Scholarship Tips

Look Locally

National scholarships may receive thousands of applications.

Don't overlook opportunities closer to home.

Check with:

Your school counselor
Community foundations
Local businesses
Banks and credit unions
Service organizations
Employers
Religious organizations
Professional associations
Local clubs and organizations

Also ask whether your employer or your parent or guardian's employer offers scholarships.

Local awards may be smaller, but they can have significantly smaller applicant pools.

Check With Colleges

Every college you're considering should be part of your scholarship search.

Research:

Admission scholarships
Academic or merit scholarships
Need-based institutional aid
Departmental scholarships
Scholarships connected to your major
Talent or activity-based awards
Scholarships for continuing students

Ask whether you're automatically considered or need to complete a separate application.

Pay close attention to deadlines.

Search Based on Who You Are and What You Plan to Do

Scholarships may be connected to:

Career interests
Intended major
Academic achievement
Leadership
Community service
Activities
Athletics
Employment
Hobbies or talents
Family circumstances
Geographic location
Membership in an organization
Other experiences or qualifications

Try several search terms rather than searching only for “college scholarships.”

The more specifically you search, the more opportunities you may uncover.

Build a Scholarship Routine

Don't make scholarship searching a one-time event.

Set aside regular time to:

Search for new opportunities.
Save scholarships that fit you.
Review upcoming deadlines.
Complete applications.
Update your scholarship tracker.

New scholarships become available throughout the year.

Continue searching even after you've applied to college or received your initial financial aid offer.

Get Organized Before You Apply

Keep common application materials together so you don't have to start from scratch every time.

You may need:

Activities and involvement
Employment history
Volunteer experience
Honors and awards
Career and education goals
Transcript
Financial information
Essays
Letters of recommendation

Create a scholarship tracker with:

Scholarship name
Amount
Eligibility requirements
Deadline
Required materials
Application status
Award notification

Follow the Directions

Before starting an application, read the requirements carefully.

Make sure you're eligible and know exactly what needs to be submitted.

Pay attention to:

Deadlines
Word or character limits
Required documents
Essay prompts
Recommendation requirements
Submission instructions

Don't lose an opportunity because of a missing document or incomplete application.

Make Your Application Specific

When an application asks about your experiences, don't just list qualities.

Use examples.

Instead of:

I'm a strong leader.

Explain what you did, whom you worked with, what responsibility you had, and what you learned.

Specific experiences help the selection committee understand who you are beyond your grades or activities list.

Write a Strong Scholarship Essay

Tell Your Story

A strong essay should answer the question while helping the reader understand something meaningful about you.

Before writing:

Read the prompt carefully.
Brainstorm possible examples.
Identify the main idea you want the reader to remember.
Create a simple outline.

As you write:

Use specific examples and experiences.
Write in your own voice.
Connect your story to the prompt.
Focus on what you learned or how you grew.
Stay within the required length.

Before submitting:

Revise for clarity.
Proofread carefully.
Ask someone you trust to review it.

Use AI Responsibly

AI can help you brainstorm questions, organize ideas, or identify areas that need clarification.

It shouldn't replace your story or your voice.

Scholarship committees want to learn about you, not read an essay generated by someone—or something—else.

Ask for Recommendations Early

If an application requires a recommendation, choose someone who knows you well and can speak specifically about your strengths or experiences.

That might include a:

Teacher
School counselor
Coach
Employer
Activity advisor
Community leader
Other adult who knows your work

Give your recommender enough time and provide information about the scholarship, deadline, and how the recommendation should be submitted.

Don't assume one recommendation letter can automatically be reused for every scholarship. Follow the requirements of each application and ask permission before reusing someone's letter or contact information.

Search Safely

Scholarships Shouldn't Cost You Money

Be cautious of scholarship sites or offers that:

Charge application fees
Require payment to access scholarships
Guarantee you'll win
Ask for unnecessary sensitive information
Request bank or credit card information
Pressure you to respond immediately
Tell you you've won something you don't remember applying for

Research the organization before submitting personal information.

Step 1 Scholarships and other trusted resources can help you search without paying for access.

Learn About Identity Theft & Financial Scams →

Keep Going

Scholarship searching takes time, and you won't receive every award you apply for.

That's normal.

Focus on opportunities that fit you, submit strong applications, keep searching, and don't overlook smaller awards.

Every scholarship you receive is money you don't have to cover another way.

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