We all know that education can be expensive. Especially higher education in a foreign country. Books and academic fees are not the only things students have to think about.
Apart from these costs, you have a hundred extra expenses to cover. Boarding and lodging expenses drain out most of your savings.
Luckily, there are student scholarships that cover all these major payments.
Expert Tips on How to Earn Scholarships for College:
1. The Early Bird Catches the Worm
True to this saying, start applying for scholarships early. Starting out early gives you the chance to seize the opportunity before anyone else.
Scouting for scholarships can be a daunting task. It’s not an overnight job. So, start early.
Scholarships are given to those who are deserving. Remember there are thousands of people eyeing the same scholarship you want.
So, this is where you have to stand out. Some scholarships require students to write essays and submit project work. This is the process of filtering out.
It is through these submissions that you prove you deserve the scholarship. So, starting your work early gives you ample time to research before you write an essay and submit it.
2. Everybody is a Teacher if You Just Listen
Networking with a lot of people at this time can get you the information you can use. Speak to your professors or a student who just earned a scholarship.
You can get useful tips from them. Sometimes colleges themselves have a scholarship bank. You can ask the coordinator for a list of available scholarships from the college.
It will be a good idea to start your search here. College mentors, guides, teachers, and professors are the best resource persons for information on scholarships.
It is also a good idea to let your friends and acquaintances know that your scholarship hunting. This way the word gets around.
You never know when luck strikes and you may land a scholarship just by word of mouth. So, start networking and let everyone know what you are looking for.
Updating your social media presence is another way of how to earn scholarships. You might wonder how this can help, but it does. Let’s see how social media contributes:
- Social media links you to people offering scholarships
- Create a website or a blog about yourself. You never know who is watching
- Create a LinkedIn account that’s where all the business happens
- Advertise yourself
3. Search and You Will Find
Another method of how to earn scholarships is to never stop looking. Keep your search in action.
You can browse through the internet and look out for the various scholarships that are available. You can filter them by listing the ones that suit you.
Some scholarships may have different requirements like qualifications and background. Note down the scholarship under which you qualify.
This way your list gets smaller and it becomes easier for you to start working on fulfilling all their criteria.
Do a rough search on the internet. Find out what are the types of scholarships available to students in general.
After you made an initial search you can narrow down the search. Some search engines are entirely dedicated to scholarship searches for students.
You can browse through these websites to get an idea of the kind of scholarships available:
These sites help you to find out about available scholarships. There are so many out there. Be vigilant. Since you started your scholarship search early you are at an advantage.
Also, it is a good idea to search your local area for scholarships.
When you have local scholarships, you are competing with a few 100 students which gives you a better chance than when you compete with thousands of students from the country. Keep a watch for your community scholarships.
4. About Me
Every college application and every scholarship application always ask you to fill out a portion under the title “ABOUT ME”.
So, when you know this is what they want to see, why don’t you make it worth the read. Prepare an essay about yourself.
List out your strengths and highlight your specialties and talents. Make sure that what you write about yourself is true.
Take time to write your essay. Remember this is the first impression you create.
5. Practice Makes You Perfect
Most scholarships require you to attend an interview. It is better to be prepared for such interviews.
Ask yourself questions that the interviewer may ask you. You can practice in front of the mirror or ask a friend to question you.
This way you can be well prepared for any question that the interviewer may ask you.
6. Spotlight Your Talents and Work on Your Grades
Getting good grades is one of the ways of how to earn scholarships. However, it’s not the only thing scholarships look for.
Some scholarships focus on the extracurricular talents you have or a certain skill. So, it is a good idea to brush up on those skills and your latent hidden talents.
Pursue a simultaneous online course and brush up on a few IT skills or any such short courses that may help you sharpen your skills.
Do not ignore your talents. Sometimes it’s these talents that scholarships look for. You can be a great dancer or singer. Do not hesitate to put these talents on paper.
7. Get a Critical Opinion of Your Application
Another tip on how to earn scholarships is to get your application critically analysed by a professional. Before you submit your scholarship application it is better to get a critical view of it.
It could be your college professor or someone qualified to scrutinise it. Getting a second opinion or even a third opinion on your application makes it perfect.
8. Get Honest Recommendations
Since scholarships are given to those who really deserve them, scholarships usually require you to be recommended by someone else. Letters of recommendations have good weightage.
Remember to get your letters of recommendation from people who know you well. It is nice to have a personal meeting with them requesting a good recommendation letter.
You can also provide them with the format of the letter. Furnish details about yourself so that they include every aspect in the letter recommendation.
9. Read and Read Over Again
When you get scholarship details, do not forget to read every detail of the scholarship. Read and read again. You cannot afford to miss out on any detail or document required by the scholarship.
Missing out on a single detail can cost you the entire scholarship. So, make sure you understand what the scholarship needs from you.
It could be a certain document or a tiny detail. Remember to enclose it all before you submit your application.
10. Perseverance
One of the first rules of how to earn scholarships in college is to never give up. Looking for scholarships is tedious and tiring.
However, the point is to never lose hope. There is always one that is meant for you. Remember, never give up, it is usually always the last key in the bunch that unlocks the door.
Conclusion
Following these points will definitely guide you while searching and applying for scholarships. Remember it’s a scholarship jungle out there and finding one that fits you will not be a cakewalk.
Having said that, also remember that a winner is not someone who never fails, but is someone who never quits.
You May Also Like Scholarship to Study Abroad for Indian Students
