Winning Scholarships
As you probably are
already aware, winning scholarships is not an easy process. There is
work involved, there’s no two ways about it. However, the reward is well
worth it. Imagine spending an hour or two working on a scholarship and
getting a return of $500 or more. I want to take some time to address
some common misconceptions and give you greater odds in receiving
scholarships.
Competition
You are probably aware that there are different types of
scholarships: academic/merit, athletic and financial need. Did you know
there are different levels as well? Some scholarships are meant just for
Westview, some are for Poway Unified School District. Then there are
others, such as San Diego, California and national scholarships. The
more advanced the level of scholarship, the more people will be
applying. If you are interested in less competitive opportunities,
consider applying for local scholarships first. While there are still
people who apply for these scholarships, there are far fewer
applications. For example, the Westview Senior
PTSA scholarship last year had just
about 30 applications. On the other hand, by not applying to some
national scholarships, you do lose a lot of opportunities available to
you that you may not find at the local level.
Read the Directions
If you find directions on the application for a scholarship, it
is probably because someone wants you to follow them. So if you are
directed to submit two letters of recommendation with your application,
then do not submit just one. That is the quickest way to guarantee that
your application will not be considered further. If you plan on being
selected as a scholarship winner, a vital element of this process is to
make sure you follow the directions!
Do You Meet the Minimum Eligibility Criteria?
Eligibility criteria is non-negotiable. If the requirement, for
example, is that you must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and you have a 2.0, you
are not eligible. They will not consider your application. I know this
seems harsh, but please realize that some scholarship sponsors receive
many applications and so they will be looking for ways to eliminate as
many as possible. However, if you are close to qualifying, you might
want to give it a try. Who knows, you may make it in.
Your Essay Should be Compelling
Please read the section I have written on
essays. You
will find a lot of suggestions on writing an essay that will be more
likely read.
Complete Your Application
If you are unsure how to complete an application, please ask
someone for assistance. Skipping a question on your application is like
skipping a question on a test, except you may have worse consequences in
this situation. You can miss the opportunity for $10,000 simply because
you were not thorough. I am happy to read your application and other
materials before you submit it. I always provide constructive criticism
for students if they would like the assistance.
The presence of your application is vital as well. If you are able to
type your application, it is more advisable than printing. The package
you submit should look like you spent some time on your application and
not just thrown together at the last minute.
Keep copies of all the applications you submit. If there is ever a
dispute that has arisen from the submission of one of your essays, you
will have the information readily available. In addition, many
applications ask the same types of questions. Having copies of
previously submitted applications will help ease the process in
completing future applications.
No Copying
If the sponsor does share details about previous winners of
their scholarship, that is valuable information for you. It will show
qualities they may be seeking or the level of work involved. However,
please do not copy ideas from previous winners. All of the work involved
needs to be yours alone and it should be original.
Learn About the Sponsor
Before you submit your application, learn what you can about the
scholarship sponsor. There are many reasons that an organization would
want to offer a scholarship: a way of giving back to the community, a
way of honoring someone, recruitment, etc. Go to their website and look
for their mission statement. Has what you have written and are about to
submit fit into their core values? Do you think you would be a good
representative for their organization if you were to win the
scholarship?
Watch for Deadlines
If the application is due by July 31, sending your application
on August 1st is pointless. There may be legitimate reasons
why you are late, but the reason is really unimportant at this time. Of
course, you may always contact the sponsor if you think you will be
late. Typically, though, most sponsors are not willing to budge on this
issue.
There is a danger in waiting until the last minute. You might feel
rushed and produce a somewhat mediocre final product that otherwise may
be fantastic if you give yourself a little more breathing room. In
addition, if your application requires an official transcript, realize
that it takes four school days for processing at Westview. I will be
sending reminders to students of scholarship deadlines through their
Naviance Family Accounts on a weekly
basis.
© Kathy Bloomfield,
Westview High School
If you have any questions, please contact
kbloomfield@powayusd.com |
