If you’re like most students then you are probably interested in applying for scholarships but don’t know how or where to begin.

Well, you’re in luck!

As someone who has gone through this process for a number of years and has won over $55,000 in scholarships, I’m going to tell you all of the tips and tricks I learned along the way.

Related: “Try These 20 Easy Ways to Make College Affordable“

Related: Join our newsletter to gain full access to our free scholarship database.

1. Pay a visit to the financial aid/scholarship office.

This is the best place to start because the administrators there are well-versed in what scholarships are offered by your institution and its community partners.

Why?

It’s because it’s their job to know!

They can also help you find scholarships that you are eligible for or at the very least direct you to resources you can use.

2. Take advantage of credible scholarship websites.

It is a good idea to use online databases because you don’t have to click through each individual scholarship link on Google since they will be there all in one place.

This is a HUGE time-saver because there are literally MILLIONS of links on Google.

Below are my favorite resources:

• Cappex
• Chegg Scholarships
• CollegeBoard
• Finaid
• PeerLift
• Scholarship America
• Scholarships.com

Be sure to input as much information as you can in the search tool (including optional ones) to ensure better results and stick to websites with high reviews. 

Tip: Scholarships.com can be a little tricky to use so I find it easier to just scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the links that apply to you (e.g., “Scholarships for African-Americans”). There is no sign-up needed.

3. Tailor your Google search to organizations you’re interested in.

It is equally important to apply to organizations that share your values because you can speak to these similarities in your essay and/or interview.

Plus when you apply to organizations that you’re actually interested in, your enthusiasm will naturally present itself to the scholarship committee members.

For example, if I want to know if the Department of Defense has scholarship opportunities, I could Google: “Department of Defense Scholarships” (and yes, there are many in case you’re interested).

Tip: Most large and well-known organizations, corporations, and government agencies will offer financial assistance in some form (e.g., scholarships, research grants, paid internships, employment, stipend).

This is also a great method because you are more likely to stay with organizations that share your values and develop lasting relationships you can rely on in the future (e.g., letters of recommendation, employment opportunities).

These simple steps are small but can make the difference between winning or losing a scholarship.

4. Apply to local scholarships.

This is arguably the most important strategy because these types of scholarships are only available to a specific geographical location, which means you have a statistically higher chance of winning since there is less competition.

Narrow your Google search to the (a) city, (b) county, and (c) state of your residence.

For example, if you live in Newport Beach then look for scholarships in:

• Newport Beach (city)
• Orange County (county)
• California (state)

Here is how I would Google it:

• “Scholarships in Newport Beach“
• “Scholarships in Orange County“
• “Scholarships in California“

This method is effective because it systematizes your search so you can thoroughly and methodically search for relevant scholarship opportunities.

Basically, it gives you a sense of direction and guides your search so no rock is left unturned. That way, you don’t waste time and avoid being inefficient.

5. My 30:70 rule.

Like investing, it is important to diversify your reach so I recommend including national and well-known scholarships in what I call your “scholarship portfolio”.

My method is 30% of scholarships you apply to be at the national level or are well-known while the remaining 70% are at the local level. This maximizes your chances of winning while minimizing your risk.

I recommend making a list of EVERY scholarship you are interested in (local AND national) and separate them by difficulty. Out of every 10 scholarships you submit, seven should be local while three are national or well-known.

In short, you want to focus on scholarships you can win while having a small stake in ones with a bigger reward.

6. Don’t overlook smaller scholarships.

Students tend to make the mistake of applying to prestigious scholarships because the award is much larger. However, the problem is most applicants will have that same idea so the applicant pool for these scholarships is very large.

This means you will have a much lower chance of winning because more people equals more competition.

Keep in mind that small numbers easily add up to bigger ones which is why you should focus mostly on smaller scholarships (around $500).

Small scholarships have a high success rate because:

1. No one knows about them (rarely promoted)
2. Less competitive
3. Easier to win

Think of it this way, it is much easier to win two $500 scholarships than a single $1,000 scholarship. By the same token, it is much easier to win two $250 scholarships than a $500 one.

Tip: Combine steps 4, 5, and 6 so that you apply to small and local scholarships. This way you maximize your chances of winning easy money.

7. Go to community college.

Community college is a great place to start applying for scholarships since there is less competition.

This is because community college students are generally not as active on campus and are typically unaware of scholarship opportunities offered by their college.

8. The early bird catches the worm.

I can’t emphasize this enough but the earlier you start applying, the more scholarship opportunities you will have. Obviously, if you apply at the end of the academic year (summer), there won’t be any left so plan accordingly.

The best time to apply is during the Fall because it’s the start of the academic year and this is when organizations get their scholarship funding for the year.

