Going to a quality university can be too expensive. One practical option to earn your dream university degree is to apply for a scholarship to fund your studies. Landing on one, however, is easier than most people think. It requires much preparation and effort. These five scholarship hunting tips might help you get your dream scholarship:
Start Early
Remember the popular saying, “early bird catches the worm?” This is indeed true, particularly for students who wish to land on a scholarship program. If you have enough time, you can plan on how to go about your hunt.
Most scholarship grants, if not all, would require you to write essays and prepare a long list of documentary requirements. If you have enough time, you will be able to write top notch quality essays and prepare all of the requirements. So starting early is essential.
Carefully Decide on Who to Ask for Letter of Recommendation
This is a crucial part of any scholarship grant. Even before you formally submit your requirements, you need to have people in mind. This is like applying for a job, and the person who would write the needed letter of recommendation might make or break your application. You may choose from among your mentors, teachers, and bosses who can talk about your skills, personality and achievements. Do not ask your relatives or friends to write the letter for you as this is not a professional thing to do.
Your Image is Everywhere, so Be Cautious
Applying for a scholarship does not end in sending the requirements. You have to be careful on the things you post online, especially on your social media accounts. Applying for a scholarship is like applying for a job, so you need to take it seriously. For sure, organizations do not want to waste money on an individual who has a negative image.
You should also be professional and not too personal. While you are still considered a student, it’s a good idea to act like a professional. Government bodies or organizations giving scholarship grants have their own standards for their scholars. Aside from grades and achievements, some may assess you based on your personality.
Don’t Be Afraid to Think Outside the Box
Instead of focusing on traditional scholarships to apply for, try finding programs that guarantee a limited applicant pool by finding a few unusual scholarships. Some popular ones include the Zolp Scholarship offered at Loyola University of Chicago for those with the last name Zolp, the Tall Club’s International scholarship for men 6’2″ and women 5’10” or taller and the StarFleet Academy Scholarship for Star Trek Fans.
Do not Apply if You are not Eligible
This tip requires one’s common sense, but some tend to overlook this. Make sure to review the eligibility requirements. Some end up wasting their time and effort applying for scholarship programs that do not fit them. For instance, some scholarships may just be offered for Americans, some are just for Asians and others could just be for specific states in America. It depends on the funding organization, so make sure to double check before preparing your requirements.
These are just 5 scholarship hunting tips that you can consider. There are still a lot of things to remember, which you might learn along the process of preparing your application. You might have to deal with rejections, which require another set of tips. But if you are determined to land on a scholarship grant, you will surely find ways on how to be successful on your next try.