SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarship SeARCH - BEST PRACTICES

• Scholarships are a form of gift aid—money that does not have to be repaid. You will want to invest time into conducting your scholarship search to locate this free money

• Keep a master list of all scholarships you apply to. The best way to do this is with the College Map Mentor's Academic Organizer provided to each client. Sort scholarships by deadlines. 

• Qualify each scholarship before adding it to your list. Identify and categorize each scholarship as need-based, merit-based, career/major-specific, and note on College Map Mentor's Academic Organizer on the "Scholarship" tab.

• Target small or local branded scholarships. The lower the competition, the higher the chance of winning.

• Ask for letters of recommendation early on. We recommend you request letters of recommendation at the end of your junior year to give the teachers/counselors time.

• Gather resources before starting a scholarship application in your Google Drive folder for easy access.  This may include your basic information, transcript, resume, contact information for references, copies of letters of recommendation, personal statement, etc.  

• Save every essay in your Google Drive and recycle the essay as needed.  There is no need to "reinvent the wheel" if you need an essay with the same, similar, or slightly different topic.

• When you attach a file with a scholarship application, always send it as a PDF file. You may obtain a PDF by opening your document, clicking "File/Download/PDF Document."

• Apply...apply...apply!  This is a numbers game.  The more scholarships you apply to, the higher chances you have of receiving one or more.

ScholarshipS AND SCHOLARSHIP search sites

When to begin researching scholarships

• It is never too early to start your research

• Keep a list of scholarships you may qualify for (freshmen, sophomores, juniors). Use your College Map Mentor's Academic Organizer to keep track of potential scholarship opportunities.

• Seniors...apply for EVERY qualified scholarship.  Remember, even the smaller scholarships start adding up!

college/university scholarships

• Check the respective college websites for freshman, merit-based, departmental, athletic and other scholarships offered.