It is also never too early and it’s never too late to start applying for scholarships! So whether you’re a high school freshman or a PhD student, just start applying.

9. Read the instructions carefully!

This sounds like common sense but so many people neglect it. For example, do you always read the terms of agreement before you sign something, or do you just skip to the signing part?

When you write your scholarship essay, follow the directions exactly as they are. This means sticking to the topic they provided and do NOT exceed the word limit.

Unlike the terms of agreement, skipping any of these steps will get you disqualified so don’t let all of your hard work go down the drain because you were careless.

Tip: Print out the guideline and prompt so you can easily refer to them when you’re writing your essay.

10. Tailor each essay to the organization.

Sure, most prompts will ask you similar questions but keep in mind that they are not identical (keyword is “similar”, not “same”) so don’t write a generic essay or recycle an old one.

All that would accomplish is hurt your chances because you will come across as fake. Instead, include the reasons that drew you to this scholarship and why you’re a good fit (also mention the organization specifically).

Note: This is why Step 3 is so important. When you apply to organizations you’re already interested in, the application process won’t feel like a chore.

11. Add a personal touch.

I get it, this is probably your 10th essay so you probably weren’t as focused as your first one.

I’ve been there so I totally get it, but the problem with submitting a generic essay is that you’re not going to stand out so you might as well not apply in the first place. 

The goal of the essay is to paint a vivid picture of who you are as a person and the journey you have taken along the way.

Here are some of the points you should address:

• Describe yourself.
• What makes you different?
• Why do you deserve this scholarship?
• How has your journey defined you?
• How has it shaped your academic interests?
• What are your academic and career goals?
• Why did you choose this scholarship/organization?

By writing a meaningful and personal essay, you will not only breathe life into it, but you can turn a reviewer into a cheerleader.

Tip: If you’re a member of a certain group (e.g., Veteran, PoC, sexual minority), play it to your advantage. Incorporate those experiences into your application and convey the importance of it. 

12. Don’t be robotic.

Just be fun and creative (or at the very least don’t be bland).

Most importantly, do NOT repeat the prompt in your essay – that’s the epitome of boring and is a common mistake applicants make.

Reviewers have seen this a hundred times and you definitely don’t want to be the one-hundred-and-first one. Instead, paraphrase the prompt or write your essay in a way that makes it obvious what you’re talking about.

Tip: If you need help improving your writing, I recommend reading books and other scholarly sources, such as the New York Times or the Scientific American.

13. If you’re not proofreading it 100 times, then it’s not good enough.

I know this comes off as obsessive and perfectionist (and maybe it is) but the fact is there is always room for improvement.

Of course, you don’t actually have to proofread it 100 times but you do have to go through the motion of drafting many (and I do mean MANY) versions of your essay until you are confident it reflects your best work.

Tip: Read it aloud in different places and over a number of days. Ask for a second or third opinion. Trust me, you will be surprised by how different it sounds in your head or from the day before.

14. Submit the application at least one day before the deadline.

Do not, I repeat, do not submit your application on the day it is due.

My philosophy is “hope for the best but plan for the worst” because like with every website on the due date, it crashes.

Have you heard of Murphy’s Law?

Trust me, something always goes wrong at the last minute and at the worst possible time so it’s best to err on the side of caution.

15. Get a third opinion.

The point is to ask a neutral party to read your essay and provide constructive criticism. Don’t ask friends or family because they likely won’t offer meaningful feedback in an attempt to spare your feelings.

Find someone who is objective and unafraid to say what they mean and mean what they say.

These individuals include:

• Classmates
• Teachers
• Tutors
• Strangers
• Editors
• Writing Center

16. Easier is not better.

Keep in mind that other applicants are going through the same process as you are, which means scholarships that require more work and extensive documentation will naturally have fewer applicants. 

These requirements include:

• Essays
• Video submissions
• Projects
• Letters of recommendation
• Transcripts
• Test scores

Related: “3 Easy Steps to Secure a Strong Letter of Recommendation“

This is good news because fewer people means less competition for you.

By the same token, be wary of “easy” scholarships because if it has a low barrier to entry then EVERYONE is going to apply.

17. Applying is NOT a numbers game.

“Submit it, it’s just a numbers game.”

I hear this all the time and it’s completely WRONG because the assumption is that every application is the same when it’s not.

Here’s an example:

• Person A spent three weeks crafting the perfect scholarship essay and regularly reminded teachers to submit a letter of recommendation. S/he also submitted her application a day before the deadline.
• Person B realized the deadline was in two days but was able to submit everything at the last minute.

Would you say Person A and Person B have an equal chance of winning the same scholarship?

