It’s no secret that college is expensive. For many students, attending their local community college or in-state school is the most affordable option. Students wanting to attend out-of-state and private universities often feel like they are out of luck. However, it is possible to spend even less at a private school than it would be to attend a public school with the help of scholarships and financial aid.
Before my junior year of high school, I didn’t even think I could afford to attend my dream school in the Ivy League. I was a first-generation and low-income student and knew very little about the college application process let alone the scholarship application process. Last May, I graduated from the Ivy League with $0 in debt. $180,000 worth of tuition, room & board, and supplies were covered by scholarships with the remaining costs supported by financial aid.
It took a couple of helpful teachers and excessive Google searches to point me in the right direction towards scholarships.
I’m going to share my scholarship application process in the hopes that it may help you in your journey to attend the college of your choice without being held back by financial hardship.
Scholarship Timeline
During Summer and Winter Breaks:
- Start Early: I recommend starting early before school starts up again to begin searching for scholarships. The reason is because once school starts, you will be busy preparing for the school year. By starting early over breaks, you’ll avoid feeling overwhelmed once school begins.
- Find Niche Scholarships: Scholarship sites like those listed below are great for finding niche scholarships that will be more specific for you and your interests giving you less competition when applying.
- Find Large National Scholarships: If you are eligible to apply for a national scholarship, you should consider applying. I received a national scholarship even though I never believed that I could become a recipient. It never hurts to at least try your best.
- Find Local Scholarships: The problem with national scholarships are that they are open to a large pool of applicants. You may have a better chance of winning local scholarships. Not sure if your town or county has them? Reach out to your guidance counselor or a recent graduate of your high school to learn more about the process. You may also find them on your school’s website or newsletter.
- Take Notes on Scholarships: Write down the due dates, what they’re looking for, and what they require. Keep these notes either in one folder on your laptop or in one notebook. Save the due dates in your calendar.
- Create a Resume: Use your free time to craft a professional looking resume. There are many free templates to choose from. List relevant tasks that would apply to the scholarships you’re focusing on.
Two Months Before Deadlines:
- Brainstorm Essays: Think about them when driving in the car, in the shower, while eating your breakfast, etc. You can record yourself on your phone thinking out loud and come back to the audio when you’re ready to begin writing. You can also brainstorm on paper too.
- Write Essay Drafts: The best advice I can give you is to just sit down and write rather than feel you have to wait until the perfect moment. Every essay won’t always be perfect but an imperfect essay is better than an unfinished essay or an unwritten essay. Be genuine in your writing. Write down stories that have shaped you and what you would like to contribute to this world.
- Ask Your Teachers for Letters of Recommendation: You should ask teachers 6-8 weeks before an application is due. I found it helpful to ask my teachers at the beginning of the semester before other students would ask so that the teachers were more focused on my letter and had it in plenty of time before the deadline. Make sure you tell them a due date that is at least a week to two weeks before the actual deadline. Ask teachers who know you best even if they taught you in previous years. Some scholarship applications prefer that your recommenders teach different subjects, so make sure to keep that in mind.
1 Month Before Deadlines:
- Review Your Essays: Find at least one teacher and at least one person you trust to read over your essays and give you feedback. I know having someone reading over your hopes and dreams can be scary, but it is necessary to have a fresh pair of eyes look over how you portray your words and ideas.
1-2 Weeks Before Deadline:
- Submit: Submitting early will help ensure you avoid unseen issues with recommenders submitting their letters on time and any technical difficulties.
1-2 Weeks After the Deadline:
- Write a Thank You Note for Recommenders: Have a stack of thank you notes available to write personal notes to each recommender. It’s a nice touch that many people too often forget or don’t know to do.
When You Receive the Scholarship:
- Notify Others: If you win the scholarship, congratulations! Now it’s time to let your recommenders and the people who helped you with your essays know that you got it! Be sure to also notify your financial aid office of the college you decide to attend.
