How to Find and Apply For Scholarships Step by Step

If you’re one of the 20 million students that attend college every year, you may also be among the 70% of students that take out loans to pay for college. Loans may offer a temporary solution, but they can leave you over $30,000 in debt after graduating.

College scholarships are a much better solution.  Students of all ages and backgrounds can apply for scholarships, and win several. 

So if anybody can apply, and win, why isn’t everyone applying? Well, scholarship applications are discouraging for many students. They have different requirements and take a lot of time and energy. 

We understand the struggle, but you shouldn’t miss out on free money for college! To make things just a bit easier, here is a step-by-step guide to help you find and apply for scholarships.

The Best Places to Find Scholarships 

Finding scholarships isn’t the problem, it’s finding the right ones. We’re going to break down your different options for finding scholarships. We’ll also explain how to maximize your time and perfect your scholarship search.

Scholarship Websites 

The best way to find scholarships, by far, is to use scholarship websites. Websites like ScholarshipOwl make it super simple to find scholarships. All you have to do is create a profile and fill in information about yourself. You’ll be matched with hundreds of scholarships that you’re eligible to apply for in an instant.

Search Engines 

We all love Google, right? You can find anything, and of course, that includes college scholarships. A quick search will yield millions of results.

While this might seem like a good approach it’s probably not the best way to start. Many of the results won’t be relevant to you. You’ll waste a lot of your time reading through pages and pages of useless information.

If you’re going to go with a search engine like Google, try and make your searches as specific as possible. This way, you’ll narrow down the results and find more relevant scholarships.

Before starting to search for scholarships, sit down, and think about your identity. Who are you? What qualities do you have? What makes you unique? Your gender, race, state you live in, disabilities, family status, characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, and hobbies are all great things to write down. You will use this information to guide your scholarship search.

For example, if you’re a basketball player, you might search for scholarships for basketball students. You can even combine your criteria for more specific results. For example, you might search for ‘scholarships for female students in STEM fields from Colorado.’ The more specific you can get the better your chances will be of finding scholarships you can win. 

Government Grants 

If you’re hoping to win a government grant for college, you’ll need to demonstrate financial need. The biggest federal grant is the Pell Grant. To qualify for the Pell Grant, or any other grant from the federal government, you must first complete the FAFSA. 

State Scholarships 

Most states offer at least one grantor scholarship program to residents. The awards may be based on merit or financial need. Check out these top scholarships if you’re from Wisconsin, Florida, or Michigan. You can find out more about your state’s financial aid programs here.  

Search Locally

You might be able to find college scholarships right in your own community. The best part about these scholarships? There is much less competition, which means that your chances of winning are higher. Look for scholarships from your place of worship, ethnicity-based organizations, community centers, libraries and businesses. You may find scholarships listed in local newspapers and local bulletin boards at your school or library.

Mobile Apps 

Have some time to kill while on that long bus ride? With ScholarshipOwl’s mobile app, you can apply for scholarships straight from your phone! Finding scholarships has never been so easy. ScholarshipOwl’s mobile app allows you to apply for scholarships from the comfort of your Android or iOs smartphone. Talk about a productive bus ride!

Schools

Your high school or the college you attend or plan to attend can be great sources of scholarships. Many schools have scholarships for their own students. Check with your high school advisor to inquire about scholarships. If you’re already in college, visit the financial aid office at your college to find out about the financial aid they offer. They may have scholarships based on major, sports, GPA, and test scores. 

How to Win More Scholarships

One scholarship is good but two or three are even better! The best way to win more scholarships is to apply to more! Worried about having to fill out application after application? We would be too! With ScholarshipOwl, you simply fill out one application for multiple scholarships and your applications will be sent for you. You have less tedious work to worry about, and time to focus on the more critical parts of the scholarship application, like the essay. 

While it may be tempting to apply only for big-award scholarships, don’t dismiss smaller scholarships. Small scholarships receive fewer applicants, and you have a better chance of winning. Plus, if you win a few scholarships, you can combine them all and create a nice financial aid package for yourself.

Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Scholarships 

Now that you know how to find scholarships, we’re going to take you through the most important step, applying. If you’re a newcomer to scholarship applications or you need a refresher, this step-by-step guide will help you make sense of the whole process. Grab a pen and some paper, and start taking notes.

Step 1: Get Organized

Now that you have found some scholarships using our methods above, it’s time to get organized. Before you start running ahead and filling out scholarship applications, open Excel. 

Create a chart (or use this sample we made for you) to keep track of all the scholarships you want to apply for. Include information about scholarship deadlines and required documents.

Step 2: Get Familiar With the Application Requirements

After picking out some scholarships to apply for, your next step is to identify the application requirements. Every scholarship has its own requirements. Luckily, you are sure to encounter the same requirements over and over again.

Here are some common documents you might need to provide:

• Scholarship Application Form. This is the first and most basic part of the application. Make sure to fill in your information accurately.  

• Transcripts/diplomas. This one is pretty straight forward. You may get transcript copies from your high school or university website. You can also visit the Guidance or Registrar’s Office.

