations and how you can achieve similar results for them. Give specific examples of how you would benefit the company.
How do you stand out in a scholarship video? ›
Good luck!
- Thoroughly read specifics. We cannot stress enough the importance of taking the time to thoroughly read the application requirements when applying for any scholarship. ...
- Brainstorm – Take your time, be creative. ...
- Location is Key. ...
- Finalize your script – Practice, practice, practice. ...
- Submit and good luck!
