Think you have to be an academic all-star to get any scholarship money? Think again. You can find scholarships awarded for involvement, heritage, location, athletics, and even your hobbies and interests. But they won’t fall into your lap.
Applying for scholarships at K-State is as simple as filling out one application. It only takes a few minutes and can be completed online. But for scholarships within specific departments or outside the university, the requirements may be steeper. Check out these tips to maximize your scholarship potential.
Don’t put off applying for scholarships as long as you put off studying for that last chemistry test. It’s always better to apply early. Not only will your punctuality be appreciated, but you’ll also greatly reduce your risk of missing deadlines.
Don’t underestimate yourself. Apply for everything you qualify for, even if you don’t think you’ll win. You won’t win the lottery without a ticket.
Be prepared to write an essay to accompany some of your applications. It may be helpful to prepare a basic essay listing your activities, classes, awards, and honors, but don’t expect that general essay to work for everything. Be sure to read each application’s essay requirements—the same essay probably won’t work for an academic application and a community service application. And don’t forget: spelling and grammar do count.
No matter what type of scholarship you’re applying for, being involved in school and the community will always help boost your application. So don’t be shy about mentioning your activities! The more involved you are, the more money you’re eligible for.
Some scholarship applications will ask for your resume. If you worked during high school, list your experiences, but don’t sweat it if you don’t have much (or any!) work experience—many high school students don’t. Use your resume to point out any awards and honors, community service, and other extracurricular activities.
Whether or not an application requires a resume, you might be asked to provide at least one reference. Have a few in mind. It’s best to choose teachers/coaches/mentors/bosses who have known you for at least a year and are willing to vouch for your character. Teachers make great references, but make sure your references are appropriate to the application. If you’re applying for a community service scholarship, your math teacher might not be much help—even if you did ace his class.
