One day, Henry pulled out a scholarship application he had set aside three weeks back. He read through the scholarship criteria, flipping through the application packet. His eyes skimmed the requirements. Leadership, community service, financial need. “This sounds perfect for me,” he mused, “All I need is an essay and a letter of recommendation.” Eager to complete the application, he began to fill out the first section. Then, two lines of text caught his eye. He paused. Deadline: December 1, 2010 11:59 PM (EST). “What day is today?” he wondered. Turning to his calendar, reality suddenly dawned on him. Today was December 2. He was too late. He had missed the deadline.
Henry’s unfortunate situation reminds me of several occassions on which I forgot a scholarship’s deadline. Whether it was waiting till the last minute to write a scholarship essay or giving a teacher too little time to write a letter of recommendation, I have made mistakes before. Here are some tips you can use when applying for scholarships to avoid making Henry’s mistake.
Read the Fine Print
The first thing you should do when filling out any application is to read the instructions and information. Read through and look for important details like deadlines and requirements. Write down important dates and components required. If you need a letter of recommendation, fill out a Personal Data Form (see Requesting Letters of Recommendation for more information) and give it to your recommender at least three weeks before the deadline. Make sure you explain the details of the scholarship you are applying for, the requirements of the letter, and a deadline for when you want the letter back. Ideally, you should submit your completed scholarship application a week before the deadline.
Transcript Requests
If the scholarship requires a transcript, find out if they want an official or unofficial transcript. If either is accepted, request an unofficial transcript. Give yourself enough time to gather all your application components. A transcript request may take anywhere from one to three days so give yourself at least one week before you submit your application.
The Art of Revision
As difficult as it is, try and write your essays well ahead of the deadline. Avoid waiting till the last minute so you have time to have a teacher or peer read and edit your writing. It always helps to have an extra set of eyes look over your work. For help with writing your essay, check out Writer’s Block.)
Application Materials
When reading the fine print, make sure you know what types of application components you may need. For example, the Most Valuable Student Scholarship requires a portfolio of exhibits (i.e. certificates, newspaper articles). Gather these objects ahead of time so you can you compile everything together in an organized and timely fashion.
It is important to be organized when applying for scholarships. Stay on top of deadlines and requirements as you navigate through the scholarship process. Completing the requirements ahead of the deadline will allow you to perfect your work and give you enough time to copy your application and materials for your files.
Keep in mind that postmark dates are the very latest you can submit your application. So try to finish a few days before the final deadline. If you need letters of recommendation, make sure you request them prior to winter vacation. Your teachers and counselors want a break as much as you do so give them plenty of time to work on your recommendations. In spending your vacation, take the opportunity to search for more scholarships, finish applications, and use your time wisely.
