Winning a Scholarship Quick Reference Guide

Source: Fastweb.com

1. Start searching for scholarships as soon as possible. Don't wait until the spring of your senior year in high school to start searching, or you'll miss half the deadlines. There are many scholarships available to students in grades K-11, not just high school seniors.

2. To win more scholarships, apply to every scholarship for which you are eligible. It's a numbers game. Even among talented students, winning involves a bit of luck, not just skill. Pursue less competitive scholarships, such as small awards and essay contests.

3. Google your name to ensure that you have a professional online presence. Use a clean email address, such as firstname.lastname@gmail.com. Review your social media accounts, removing inappropriate and immature material. Share your social media accounts with your guidance counselor to make sure you did not miss anything.

4. Personalize your essay and be passionate. Write about something of interest to you. Make your application stand out from the crowd. Talk about your impact on other people. Give examples and be specific. Proofread a printed copy of your essay and the application for spelling and grammar errors.

The Fastweb scholarship database is updated daily and the site will email you notifications of new scholarships.

You can download the complete PDF here.