Hi everyone! I'm starting my college journey soon and wondering about scholarships for incoming freshmen. Any tips on where to look or how to improve my chances? Personal experiences or recommendations are welcome. Thanks!
Firstly, congratulations on starting this new chapter! When it comes to scholarships, there are various platforms where you could find them. One of them being Appily, which has a vast database of scholarships you can apply to. Be sure to pay attention to upcoming deadlines as well, as those can sneak up on you.
To improve your chances, focus on making your scholarship applications stand out. Tailor your application to each unique scholarship and make sure you are hitting what they care about. Suppose it's a community service-based scholarship, emphasize your service-based extracurriculars and what you learned from them.
When writing for scholarships, make sure to avoid common essay cliches - for instance, overcoming a sports injury or the "immigrant's story". These are topics that scholarship evaluators have read time and again. So, if you can, opt for a more unique angle about the growth you've experienced or the impact you’ve made.
Also, keep in mind that local scholarships might be less competitive than the big, national ones. Check to see if local businesses, community organizations, or your high school offer scholarships.
Lastly, treat it like a part-time job. Applying for scholarships can be time-consuming, but the potential benefits are definitely worth it. Dedicate a specific amount of time each week to fill out applications, and keep yourself organized.
Remember to keep your spirits high, even if you get a few rejections. It's usually a numbers game, so the more you apply to, the higher your chances of winning some! Good luck with your applications.
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