Getting an American college scholarship is easier than most students and their parents think. Good planning and a little research can help you pay for the education you deserve without having to pay anything back.
Steps
Step 1. Research
The sooner you start looking, the more chances you will have. And remember that many scholarships expire in the early fall of your senior year of high school.
Step 2. Read the requirements carefully and often
Contact the lenders for any questions and for assistance in submitting the application.
Step 3. Collect all the material
Most scholarships require these documents, so make sure you have:
- School curriculum
- Grades of homework in the classroom
- Application form for financial aid
- Tax declaration
- Scholarship application form
- Short essays and SOP (Statement of Purpose - a letter of motivation)
- Letters of recommendation
- Demonstration of eligibility
- Other documents requested by the lender
- You may need to have an interview.
Step 4. Complete the questions
Get a letter of recommendation, highlighting your skills, work experience, grades in school, your community service, your talents, and so on. Wait 2-3 weeks and then make sure they sign everything. So write short essays. This is the hardest and most difficult part, but keep going until you have a good final draft. Follow the directions carefully.
Step 5. Correct the questions
Check your spelling and grammar and ask some friends and family to read them. Also ask them for advice on ideas and opinions. Complete the question in all its points and do not exceed the imposed length limits.
Step 6. Make sure it's understandable
Type it or print it. Then sign and date each page.
Step 7. Make multiple copies
So if you lose any documents, you can always recover them from copies.
Step 8. Put everything in a clean and nice folder
This will positively impress the lenders and make you look like a neat person.
Step 9. Reorder the documents
If you need to submit a printed application, order it as described in the form. If you need to submit it online, opt for the PDF format.
Step 10. Plan ahead
Collect all documents. If the application is not complete in every part, you may not be eligible. To make sure you meet deadlines, consider using certified email and / or acknowledgment of receipt. Make sure you are using a secure postal service.
Step 11. Even after submitting your first application, continue to apply for other scholarships
You will only know at the end if the first question was accepted or not.
Step 12. If you get the scholarship, remember to thank your funders
Tell them when you appreciate the award and tell them about your career goals.
Step 13. Go to the Financial Aid Office of your college or university
There are thousands of scholarships waiting for you out there - financial aid consultants may present you with new ones. They will also help you complete the questions and explain how to meet the requirements for specific scholarships.
Step 14. If you have already chosen a course, talk to the department head
They usually have a list of all the specific scholarships.
Step 15. Find out on the Internet
Many search engines help you find the scholarship that best suits your needs. Some sites to consider are scholarship-listings.com, fastweb.com, scholarships.com, and scholarships4me.com. After registering on these sites, you will be provided with a more organized method of applying for a scholarship. Many of these also offer you other alternatives to get the money you need for college. Also the site https://scholarships-forwomen.com, for scholarships dedicated to women, could be interesting to you: it is, in fact, a specific site for women, but it offers scholarships to people of both sexes.
Step 16. See if your employer, or that of your parents, offers a scholarship
Many companies offer college tuition reimbursement to students who work or have a family member employed by their company.
Advice
- Don't give up on a scholarship just because it requires you to write an essay. While many students don't like writing short essays, if you don't put in the effort to write them, you could risk missing out on a huge scholarship opportunity.
- Join an association, dedicate to a hobby, participate in community events. There are tons of scholarships that are based on what you do.
- Apply for any opportunity that comes your way - you never know from whom you will get the answers you are looking for!
