I’m amazed at the number of students who want to apply for a scholarship but have not prepared or positioned themselves to get a scholarship. If you don’t know what a scholarship organization is asking for, how can you prepare yourself to obtain the scholarship? Too many students are missing out on scholarship opportunities because they haven’t prepared themselves. In order to get in the best position to obtain scholarships you need to know what scholarship organizations are looking for and get an early start.
In general, scholarship organizations are looking for students who have good grades, who volunteer and involve themselves in extracurricular activities. Having a leadership role can weigh even more heavily.
To prepare yourself to be scholarship ready, consider the following tips.
- Maintain good grades- Yes, there are scholarships for students with a 2.0-2.5 GPA. But having a GPA of 3.0 or higher will open up more scholarship opportunities for you.
- Volunteer-By the beginning of your 8th grade year you should start thinking about the kinds of volunteer activities you would like to participate in as you move on to high school. You should give careful thought to the types of volunteer opportunities you take part in. Remember, colleges are accepting you based on what you do during your freshman, sophomore and junior years.
- Get involved in extracurricular activities-Participate in activities that reinforce your interests and passion. You do not need to get involved in a bunch of activities. Too much involvement can cause you to miss deadlines. Sustainable commitment and interest in one or two activities is very effective. Find something on your campus that interests you. If you have clarified your career goals, find activities that relate to your career interest.
- Begin your scholarship search in freshman year-You can apply for scholarships starting at age 13. Certainly by the time you begin your freshman year of high school you should begin your search and your preparation. The same scholarships that are available to senior students in your high school are available to you when you get to your senior year. You should research the scholarships before senior year to get a head start. Waiting until your senior year to volunteer and get involved is too late. Remember, it’s the early bird that gets the worm. My son obtained his debt-free education because he prepared and positioned himself early. He was scholarship ready.