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 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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Heaven Johnson

Heaven Johnson

Back to School Scholarship Winner, High School Class of 2023

I’d like to thank everyone on the CollegeXpress team for their generosity. Not only have I been awarded this scholarship, but CollegeXpress makes it easier to apply and gives amazing tips for schools and scholarships. I am extremely grateful as this will help with my schooling and allow me to be able to enter into the field I’ve been dreaming of all my life. 

Khush

Khush

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress is a multi-maneuver platform that has been helping students in their college applications and scholarship hunt process. For me, CollegeXpress has been a boon. I've been able to find my dream university via CX, and I've also been able to apply to thousands of scholarships through it. All the thanks to CollegeXpress for doing such a great job for free. I express my sincere gratitude to you for doing such a wonderful job. I recommend CollegeXpress without any reservations.

Rose Kearsley

Rose Kearsley

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress has seriously helped me out a lot, especially when it comes to scholarships and studying for tests like the ACT. I also really love the financial help. It’s a little harder to pay because I live with a family of eight, so any help is appreciated. Thanks for this opportunity!

Nikole Dixon

Nikole Dixon

$500 Refer-a-Friend Scholarship Winner

Toward the beginning of last year, I was searching for scholarships to apply to through my school, town, websites online, and anything else I could find. I asked tons of questions [online] about scholarships and the best places to find them because I was desperate and needed as many as I could find. I came across a ton of bogus websites, but as soon as I found CollegeXpress, I knew I had to tell other people about it. It was definitely the most helpful site I came across, so I told my friends about it. CollegeXpress is definitely a website worth giving as a source.

Amelia

Amelia

High School Class of 2023

CollegeXpress helped open me up to many colleges that fit my interests. I’m only a sophomore in high school, so I like having a lot to look at, and CX does a great job of picking colleges that meet my wants. It's a great website that I'll continue to use until it comes time for me to apply for colleges. I also like that it notifies me through email with options to look at. Thanks CX!

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