We’ve all been there, looking for scholarships and applying to colleges. It’s hard to find the best scholarship opportunities, and it feels like a shot in the dark when you’re filling out applications.
You should always assume that you are facing competition when applying for a scholarship. If your application is average, it won’t stand out and will be overlooked by the judges. To increase your chances of winning, make sure to improve the quality of your scholarship application with strong supporting evidence for why you deserve this money.
But today I’m going to share with you 7 things that will give your application an edge over everyone else. You’ll be able to get a better scholarship guaranteed!
10 Expert Tips to Get a Better Scholarship Abroad , Guaranteed!
You may not get rich, but you can give yourself a chance at bettering your future with scholarships. Whether it’s $10 or $1000, anything is an improvement on nothing! Why stop applying for them just because they seem too simple? As long as there are awards out there that fit the criteria of what we’re looking for in terms of academic achievement and financial need.
1. Research your scholarship requirements
Scholarship requirements can be a complicated process. Scholarships are given to students that have good grades, extracurriculars, and more. The first step is to find out what scholarships you qualify for and what awards are available. You should also research if the scholarship has any specific requirements or deadlines that need to be met in order to be considered. For example, some scholarships require an essay about why you deserve the scholarship while others require a transcript showing your GPA from all semesters at school.
2. Look for scholarships that are based on merit, not financial need
There are many scholarships that are based on merit, not financial need. As a student who is trying to pay for college, you should really look into these and see if one of them applies to you.
There could be something in there that will help ease your worries about paying for school. But generally we recommend to go for merit based rather than need base as you can keep scoring it on the basis of your good grades. On the other hand, need base scholarship could end any time leaving you in a hopeless condition.
3. Get involved in extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities have always been a great way to meet new people, stay involved in your community, and learn skills that you may not be able to get from school. It is important for students to mix up their extracurriculars so they can meet the minimum qualification for scholarships.
You should also try to get involved in as many activities as possible because this will show schools how much of a well-rounded person you are. This blog post will go over 10 ways you can use extracurricular activities to help win scholarships.
4. Apply for as many scholarships as possible
The next thing you should do when thinking about higher studies is to apply for as many scholarships as possible. The most important thing to remember is that if you don’t apply, you won’t win. You’re already limiting yourself by not applying and it’s unlikely that someone else will take the time out of their day just to find a scholarship application for your name without even knowing what they’ll get in return.
Be completely honest with yourself about your skillset and be sure to fill out every part of the form so that there are no discrepancies between what you’ve written and what can be found on your transcripts or resume. Even if you think it’s too late – it never hurts to try
5.Start Early for Recommendation Letters
If you are applying for a scholarship, it is imperative that your teachers know ahead of time. You need to provide them with enough information and ample time so they can write an extensive letter or recommendation about you.
Your family members will not take the task as seriously because this requires effort on their behalf that may be much more involved than writing letters at home in front of the TV.
Ask people who have spent many hours learning about and understanding your character; like some very dependable educators from school – maybe even counsellors whose jobs include assessing students’ potentials (especially if there’s been any recent developments).
6. Get a Better GPA
As a high school student, your academic responsibility comes first. This means that you need to get good grades and maintain a high GPA in order to graduate on time with the rest of your class mates.
If this is not possible for some reason or if there are areas where improvement is needed, try asking teachers for personal assistance or sign up for one-to-one tutoring sessions–it might be humbling at first but it’ll teach you quite a lot from students who already have an upper hand in their classes.
7. English language test
Have you graduated high school that doesn’t use English as its language of instruction? If so, it’s important for you to prove your proficiency in the language. One way is by taking a TOEFL or other types of exam which tests your skills in English and will show colleges this when applying for scholarships offered by US institutions. Although there are options where you can get scholarships without IELTS.
Another option if looking at undergraduate admissions or graduate programs with an American university would be submitting proof that one can speak, write-or both–in good form even without being fluent in their own native tongue.
This type of academic achievement can help many international students who did not attend an English speaking institution where they first learned from before coming here because college administrators want to know what kind level someone has attained beforehand.
8. Don’t Forget About Internships
Many students find that they learn more during their internship than they do in classes because the practical aspect is much more stronger than theoretical.
If you are looking for scholarships, then it is better if you start with internships as they help you gain experience that will be valuable when applying for jobs later on.
Interns can receive a variety of benefits from their work, including skills-based training and access to mentors who can guide them through the process of getting a job or starting their own business one day.
Getting an internship early on could be the perfect thing to do for anyone looking at colleges as it will make your resume look more impressive right off the bat.
Summery Tips
- Check out the scholarship section of your school’s website
- Do a google search for scholarships in your field of study
- Ask professors for advice on how to get a better scholarship
- Research organizations that offer need-based scholarships
- Apply for as many scholarships as you can, including ones from companies and private donors
- Find out if there are any upcoming events at your school or community where you can network with people who might be able to help you find financial aid opportunities