The first place to look – and hopefully many of you have already done this – is the colleges to which you have applied and been accepted. Some of their scholarship deadlines will have passed by 2nd semester. But, if you haven’t looked to see when your college(s)’s deadlines are, look now! The colleges are usually the best source for larger scholarships. You may have already been told you will receive an (or some) automatic scholarship(s), based on merit or talents, but even if you have, always make sure you have checked to see if there are other scholarships for which you can apply. These are usually concrete deadlines, so do not procrastinate. Check now and get them done if you haven’t yet.
The next place to look is your school counselor/counseling office. All across the state of Iowa, HS counselors receive tons of private scholarship information and applications. Each of the counselors has their own way of getting that info to the students – email, a website, a Google folder, or maybe some other way. These scholarships will include many local opportunities – some may be just for students at your school, some may be just for students from a particular town in your district, some may be for students who live in a particular county – along with state and national opportunities. Some may be for certain majors/career fields. They don’t all have high academic requirements, so no matter what your cum GPA is, LOOK at these opportunities and apply for the ones for which you meet the criteria. The criteria on these scholarship applications will vary, but you should definitely apply for as many as you can. The deadlines will vary as well, so be organized and prioritize by the application deadline. Do NOT miss these deadlines either, as a late application submission will likely disqualify you.
When filling out scholarship applications, read the directions carefully. Be sure to do exactly as instructed. Always type the application (even if it says “type or print”). Make sure you include and/or attach every item asked for. If the application asks for letters of recommendation, make sure you ask people who know you well (a coach, a teacher, a counselor, a boss/employer, a pastor, a principal) and make sure you give them plenty of time to write a good letter (at least a few weeks). Give them a copy of the scholarship information or a list of the criteria the committee is looking for – sometimes the scholarship will say exactly what type of info they want from the recommending adult(s). If there is an essay, use formal language, stick to the topic, give specifics and details pertaining to the topic, and have someone proofread it for errors and to make sure it is coherent. You should read it aloud as well; make sure it flows and says what you are meaning to say. SAVE everything you use for the application – the essay, a list (or resume) or activities, the demographic page – as you may be able to use some of this information many times. Also, remember that neatness counts. It is important to fix typos, not have messy, wrinkled pages (if it’s a hard copy application), and make sure that the application looks clean, neat, and professional. I used to tell students, “If you have worked hard to make a paper application neat and tidy, don’t fold it up and stick it into a regular white envelope! Put it in a 9x12 envelope so you won’t have fold creases!” You only have one chance to make a first impression! It is also important to sell yourself – tell the donor or committee why you deserve the award, but you should also make sure you sound genuine and not overly “stuck on yourself.”
You can also search for scholarships online, including a database of scholarships on our website: icansucceed.org/scholarships. Fastweb.com is also another very popular scholarship website. Other scholarship sites are listed on our website as well. Just don’t ever pay any money to apply for a scholarship. That should never happen!
Overall, my biggest piece of advice would be – take the time to apply for as many scholarships as possible AND take the time to do your best in submitting a professional, neat, inclusive, complete application each time. In my experience and in the experiences of the counselors I talk to, many students do not take the time to do these applications, so the pool of applicants may not be as large as you think! The more applications you submit, the more chance you have at earning dollars. Every scholarship is helpful, so don’t turn your nose up at the smaller ones. Smaller awards can really add up in the end.
Best of luck to you! Work hard this Scholarship Season – I guarantee you won’t regret it!
Mary Joan Dougherty - ICAN NW Iowa Centers