Scholarship Application Classtasks must be accomplished in this order

1. Rsum must be stellar

a. Aesthetics
b. Parallelism
c. Mechanics
d. Content
e. Kick yourself for not doing more
2. Letters of recommendation
a. Minimum 3; 5 is better
b. Ask politely
c. Consider why provider would want to recommend you
d. Ask for 3 copies and ask if they keep a template of letter in case you need
more
e. Kick yourself for burning bridges
3. Write personal statement
a. Make it interesting
b. Tell your story
c. Kick yourself for not doing more
4. Begin research process
a. Seek websites offering free scholarship lists
b. Avoid scams
c. Avoid for-profit marketing
d. If it looks too good to be true
5. Determine eligibility
6. Apply
a. Diligently answer every question on every page
b. Go through requirement check-list at least 3 times
c. Double-check mechanics and content
d. Balance hubris and humility
7. Repeat
a. Decide whether to shotgun or target
b. Establish a routineweekly, bi-weekly, monthlyto review list for new
scholarships
c. Keep all of your short-essays, long essays, personal statements
i. Many scholarships ask the same or similar questions
ii. Stick with an established theme
8. Remain hopeful but realistic
a. National scholarships have thousands of applicants
b. Local scholarship decisions are not always based on application itself
i. Whom do you know?
ii. Whom do your parents know?
iii. Have you done stupid stuff and gotten your name in the paper?
iv. Have you done amazing things and gotten your name in the paper?
v. Have your parents done iii or iv?
vi. Kick yourself for doing stupid things and change your ways
c. Winning a scholarship is a great feeling
i. Be thankful
ii. Write a thank-you note
9. Never give up
a. applying for scholarships is winning at life