Scholarship Application Tips: Increase Your Chances

Are you a student with dreams of making it big in your academic endeavors but with limited means to make your big dreams come true? Are you a student who has been rejected over and over whenever you submit your application for a scholarship and you are on the verge of giving up? This is your wake-up call to not give up yet as there is something that you are not doing the right way to land your dream scholarship to help you further your studies. 

One thing you should understand as a scholarship applicant is, that scholarships are competitive, and just as you are good, someone is way better and has spent time reading and researching how to create a clear picture of who they are to convince the scholarship givers that they are the one.

In this article, we will look at some useful scholarship application tips that will surely help your application stand out from the crowd and land you the scholarship you have been eyeing for too long. 

1. Starting Early

As a scholarship applicant, one of the key skills you don't have to play with is starting early. What do we mean by this? We mean you don't have to wait till the last minute to start surfing the internet over and over to look for opportunities. Just as you realize you will need a scholarship at a certain level to achieve your educational goals, you start by looking for scholarships that align and cater to your needs. it is advisable to note these opportunities as you keep surfing, Dont settle for one, settle for as many scholarships as possible. The earlier one begins, the better one can avoid last-minute hustling to meet the deadline for submission of a well-prepared application.

2. Research the Scholarship Provider

Each scholarship has its own selection criteria and preference. Researching more into the offering organization to understand its values, mission, and possibly what it may look for in an applicant is highly beneficial and important. If the scholarship giver is not only interested in high academic grades but also your social and development experience, you get to have time to volunteer with organizations where you can get those experiences to add up to your application. This pays off when shaping your application to fit the values of the scholarship provider.

 3. Highlight Your Achievements

While filling out the application form or writing an essay, make it a point to give a rundown of your achievements- academic and extracurricular. Application of achievement will prove your commitment to excellence and will make you a decent candidate before the selection committee. It is also important that one highlights how these achievements came about, what they have learned, or what they overcame during the process of working toward the achievement. Scholarship givers are interested in our whys, how much things mean to you, and what you tend to achieve with everything you set your mind to. Let them know the background story. 

 4. Personalize Your Application

Avoid using a generic template for your scholarship application. Instead, personalize your application by showcasing your unique experiences, aspirations, and goals. In this case, unnecessary comparisons of what people have achieved should not be your priority. Do not delve into how successful people have become after following your career path or program path and that's what interests you. That just creates the impression that you choose a career path because of the benefits and not what you are willing to put into it. If your scholarship application is for you to read a program like Law, highlight an injustice you saw as a child and how it made you feel to know that there are not many lawyers out there fighting for the rights. This makes the scholarship institution know how passionate you are about making a difference and advocating for the rights of the voiceless. 

5. Ask for Referrals
Known as the letters of recommendation, they are one of the most important things that help upgrade your application apart from your statements and essays. These are letters from people who know you enough to vouch for all the things you have mentioned. Your academic records will ultimately prove how good you are but it will not add a voice to talk about your passion, it will not clearly state your character and how much things mean to you. This is why recommendation letters from teachers, lecturers, and authorities you have encountered and worked under will do the magic. They will provide in detail the qualities that make you a good food ultimately vouching that you would be a best candidate if they decide to work with you.  Letters of recommendation can greatly strengthen your scholarship application. Ask a teacher, mentor, or boss who knows you well enough to speak positively about your character and your strengths. Let them also try to bring out specific examples of where your strengths and achievements lie to give more credibility to your application.

6. Proofread Your Application

Most people do not bother paying attention to this tip but it is equally important. If you do not take time to proofread, how would you correct errors? How would you edit the essays to make sure they are clear enough and explain exactly what you want to convey? Re-read your application with the thought in mind of eradicating grammatical and spelling mistakes from it. A well-written and error-free application speaks volumes about your professionalism and also keeps you ahead of others.

7. Follow Submission Guidelines 

 Last but most importantly, make sure to follow all the instructions included in your application for the scholarship. Failure to do this might get your application barred from consideration. Pay close attention to deadlines, required documents, and other specific instructions provided by the scholarship provider.

 Scholarships open various opportunities that could change students' lives regarding academic pursuits and it is in your best interest that you do it right and get in the very first time without having to struggle and stress for years to finally get it right.  Consider these tips while applying for a scholarship, and you will be one step closer to achieving your academic goal.