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Packaging Your Application for SuccessApplications should always be written to provide the reader with what they want to see. Before you prepare scholarship applications, do what you can to find out who will be on the review committee. While this information is not always available, it can often be gained simply by asking, "Who will be reviewing my application?", when you request materials. You can often use common sense to figure that a bank-sponsored scholarship is reviewed by bankers or a music scholarship by musicians. Prepare your application with the scholarship committee in mind. Would they prefer a more formal or relaxed essay style? Be sure that whatever you write it is personal and specific. Re-read your essay, if it could have been written by someone else, it's not personal. Put yourself in the place of the scholarship committee. What do you envision they are seeking from successful applicants? Most scholarship committees reward students who have a good balance between academics, activities, community service, family and work. Community service is a particular area of interest today. Consider volunteering several hours a week for an organization or cause you support. While volunteering is rewarding in it's own right, it also looks great on scholarship applications. Some organizations have scholarship opportunities for members or volunteers as well. Scholarship committees want to see their awards go to students who will put the money to the best use. This is often hard to measure and the 'feel' of the application is a critical part of the decision. The 'feel' is the overall energy and enthusiasm communicated by the complete application. The keys here are to be personal, be positive and package your application to be clear and reader-friendly. How Scholarships Work With Other Financial Aid Students who receive financial aid based on need and private scholarships must pay special attention to the interaction of these two sources of college funding. Private scholarships will be considered part of any need-based financial aid package the student receives. Often scholarship announcements come after the financial aid package from the college has been offered. Students are required to inform the financial aid office of any private scholarships received. The financial aid office will then revise the aid package to recognize this additional funding. Students receiving need-based financial aid cannot have their overall package exceed their 'indicated financial need', as determined by the financial aid office. Students should be allowed to use any private scholarships
received to first replace student loans in the aid package. Once loans are
replaced, college work study should be removed. Only after all loans and
work study monies are removed from the package should a private scholarship
ever replace other grants or scholarships in the package. Some colleges
may try to use a private scholarship to replace other grants or scholarships,
before all loans and work study have been replaced. If this occurs, parents
and students have every right to protest this action to college administrators,
if necessary at the highest levels.
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