Make Your Scholarship Applications Stand Out in a Crowd

Don't let the thought of competing for scholarships get you down. There are ways you can make sure your scholarship application shines.

You need money for college, and the scholarship application is inevitable. It’s tempting to get discouraged and avoid applying because you think to yourself, “There are already so many applicants. They’re never going to pick me.” Don’t sell yourself short. There’s plenty you can do to help secure the scholarship money you want and need. Check out our quick tips.

Make sure you’re qualified for the scholarship

This may seem obvious, but it bears mentioning. You may have friends that are applying for this scholarship or that one, but don’t feel like you need to jump on the bandwagon. There are plenty of opportunities for scholarships out there, many you probably haven’t even considered yet. A website like CollegeXpress can help you zero in on scholarships that you not only qualify for, but for which you are the ideal recipient. Whether you’re attending a specific university, plan to study a particular subject, or have an affinity for a unique hobby, there’s more than likely a scholarship out there tailored to your unique qualifications.

Related: 3 Easy Strategies to Increase Your Scholarship Eligibility

Read the directions carefully

Believe it or not, many scholarship applications are immediately discarded because the applicant failed to follow directions. Don’t let this happen to you! Once you’ve located a scholarship you feel confident you can win, read the directions and reread them. Whether the scholarship requires you write an essay, fill out a form, or a combination of both, make sure you completely understand what the institution awarding the scholarship is asking of you and follow those instructions explicitly.

Develop a plan of attack

Before you even begin filling out the scholarship application or writing the required essay, make sure you have a good sense of exactly how you wish to proceed. Make note of any personal strengths and accomplishments you wish to emphasize. If you’re having difficulty with this portion, ask a trusted teacher or friend what they think you should highlight. Laying out everything you wish to cover in outline form will help you to avoid mistakes on the application.

Related: 5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Scholarship Search Strategy

Don’t be afraid to let yourself shine

On scholarship applications, you want to be honest, but avoid being too modest. If you feel that you have contributed a great deal to your community, for example, let the organization awarding the scholarship know and pinpoint specific examples that support your opinion. While you want your confidence to shine through, you don’t want to come off as too cocky either. For example, if they ask you about your weaknesses, don’t say that you don’t have any. Instead, pick a weakness you have and turn it into a positive. For example, if you are shy, let them know that you’re making an effort to become more social by participating more in community events.

Have someone else review your application

Whether it’s a teacher, a parent, or a good friend whose writing skills you trust, always have at least one other person read your application documents before sending them in for consideration. You don't want any mistakes in your scholarship application at all—let alone your essay. You could read your own application five times and fail to notice tiny errors that may well stand out and count against you when the organization awarding the scholarship reviews your application. Your chosen application reviewer may also suggest information you overlooked that you can add to your application.

Practice makes perfect

Your application is now ready to be mailed. Is it time to relax yet? Not so fast! Why cool your heels waiting for a response when there are many other scholarships for which you can apply? You’ve already knocked out your first application, which is undoubtedly the most difficult. You’re on a roll now. Keep applying! You can always use more free money for college. 

Related: 3 Common Obstacles to a Successful Scholarship Search

Winning scholarships for college can be a huge game changer in your financial situation, but first you have to win them! Use this advice to help make your application stand out and win more awards.

Check out more articles on scholarships and paying for college in our Financial Aid section.

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About Jennifer Werts

Jennifer Werts is a freelance writer for CollegeXpress.

 

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Samantha Fils-Aime

Samantha Fils-Aime

High School Class of 2019

I love that CollegeXpress has helped me find some scholarships to apply for but also helped me succeed in school with lots of tips. I also really like how they consistently email me about webinars that teach me a lot of things from the comfort of my home!

Damian Rangel

Damian Rangel

September 2021 Mini Scholarship Winner, High School Class of 2022

CollegeXpress has helped me tackle college expenses, which will allow me to put more of my time and effort into my studies without the need of worrying as much about finances.

Lorena Bacallao

Lorena Bacallao

High School Class of 2022

CollegeXpress was the foundation of my college search process. Because of CollegeXpress, I was able to make a more informed and confident decision as to where it was best to pursue my higher education. I have recommended this website to fellow peers and for first-generation students like me. It’s a website I will continue to promote because of how simple it was to use and how many opportunities were offered to me at my fingertips!

Emilie Delgado

Emilie Delgado

$2,000 Community Service Scholarship Winner, 2013

CollegeXpress has tremendously helped me in my search for financial aid opportunities as I enter my college career. It is easy to navigate and quickly narrowed down scholarships that I could apply for. Being awarded the scholarship will greatly help me in my finances regarding books and tuition. Thank you for this opportunity. Without CollegeXpress, it would have been more difficult to apply. I would recommend this site to everyone!

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Kory Gilbertson

High School Class of 2022

CollegeXpress has helped me explore my views on college in that "why do I wanna go to a certain school" way. It’s helped me explore the best fits in all of these outstanding choices. All these college admission counselors can access my accolades showing them how I could help their college. This source of information helps me show these admission directors who I am and what I'm interested in. Thanks to this platform, my experience for education will be better than most, and I'm so grateful for all that it has provided for me.