Scholarship Quick Start Guide
If you’re new to scholarships, check out this infographic for a brief overview of key information from where to find scholarships to application tips.
Filed In
- Resources
- Scholarships
Topics
- Finding Scholarships
- High School Preparation
- Scholarship Applications
Knowledge is Power. And We’re All About Empowering Students.
There are $50 billion in scholarships given out each year. No matter what makes you stand out, there’s an award for you!
Scholarship Search Success
- Get Organized Before You Have To
- Start Your Scholarship Search Early (But It’s Never Too Late)
- Manage Your Time Wisely
- Don’t Get Discouraged
Scholarship Application Top 5 To Do’s
- Read Directions Thoroughly. Not following directions could disqualify your application.
- Be Sure YOU do the Work. Your scholarship application needs to be an authentic portrait of you.
- Tell Your Story. Even if you aren’t sure of what your major or career path will be, indicate your intentions and interests. Share your passions and important events in your life. It’s not just about your academics. Scholarship Providers want to know your story.
- Plan Ahead. Track deadlines. Sign-up for reminders.
- Prepare Your Recommenders. Provide your recommenders with key information about you and detailed directions for submitting the recommendation.
Activity Timing Guide
Sophomore Year
Record all of your activities:
- Job or Family responsibilities
- Athletics: club and high school
- Clubs and Organizations: 4-H, Speech Team, etc.
- Volunteer activities
- Church/Religious Activities
- Music/Theater/Art Activities
- Explore job fields/careers.
- Job or Family responsibilities
- Athletics: club and high school
- Clubs and Organizations: 4-H, Speech Team, etc.
- Volunteer activities
- Church/Religious Activities
- Music/Theater/Art Activities
- Explore job fields/careers.
Junior Year
- Create a resume and keep it
updated.
- Start searching for potential scholarships to apply for when you are eligible in your senior year. If there is an option to set-up a profile or get reminders, do it.
- Pare down colleges you plan to apply to.
- Prepare general goals and/ or overcoming obstacle essays you can tweak for different scholarship applications.
- Start searching for potential scholarships to apply for when you are eligible in your senior year. If there is an option to set-up a profile or get reminders, do it.
- Pare down colleges you plan to apply to.
- Prepare general goals and/ or overcoming obstacle essays you can tweak for different scholarship applications.
Senior Year
- Search scholarships early
and often. The majority of
scholarships will open and close
in the fall or early winter of your
senior year.
- Track application close dates. Schedule time to work on scholarship applications leading up to those deadlines with specific deliverables.
- Give advance notice (2-4 weeks) to anyone who is writing a recommendation for you.
- Track application close dates. Schedule time to work on scholarship applications leading up to those deadlines with specific deliverables.
- Give advance notice (2-4 weeks) to anyone who is writing a recommendation for you.
We’re Always Doing Something that Benefits Students.
Places to Look for Scholarships:
- Local school district or high school
- Parent employers and/or any membership organizations that they are affiliated with (examples: Kiwanis, American Legion, Masons, other clubs)
- Look at colleges you are applying to. They often list both internal and community scholarships
- Search engines like: fastweb.com, cappex.com/scholarships and scholly app
- Right here with Scholarship America! We’re here to help and empower students throughout their college journey – starting with scholarships. Explore opportunities that were made for you.
Ready to begin your scholarship journey?
Explore scholarship opportunities that were made for you.