If you are getting ready to go to college, scholarships are incredibly important. They can help you reduce the amount of money you have to spend on your education or they can even offer you a complete education at no cost to you. However, there are many misconceptions and questions about scholarships. Let’s go over some of the most common ones.
1. Do I really have a chance? Everyone knows that scholarships are hard to get, especially for the more popular ones that are very competitive. The answer is that yes, you do have a chance if you follow their instructions and complete the best application possible. Take the time to really learn about a scholarship before you apply to increase your chances of winning it.
2. Do I need to be a genius to get a scholarship? No, you don’t have to be, but it always helps. In all seriousness, people with higher grade point averages typically are awarded merit scholarships before those that don’t. However, there are specialized scholarships that are geared towards specific industries as well as lottery scholarships that don’t look at grade point averages as closely. You will however need to meet the scholarships minimum grade point average to apply.
3. Do I really need a letter of recommendation? It can be a little awkward to ask someone to supply you with this, however, it can make a big difference in whether you are awarded the scholarship. Go to a teacher or a community leader that knows you well. This will carry more weight than the guy next door, and give a better impression of who you are. The best recommendation letters are the ones written by people who really know you, so keep this in mind when asking for assistance.
4. Does community service really make a difference? Yes, it actually does. People who donate their time to their community are generally perceived as being more involved and more stable. A scholarship committee will see this as a picture of a well rounded person who really cares about others. This really does help you paint a better picture of yourself to a committee that will most likely never meet you in person.
Whether it is a merit scholarship or a lottery scholarship, it pays to be prepared. Take the time to fill out your application correctly and include all the necessary information that is requested. This will greatly increase your chances of acceptance.
