{"id":6566,"date":"2020-09-14T14:37:20","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T14:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scholarshipowl.com\/blog\/?p=6566"},"modified":"2022-04-05T08:49:33","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T12:49:33","slug":"how-to-find-and-apply-for-scholarships-step-by-step","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scholarshipowl.com\/blog\/apply-for-scholarships\/how-to-find-and-apply-for-scholarships-step-by-step\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find and Apply For Scholarships Step by Step"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re one of the<\/span> 20 million students<\/span><\/a> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

College scholarships are a much better solution.\u00a0 Students of all ages and backgrounds can apply for scholarships, and win several.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So if anybody can apply, and win, why isn\u2019t everyone applying? Well, scholarship applications are discouraging for many students. They have different requirements and take a lot of time and energy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We understand the struggle, but you shouldn\u2019t 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Best Places to Find Scholarships\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Finding scholarships isn\u2019t the problem, it\u2019s finding the right ones. We\u2019re going to break down your different options for finding scholarships. We’ll also explain how to maximize your time and perfect your scholarship search.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scholarship Websites\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

The best way to find scholarships, by far, is to use<\/span> scholarship websites<\/span><\/a>. Websites like<\/span> ScholarshipOwl<\/span><\/a> make it super simple to find scholarships. All you have to do is create a profile and fill in information about yourself. You\u2019ll be matched with hundreds of scholarships that you\u2019re eligible to apply for in an instant.<\/span><\/p>\n

Search Engines\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

We all love Google, right? You can find anything, and of course, that includes college scholarships. A quick search will yield millions of results.<\/span><\/p>\n

While this might seem like a good approach it\u2019s probably <\/span>not<\/b> the best way to start. Many of the results won\u2019t be relevant to you. You’ll waste a lot of your time reading through pages and pages of useless information.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re going to go with a search engine like Google, try and make your searches as specific as possible. This way, you\u2019ll narrow down the results and find more relevant scholarships.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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 \u2018scholarships for female students in STEM fields from Colorado.\u2019 The more specific you can get the better your chances will be of finding scholarships you can win.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Government Grants\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re hoping to win a government grant for college, you\u2019ll need to demonstrate financial need. The biggest federal grant is the <\/span>Pell Grant<\/span><\/a>. To qualify for the Pell Grant, or any other grant from the federal government, you must first complete the <\/span>FAFSA<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

State Scholarships\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

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\u2019re from <\/span>Wisconsin<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Florida<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>Michigan<\/span><\/a>. You can find out more about your state\u2019s financial aid programs <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Search Locally<\/b><\/h3>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mobile Apps\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Have some time to kill while on that long bus ride? With ScholarshipOwl\u2019s mobile app, you can apply for scholarships straight from your phone! Finding scholarships has never been so easy. ScholarshipOwl\u2019s mobile app allows you to apply for scholarships from the comfort of your <\/span>Android<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>iOs<\/span><\/a> smartphone. Talk about a productive bus ride!<\/span><\/p>\n

Schools<\/b><\/h3>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Win More Scholarships<\/b><\/h3>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While it may be tempting to apply only for big-award scholarships, don\u2019t 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Scholarships\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Now that you know how to find scholarships, we\u2019re going to take you through the most important step, <\/span>applying<\/b>. <\/span>If you\u2019re a newcomer to scholarship applications or you need a refresher, this step-by-step guide will help you make sense of the whole process.<\/span> Grab a pen and some paper, and start taking notes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 1: Get Organized<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now that you have found some scholarships using our methods above, it\u2019s time to get organized. Before you start running ahead and filling out scholarship applications, open Excel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Step 2: Get Familiar With the Application Requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some common documents you might need to provide:<\/span><\/p>\n