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Six Rules to Always follow when filling out a Scholarship Application
by H. Miller

Filling out scholarship applications can be very frustrating and confusing. Every scholarship has different requirements and different deadlines. It is difficult enough to finish just one college application let alone fill out several scholarship applications.

But don't worry! I have a few tips that will help you get through the process a lot smoother.

Read The Applications carefully

Every scholarship is different. Unfortunately no two applications have the same requirements. One application may ask for 1000 word essay while another one may ask for a 500 word essay. That's why it is so important to read and get a full understanding of what is required before you submit your application. Otherwise it will be discarded and you would have wasted precious time.

Prepare, prepare, prepare.

Have you ever heard the statement "proper preparation prevents poor performance"? The 5 P's. This could not be further from the truth. You see, if you are smart, and I know you are, you will be applying for several scholarships in the hope of possibly going to school absolutely free. You don't want to wait until the last minute and throw together an essay or personal statement. Prepare in advance. Practice your personal statement. I would recommend you start doing scholarship research and start writing the rough draft of your personal statement 6 months before the deadline. Take time out a few times a week to work on it. This is very important stuff. These companies look at thousands of applications a day. You want to make sure yours stands out.

Work within the space you are given

By this I mean do not use continuation sheets on your scholarship applications. They give you specific requirements for a reason. If they say 1000 words keep it at 1000 words. This is why it is so important to prepare. List only what is important for that particular application. If you have extra space after you do that then you can add in some extra stuff.

Give them what they want

Always give the provider of the scholarship exactly what they are asking for. If they are looking for someone with leadership skills then give them an example of your leadership skills. If they want someone with excellent writing skills then show that to them in your application. Use your personality traits to your advantage.

Explain why you want to study a particular subject

Many mess up on this step. They fail to give a logical reason why they want to study a particular subject. There has to be a reason why you chose your major of choice. Relay this in your application.

Proofread

Before you mail off your application make sure you proofread it. Have someone else proofread it as well. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can catch something you might not. Make sure you are getting your message across very clear. If it passes the 2 proofreads mail it off and believe for the best.

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