8 Tips for Applying to Scholarships
By: ATS alumna Rubi Hernandez Lopez
With school, work, sports and other extracurricular activities it could be hard to find the time to apply to scholarships but scholarships can save you a lot of money in the long run. Here are a couple tips to help you as you in the process. Good luck!
1. Looking for scholarships
Scholarships are everywhere and each year there are many that go unclaimed. A simple Google search is all it takes to find out what scholarships apply to you. Start with local scholarships because the odds of winning these scholarships are greater. Find out what scholarships your school offers, then move on to county wide scholarships, then state scholarships and so on and so forth.
2. Get organized:
Once you know what scholarships you will be applying to you will notice that they all require different documentation and have varying deadlines. Gather all the documentation needed and keep it organized digitally and keep a paper copy just in case. Make note of the different deadlines and stay on top of them. The last thing you want to do is put in all this hard work into completing a scholarship only to miss the deadline.
3. Follow your passion:
Apply to scholarships that fit your passion and interest. The more personal the scholarship is, the more you can portray your passion which can result in a better submission. Remember, there are scholarships for everyone: vegetarians, puppy lovers, video game players, theater enthusiast and the list go on and on.
4. Answering Essay Prompts:
Many of the scholarships will require an essay prompt depending on the topic make sure to tailor your essay for that specific scholarship. Try not to repeat essay prompts and stick to the word limit. Have someone proof read your essay before submitting it. Sometimes we know what we want to say and it’s difficult to catch our own mistakes so have a fresh set of eyes read it over.
5. Satisfy all the requirements:
Look over every completed application thoroughly before submitting it to make sure you have fulfilled all the requirements. If you are unsure about something contact the scholarship providers to clarify.
6. Submit early:
You don’t have to wait until the due date and submit your application early. This will help you in case there’s a problem with the site, internet connection, or your computer.
7. Apply to as many scholarships as possible:
As long as you are in school you should continue applying to scholarships because scholarship money is money you don’t have to pay back. Try treating it like a part-time job and set a couple hours aside during the week or weekend to apply for scholarships.
8. Keep trying:
You will not win every scholarship you apply to so don’t take it personally. Continue applying because in order to be a successful scholarship winner you have to keep trying.
About the Author:
My name is Rubi Hernandez Lopez and I am an ATS Alumni. I graduated from the University of California, Davis with a Bachelors in Science in Clinical Nutrition and a minor in Spanish. I am currently employed with through Sonoma County as a Public Health Aide for the Women Infant and Children (WIC) Program. I am also working on my internship to become a Registered Dietitian through the California WIC Dietetic Internship. I am extremely grateful for the ATS program which helped me get to where I am today by providing me with the proper tools and resources. Applying for scholarships was one of the most valuable things I learned through this program therefore, I wanted to share some of that knowledge with you.
