Help Applying for College Scholarships?

I feel a bit overwhelmed with where to even start when it comes to applying for scholarships. Do you have any tips or resources that helped you find and apply for college scholarships?

Sure, the scholarship process can indeed be quite overwhelming. Let's break it down into several steps:

1. Identify Your Eligibility: Start by considering your own unique characteristics, talents, and affiliations, these can be things like your GPA, student athlete status, ethnic background, employment history, intended major, community service experience, etc. These attributes will often be the criteria by which scholarships are awarded.

2. Research, Research, Research: The next step is to look for scholarships that match your criteria. Websites like Fastweb and Appily are good resources because they allow you to create a profile and reach out to scholarship providers initially. Additionally, look for local scholarships in your community and check out the financial aid pages on the websites of the colleges you're interested in for specific scholarship opportunities. Don't forget the scholarships offered directly by the college you're planning to attend (like merit scholarships). Remember, no scholarship is too small to pursue—every bit can help reduce your college expenses.

3. Organize: Keep track of your findings. Create a list or spreadsheet with each scholarship, it's specific eligibility requirements, deadlines, and documents required (like essays or recommendations). This will ensure you don't miss any opportunities.

4. Prepare Your Materials: Be ready to present a solid case for why you deserve the scholarship in the form of resume, cover letter, personal statement, or essay. Take your time to draft, revise, and proofread your work. Each application will likely require an essay, so get ready to do a considerable amount of writing.

5. Reach Out for Recommendations: If the scholarship requires letters of recommendation, identify teachers, coaches, employers or community leaders who can speak to your qualifications and give them ample notice to write their recommendations.

6. Apply Early and Often: Prioritize applications based on deadline and the level of scholarships. Don’t hesitate to apply for as many scholarships as possible, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.

Remember, the key is to be diligent, organized and patient. It can seem like a lot of work, but the end result of reducing your college costs is definitely worth it. Good luck!