Top quick wins to boost your scholarship chances

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Are you a hard-working student with the highest grades in class? Are you constantly involved in social activities such as volunteering? Or maybe you are the head of the student council? Do you think all that is enough to get you a scholarship?

While one cannot deny the fact the all the factors listed above are very important for your image, there are still some aspects that play a greater role than just being socially active or being a “’straight-A” student.

These aspects include some tiny issues that will grow into big problems if you don’t pay enough attention to them while preparing your scholarship application. So to help you avoid getting confused and lost, we’ve picked the best 10 quick wins to boost your scholarship chances.

  1. Start researching right now

When it comes to applying for scholarships, you need to worship one word, and it’s “a deadline”. You don’t want to miss it, and you don’t want to fill in your application in a rush.

Reportedly, the biggest scholarships are introduced and have deadlines in February and March. So start your research as soon as possible. Find out more about scholarship and what is required to get it. If you’re applying for a scientific scholarship, where you need to introduce a project of your own, find out all the details and what actually might help you to improve your chances!

Besides, it will show that you’re really interested. So don’t waste your time!

  1. Apply for as many scholarships as possible

Sometimes, getting a scholarship is more about luck than about your skills. So to increase your chances, find as many scholarships as you can and send your application.

Don’t forget about small scholarships as well. You are wrong if you think that they aren’t worth your time and effort. Besides, there’s a better chance that you get a small scholarship because they’re definitely less compatible. Moreover, the more small scholarships are there on your resume, the better are the chances to win the bigger ones!

  1. Match the requirements

This is one of the most important tips for the students who want to attend college or university and apply for a scholarship.

When searching for scholarships and preparing your application, there are specific requirements and rules you need to stick to. Missing just one tiny step can lead to a disqualification. Make a separate least of requirements and check several times whether you’re eligible or not. It requires some time and effort, but it’s the only way to make sure that you can apply for the scholarship you want.

  1. Don’t show off

Too much self-promotion can hurt your scholarship application. Of course, you need to stand out if you want to get a scholarship, but promoting yourself too much isn’t what you need.

All you need is to be yourself and stay true to who you are. You shouldn’t be ashamed of who you are, and God forbid you lie about your skills and experience! This is not the case where a little lie will not hurt anybody. So you should definitely avoid embellishing your scholarship application.

  1. Proofread

When preparing your scholarship application, it must be logically structured and grammatically correct. You can use one of the online grammar check apps, which allow you to quickly proofread and correct your application.

Another good tip is to ask someone to check an application for you. It can either be your parent, friend or a teacher. Online grammar and spelling check apps aren’t always effective, so to make sure you don’t miss anything, ask others for help.

  1. Answer optional questions

The word “optional” above the list of questions doesn’t mean you should skip it. On the contrary, the more questions you ask, the better are your chances to get the scholarship you want.

To get yourself through the high competition and other insurmountable obstacles, you need to show that you care more than others. Show your interest by paying close attention to those optional questions, because they are as important, as all other questions in your application.

  1. Don’t overdo yourself

For every scholarship, there’s a specific amount of words which you shouldn’t exceed. Often, if there are more words than required, the application can be disqualified. For sure, you can put the whole idea into a much smaller amount of words. Besides, sometimes it’s better to be concise than to overflow your application with too many words.

  1. Know your audience

Find out everything about the person or the people who will read your scholarship application. And search for as much information as you can about the scholarship provider. You can also find some information about the previous winners of the scholarship, or you can even contact them! This way you can get better prepared for anything that awaits you, because these people have already gone through this tough process. And you can learn how to impress everybody!

  1. Be professional

All scholarship providers do a little research on their applicants before they actually pick the valid candidates. They may go through your personal Facebook profile or find you on Instagram or other social networks.

Make sure that you keep all that professional. You should understand that scholarship providers are looking for the candidates that will further promote their scholarship and serve as a great example to others.

  1. Be positive

One of the top reasons why students refuse to apply for a scholarship is that they think they’re not good enough, even when they’re totally eligible.

This is no the approach you need. You need to sound positive in your application answers and be positive if the scholarship committee wants to meet you. For sure, you’re good enough to get this scholarship, and you shouldn’t doubt that!

Conclusion

Getting a scholarship is a difficult and stressful process, which requires a lot of time and effort. Doing it, you should understand that you’re taking a huge responsibility. Stick to these tips, and you’ll definitely increase the chances of winning the scholarship you need. Good luck!

Author Bio: Tom Jager is professional blogger. He has degree in Law and English literature. Tom has written numerous articles/online journals. You can reach him at G+  or  Facebook.

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