• SAT or ACT scores. Some scholarship applications will require that you send your SAT or ACT scores. You can send your SAT scores through the College Board’s website. Act scores can be sent from here.

• Essays. Not all scholarships require essays. But if they do, this is definitely where you’re going to want to focus a lot of your energy. Your personality, uniqueness, and drive need to be clear to the reader. 
• Letters of Recommendation: This is another very important part of the application.  A letter of recommendation comes from a teacher, guidance counselor, or college professor. Do not wait for the last minute to ask your recommender for a letter of recommendation! A good letter of recommendation takes time to write. We recommend reaching out to your recommender at least a month before and setting up a time to meet with them.

• FAFSA. Many need-based scholarships require you to submit your FAFSA form.

• Resume. While this is usually not a requirement, it can be a great way to spruce up your scholarship application. Think of it as an extra space to highlight your skills, accomplishments, and past experiences. Find out how to write a great resume.

• Portfolio. If you are applying for art and design scholarships, you will likely need to submit your portfolio.

Step 3: Start Applying for Scholarships

Never underestimate how much time it takes to apply for scholarships. The worst thing you can do is rush through a scholarship application. You are more likely to make mistakes in your application. It will be obvious to the scholarship judges that you don’t care about the scholarship.

Start applying as soon as scholarship applications become available. Some scholarships, like the Stuck at Prom scholarship contest, require you to create something, in this case, a prom dress from duct tape. Many scholarships require you to write one or two essays. Other scholarships may require you to create a video.

Start working on those applications early and beat the crowd.

Step 4: Write WOW Essays

Your scholarship essays are one of the most important parts of the application. We know that writing essays can be intimidating. You are tackling unfamiliar territories, and juggling other tasks like homework and tests. The most important thing to do is take a deep breath, give yourself enough time to work on the essays and know what the scholarship judges are looking for. Here are some tips to help you write an essay that will impress the scholarship committee:

• Pay Attention to instructions! You will be judged on how well you can follow directions. Don’t go over the word limit (or under) and answer all parts of the essay question.

• Start working on your essays early! Writing essays takes time. You’ll want to leave yourself enough time to edit your essay, proofread it, and pass it along to a family member to go over. Having another set of eyes read your essay can help you catch mistakes that you didn’t see.
• Skip the pink font and include a catchy title! Use this scholarship essay format.

• Create an outline. Writing up an outline before starting to work on your essays can really help you stay organized. It can also assure that your essay flows logically and that you cover all parts of the essay question. We aren’t suggesting you need to write a three page outline. Write down a general idea of what you’ll talk about in each paragraph and you’re good to go.

• Make yourself stand out! We can’t stress this one enough. There are hundreds, if not thousands of students applying for the same scholarships as you. What can you say that hasn’t been said by another student? What are your strengths? What obstacles have you had to overcome in your life? Bring your personality into the essay and make yourself shine.

Step 5: Submit Your Application and Supporting Documents

After working hard on the essays, filling out the scholarship application with accurate details, and gathering all other supporting documents, it’s time to submit! Most scholarships may be submitted online, but there are some that you’ll have to mail in or email. If the scholarship requires a letter of recommendation, make sure your recommender knows how to submit their recommendation. 

Step 6: Wait to Hear if You Won! 

This is the most nerve wracking part; checking the status of your application. Make sure that your application and all supporting documents have been received. You can contact the scholarship provider if you would like to know how long it will take to hear back. At this point, you can also open your excel chart and write the date on which you submitted your application, to keep track.

Step 7: Keep Applying For Scholarships.

Didn’t win the scholarship of your dreams? Hold up! it’s not time to throw in the towel. You can keep applying for scholarships, in any season, as long as you’re a student. You can also keep applying for the same scholarships again. We recommend looking at past scholarship winners to see what the scholarship committee is looking for. 

Trust us when we say, there isn’t one perfect time to apply for scholarships. Of course, it’s reassuring to start college off with a scholarship in hand. But rest assured! There are tons of scholarships for sophomore, junior, and senior students as well. There are scholarships for graduate students and postgraduate students. There are also scholarships for students of all ages ranging from freshmen in high school to senior citizens!

When and Where Do You Receive Your Scholarship Money?

You’re probably curious to know when you will see the scholarship money if you win. When you receive the scholarship money will differ from scholarship to scholarship. You might get the money before the start of the school year or you might get the money in installments. You might even get it to smack dab in the middle of the semester. 

If you’re checking your bank account to look for a big deposit, you likely won’t see it there. Scholarship providers usually send the money directly to your college to be used towards your tuition. They do this to assure that you aren’t spending the free money on a new car or wardrobe. 

In some instances, scholarship providers do send you a check. In this case, they will clearly state how you may spend the money, for instance, on books and supplies. Failing to follow the rules can make you forfeit the scholarship money all together. 

Final Thoughts

We understand the stress that goes along with applying for scholarships. We would hate for you to miss out on scholarship money because of this. We’ve created this step-by-step guide so that you’ll feel more comfortable and confident about applying for scholarships.