No right?

This is why I always tell students that applying to scholarships is NOT a numbers game. Ultimately, it is more important to submit a lower number of high-quality applications than many poorly written ones.

It’s just as the saying goes: “quality over quantity”

18. Email lists are more valuable than gold.

Organizations that award scholarships, such as student clubs and university departments, usually have an under-the-radar email list that many students are not aware of.

This is a shame because so many valuable opportunities go unnoticed, but it is to your advantage since fewer people means less competition.

Tip: The best places to look on campus are the financial aid/scholarship office, university departments, and student organizations.

I strongly recommend joining email lists that focus on a specific major or career.

This way you frequently encounter scholarships and job opportunities that only a small subset of people are eligible for but you’re always one of the few since it’s your major/career!

Here are examples of specialized organizations:

• Psychology Honors Society (Psi Chi)
• American Psychological Association (Division 7)
• Clinical Psychology Department

19. Start an Excel spreadsheet.

There are two methods that I use to determine which scholarships are worth my time:

1. Color Coding Method
2. Grading Method

With the color coding method, I color low priority scholarships red, moderate priority yellow, and high priority green. This is the quickest and easiest method to use.

Alternatively, the grading method uses a 3-point scale to measure three factors:

• Award amount (1 = not worth it, 2 = worth it, 3 = definitely worth it)
• Deadline (1 = not enough time, 2 = enough time, 3 = plenty of time)
• Expected effort (1 = extensive, 2 = above average, 3 = average)

Scholarships with a total score of 3-4 should be avoided, 5 should be considered, and 6-9 should be the ones you focus on.  

This is the most precise method and is useful for determining the order of applying for scholarships since they can be ranked by score. However, it is more time-consuming than the first method.

Tip: You can save time by creating a formula on Excel or Google Sheet to automatically compute scores when you input a value.

20. Treat this like a real (part-time) job.

Successful applicants are those who set a regular time each week to apply for scholarships and coordinate application materials.

When you can commit to a regular time, you get in the habit of applying to scholarships each week and it doesn’t take as much effort as it did before.

I recommend setting aside three hours every week to work on scholarships – weekends are usually the most flexible option for students.

A good strategy to approach scholarships is to break them up over several weeks with a clear goal. The idea is to check off a step each week so that you won’t feel overwhelmed when it’s the due date.

Here is an example:

• Week 1: Research scholarships
• Week 2: Complete the application
• Week 3: Brainstorm the essay
• Week 4: Finish the first draft
• Week 5: Finish the second draft

21. Be a triple threat.

The most common themes among scholarships are academic achievement (>3.0 GPA), leadership, and community service. Knowing this, make every attempt to strengthen those skills during undergrad and beyond.

If you want to get a head start then begin developing those skills while in high school and build on those experiences in college.

22. Use a professional email.

First impressions are important because it can determine whether your application is considered or not.

Just like an interview, you have to look the part, which includes having a professional email.

Don’t use your personal one, especially if it’s inappropriate or unprofessional (e.g., sexyboy1995). Instead, use a school email if you have one or create a new one.

23. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Many universities and departments will use the information you provided in your FAFSA application to automatically consider you for their scholarships so it’s killing two birds with one stone.

There is no reason to not apply because the worst case scenario is you don’t get free money while best case scenario you have 100% of your tuition covered.

Tip: The same applies to the California Dream Act Application if you don’t have a SSN or are a DACA recipient.

24. Take the PSAT.

Succeeding on the PSAT is not only a good indicator of future success on the SAT but your exam score will be automatically considered for National Merit Scholarships.

The top scorers on the PSAT (99th percentile) will have an opportunity to win a $2,500 scholarship.

Although this might not sound like a lot, the financial reward mostly comes from having the title because many universities will incentivize applicants by offering a better financial aid package.

25. Embed quotes, not quote them.

I know this will contradict what you’ve heard most of your academic career but let me explain.

What I mean is paraphrasing and integrating key aspects of the quote into your response.

Here is an example I wrote using my favorite “Don’t pray for an easy life but pray for the strength to endure a difficult one” quote by Bruce Lee:

“…Given the harsh realities of my childhood, it would have been all too easy for me to wish for a normal, unassuming life; one that is filled with ignorance and innocence. But over the years, I learned that it is not the person who can take a thousand punches that make him strong but rather it is the one who can get up a thousand times. What matters most is my grit and perseverance in the face of adversity and the lessons I have learned along the way…” 

I’m of the position that applicants should embrace quotes in their essays, not avoid them.

The reason is simple:

These quotes are well-known because they are correct in their assessment of the human condition and they tap into the facts that we hold as true.