Tips for applying for college scholarships?

I'm starting to apply for college scholarships and feeling overwhelmed. What are the best tips to make my application stand out? Should I focus on writing unique essays or getting strong recommendations?

Applying for scholarships may seem daunting, but rest assured, there are a few strategies that can help you stand out and boost your chances of success:

1. Start Early and Organize: Finding and applying for scholarships can be time-consuming. The earlier you start, the more opportunities you'll have. Create a spreadsheet or use an app like Appily to track deadlines, requirements, contact information, and any responses you receive.

2. Tailor your application: Just like college applications, it's important to tailor your scholarship applications. Understand the mission and values of the sponsoring organization and ensure your application speaks to these. Your ability to connect your experiences, interests, and goals to the scholarship criteria can help you seem like a a great fit.

3. Craft Compelling Essays: It's important to write compelling and unique essays tailored to each scholarship. Instead of reiterating your resume, narrate a story that highlights your personality, experiences and values. Avoid common cliches such as overcoming a sports injury or volunteering abroad, unless you have a truly unique perspective on it.

4. Strong recommendations: Recommendations can fortify your application by providing an external validation of your abilities and achievements. Choose recommenders who know you well and can speak to your qualifications in relation to the specific scholarship. Providing them with a brief of the scholarship, its criteria, and how you fit it can help them write more effective letters.

5. Attention to Detail: Take time to proofread and refine your application. Even small errors can distract from your application's quality and convey a lack of diligence.

6. Apply for a Mix: You can apply to both merit-based and need-based scholarships. Don't neglect smaller, local scholarships as they might have fewer applicants, thus increasing your chances.

Lastly, remember to submit all required materials on time. Missing a deadline or forgetting supplemental materials can result in your application not being considered, regardless of how impressive it might be. Good luck!