Tips for applying for scholarships and funding to pay for higher education

I left USC after my first year of college due to financial reasons, and my biggest question became: “How would l afford college?”  

While attending community college, I invested a year applying for college scholarships and anything that could help pay for school. I got countless rejections. Then I got my first acceptance, then a second, and a third which all led to me becoming a scholarship recipient from local organizations and national corporations like Chime, Pizza Hut, and Point Foundation to use as I transfer to UCLA.

Applying to college or university scholarships involves a technique, just like applying to jobs. You may get rejected after submitting multiple applications, but it only takes one yes to reach your goal, so maximizing your chances is essential.  

Based on my experience earning 10 local and national college scholarships, here are 10 tips to increase your chances at winning scholarships for your higher education. 

1. The more specific the college scholarship is, the better chances you have

If, for example, you’re a Middle Eastern female student from Utah, then you need to start there rather than just looking up college or transfer student scholarships. Usually, your school also has scholarships reserved for its students, so you can start there, but it’s a good idea to be as specific as you can to your identities and affinities when researching scholarships.

Some college scholarships can be obscure, and some are more popular, but as long as they apply to you, you have a pretty good chance of earning the funding.  

2. Local scholarships can be better than national prestigious ones

You have a greater chance at earning local scholarships compared to larger, national scholarships.

$1,000 scholarships are just as good as $5,000 or $10,000 ones because over time, they can build up.

Local scholarships can also be less competitive and even more likely to give you more money if available. For example, one organization’s scholarship I applied to unexpectedly awarded me an extra scholarship later after another recipient was unable to accept it. 

3. Create one scholarship application essay or story that covers your academic, career, and personal goals

You scholarship application essay and story should have some mention of your financial situation (especially for need-based scholarships) and some hardships or obstacles you have overcome or still struggling with (e.g., navigating sickness, mental health challenges, being a first-gen student, etc.) This essay can then be tailored to apply to most scholarships.

The scholarship application essay should answer the following questions. Use personal stories and examples to convey your answers and stand out from other applicants.  

• Why are you getting an education?  

• What will you do with your degree? 

• Why do you deserve this scholarship? 

• What are your academic goals?  

4. Look at the scholarship organizer’s mission statement and rules 

Organizations are making an investment in their scholarship recipients, so showcase that you are the perfect fit for their award or funding. If a scholarship is about supporting future leaders, then you need to show leadership examples in your essay or in your extracurricular’s description or in the letter of recommendation you submit.  

5. Read the scholarship’s terms and conditions 

Organizations usually include the grading rubric and sometimes give the timeline for when you should hear back for each stage (e.g., semifinalist, finalist, awards distribution, etc.). It’s a good idea to look here to understand what the scholarship selection committee is looking for and when you’ll hear back. 

6. Create a folder for scholarship materials to stay organized 

Most scholarship applications ask for the same materials to submit (transcripts, recommendations, essays, FAFSA, etc.) so keep these files organized and easy to access.

7. Research your scholarship program interviewers on social media  

For scholarship interviews, learn more about your interviewers if you can find their names out before (LinkedIn is a perfect place for this). If you can’t find a name, look for the organization, then look at the people who work there. Find out if you can connect with them on a personal level.

Also, treat the interview as a “get to know you” conversation instead of a high-stakes, pressure cooker session meant to interrogate. It will calm your nerves and allow your personality to shine through for the interviewers.  

8. Attend virtual webinars and Q&As for scholarship programs

For national scholarships, attend scholarship info sessions and webinars because you can ask questions in Q&A sessions and they may give tips that you won’t hear anywhere else.

For example, for the Chime Scholarship, I attended multiple webinars and was able to connect with my application reviewer on LinkedIn so even if I didn’t receive the scholarship, I could still make a connection and expand my network. It’s a win-win.

9. Be ready for video submissions for scholarship applications

If there is a scholarship video submission requirement (e.g., the Taco Bell scholarship), look at previous videos to get an idea of what they are looking for. Be creative and allow your story and passion to shine through in the video. You can create a script of things you want to say in the video to be prepared.

10. Be persistent when applying for college scholarships!  

I got scholarships that I totally forgot about. One “scholarship” I won was a sweepstakes I totally forgot I applied to in the summer when I was applying to other scholarships, and it was my biggest one.

Don’t be discouraged by nos or lack of responses. Just keep applying and bettering your application as you go. You can and will win! 

Winning scholarships has been life changing for me. I have been able to not only receive financial assistance with my higher education but have been able to meet so many new people and attend amazing opportunities like visiting the Chime Headquarters in San Francisco or attending scholarship luncheons with donors.

This is your sign to apply for scholarships because you never know how it might change your life!

Search for college scholarships

Here are some college scholarships to get started on your search for funding.