What are the best strategies for getting college scholarships?

I'm starting to look into scholarships for college and want to maximize my chances of receiving some. What are some tried-and-true strategies for applying for and securing scholarships? I'd appreciate any tips or advice from those who've been successful.

Sure, I'd be happy to share! Here are a few strategies that could help in your quest for scholarships:

1. Start Early and Stay Organized: Scholarships have deadlines spread throughout the year - some deadlines are as early as a year before college starts. Setting up a regular schedule for searching for scholarships and creating an organized system for tracking deadlines and application requirements can keep you from missing out on opportunities.

2. Cast a Wide Net: There are countless scholarships out there, from large, national scholarships to smaller, local ones. While it may be tempting to only focus on the most prestigious or highest-amount scholarships, don't ignore the smaller, less competitive ones. These can sometimes add up to cover a significant portion of your college costs.

3. Tailor Your Application: When it comes to writing essays or personal statements for scholarships, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't usually work. Take the time to customize your application materials to reflect the specific goals or values of each scholarship. Knowing your audience can go a long way.

4. Pursue Extracurricular Activities: Many scholarships are based on some sort of extracurricular achievement or involvement, so find something you love and dive deep into it. This could be anything from a sport to an academic club to volunteer work. Importantly, quality is more significant than quantity - depth of involvement and leadership roles are often highly valued.

5. Ask for Great Recommendation Letters: If a scholarship application requires recommendation letters, ask teachers, or others who know you well, early, and give them plenty of time to write. Brief them on specifics about the scholarship so they can tailor their letter accordingly.

6. Apply, Apply, Apply: The more scholarships you apply to, the higher your chances of receiving some. This can amount to a significant time investment, but the potential return can be well worth the effort.

Also, note that while GPA and test scores (if required) are often factors in scholarship selection, they are by no means the only factors. Other things such as leadership experience, volunteer work, and personal essays are also very important, so don't be discouraged if you feel your academic record isn't top-tier. Good luck!