Increasing your
scholarship odds
(Family Features) — While there is no
way to guarantee a scholarship to help
offset the costs of higher education,
there are things you can do to increase
your odds of getting noticed by admissions
departments and those who award
scholarships.
Before sending in your application,
consider these tips:
Get involved
Students who are involved in extracurricular
activities, such as volunteer
causes, sports, clubs or student government,
often give themselves a leg up on
the competition when achievements in
the classroom are similar.
Getting involved outside of the school
day is also a way to network, which can
be helpful when it comes time to ask for
letters of recommendation.
Apply early
A good rule of thumb is to not wait
until the due date to submit your application
and other materials.
Issues out of your control can arise,
such as a website malfunction or a
not-yet-submitted recommendation
letter.
In fact, some scholarships close once
they receive a certain amount of applicants,
and those reviewing applications
can put a premium on those received
earlier.
Look professional
Ensure your online presence matches
the persona your application depicts.
As more college admissions departments,
employers and scholarship committees
are researching candidates online
prior to awarding admission, interviews
or scholarship money, be sure to clear
your social media accounts of any inappropriate
or unprofessional material.
Look yourself up on search engines
to be aware of any information available
about you, and use a simple email address
that includes your name in some
fashion.
Proofread
Read back through your scholarship
application and your essay a few times
once you’re finished to ensure everything
looks and sounds as you intended.
Pay particularly close attention to
spelling and grammar.
If time permits, ask someone you trust
— such as a parent, teacher or counselor
— to double-check your work prior to
submitting your application.
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