It’s likely that most scholarship competitions will receive multiple applicants. So, how do you stand out in your scholarship application? How do you ensure that among many students applying for a scholarship, you leave the best impression on the scholarship committee?
Below, we’ll answer these questions. Above all else, we’ll provide tips to help you create a memorable essay that wins. If you consider these 5 expert insights alone, it’s possible for you to elevate your scholarship applications from bland to clear stand out. That’s a big win that can help you win big!
Scholarships offer great way to pay for college. Winning money for school can help you take fewer student loans and can elevate the prestige of your student profile. This can be huge when you’re done college or university and looking for a job. There are several pros and cons to applying for scholarships, but ultimately, it pays to apply.
What You Have Control Over in a Scholarship Application: Your Scholarship Essay vs. Other Application Components
Below, we’re going to focus on your scholarship essay. That’s because it’s one of the few application components that you have full control over in the application process.
Let’s clarify what this means.
It’s no secret that there are tons of scholarships in existence. And, along with this long list of scholarships comes a diverse set of applications. Some require a video submission, others an interview, and there are even very short online applications that allow you to apply with just a few clicks. Put simply, each application is unique.
However, there are items that are fairly consistent in the application process. Notably, this is your transcript (report card), recommendation letters, and a personal statement.
Now, here’s the thing. You can’t go back in time and change your grades. You also can’t go back in time and take on more volunteer hours or start a club. These are elements of your application that happened in the past. You need to have already invested time in these parts of your student profile in order to make them stand out. So, since you can’t change your extracurricular activities of the past or your grades, what part of a scholarship application do you have control over?
Well, that’s where your scholarship essay enters into the equation. This is a part of the process that you have complete control over. You can write, change, proofread, and edit your essay as much as you want prior to submitting it. On top of this, it’s one of the most important items that scholarship judges will assess. So, with that said, let’s cover 5 things that you can focus on to make your application appealing to a scholarship committee.
The Most Important Thing That Makes You Unique – Your Authentic Story
When writing your scholarship essay, the most important thing you can do to stand out is offer a real authentic story of who you are. There’s nothing more interesting than a good story that’s told in a compelling way.
Storytelling is a powerful tool because it grabs the attention of your audience. It makes your reader want to know what happened to you. It also allows for you to share a lot of information about who you are in a short amount of space.
An Example – How to Communicate Through Storytelling
For example, if a scholarship committee asks a question like, “do you think you’ll succeed in college?”, merely highlighting that you’re a good student who is organized may not be enough to distinguish you from the pack. Remember, it’s likely that other students will have good grades too, so it’s important to show what makes you unique.
Here’s how storytelling can help. Check out this introduction:
In 2023, my high school football team beat the odds. In the final quarter of the state championship, I gave my team a compelling motivational speech that was credited for inspiring an unlikely comeback. I told my teammates to look past the fact that we were losing and to keep the ultimate goal of winning in mind. It is this attitude of perseverance that I know will make me successful in college.
You can see in the introduction of this killer essay that the student makes you believe in them. Their story pulls you in and makes you root for their success. This is a great way to make your applications stand out.
Let’s consider other things that make you stand out when applying for scholarship awards.
Know Your Audience: Write Your Scholarship Essay to Someone
Imagine that a scholarship is being given away to a college student who has demonstrated strong leadership skills. In your application, however, you note that you should be given the prize because you have a perfect GPA. Do you see a disconnect here?
It is important to know your audience, to understand what they are looking for, and to reflect this research in your scholarship application.
Consider this. Some scholarship providers will post members of their scholarship committee online. If so, you might want to see who these individuals are and maybe even take a look at any public social media profiles. This research may help you understand what they are passionate about and help you cater your application in a way that aligns with their interests.
Similarly, when you apply for scholarships, you should have a good sense of their mission or mandate. These are values that showcase why a scholarship opportunity is given away. Wherever possible, you should show the scholarship committee that your values mesh well with those stated in the scholarship’s mandate. If you pay attention to these details, it will definitely help you sell yourself for a scholarship prize.
Tell the Scholarship Committee Where You’re Going & How This College Scholarship Will Help You Get There
A lot of applications tend to focus on past activities. It’s understandable. If you’ve won an academic prize or founded your school’s first coding club, you’ll want to share these successes with those offering the scholarship.
However, most scholarships are not only investing in what you’ve done, they are investing in where you’re going. So, one important way to stand out in a scholarship application is to tell the scholarship committee where you’re going after you graduate college or university.
It may also help to share how much the scholarship money means to you or how you plan to use it. For example, if winning a scholarship prize will allow you to quit your part-time job and help your community through volunteer service, say so. This is a noble cause and will likely resonate well with a scholarship committee.
Be sure to use your judgement when outlining your plans for the scholarship money. Some prizes explicitly say that they want to help students graduate debt-free and not have to worry about college tuition, educational costs, and paying back private loans. If this is the case, you can outline that winning this scholarship will help you avoid financial aid and other college debt. On the other hand, if a scholarship prize exists for the purposes of promoting student volunteering or community service, it may be better to note that this is how you plan to use the scholarship money.
Grades and Letters of Recommendation
While it’s a myth that you need an A+ or perfect GPA to win a college scholarship, good grades always help. If it’s strong, your grade point average can be used to differentiate yourself from other scholarship candidates – especially in merit-based scholarship competitions.
Good grades communicate something positive about you; work ethic, good communication, organization, goal setting, ambition, etc. And, the best thing is that your grades communicate all of this without you having to say it. Most observers will look at stellar grades and know that it takes sacrifice to earn them.
This is a good thing, but not essential when applying for types of scholarships that are not solely based on grades.
Letters of recommendation also help your scholarship application stand out. While not all scholarship competitions will ask you for recommendation letters, those that do will place a lot of value in them.
Keep this in mind when asking for a letter of recommendation. In order for someone to write a supportive letter on your behalf, they have to know you, see the work you’re doing, and most importantly, believe in you. References who have only known you for a week or two can’t possibly speak about your stellar performance in academics or extracurricular activities as well as someone you’ve known for months or years. This is why it is important to build a rapport with potential references and ensure that they can write a strong letter of support. On this note, be sure to request letters of reference well before deadlines so that your referee isn’t too rushed.
Be Courteous and Professional in Your Communications: Always Proofread!
At times, you’ll likely have to communicate with an individual from a scholarship provider. In these cases, you should conduct yourself with a courteous and professional demeanor, irrespective of whether your communication is to simply submit an application through e-mail or to ask a question about the prize.
Always use appropriate language (and double check grammar!), even in emails, and remember that you’re always being evaluated. For example:
Hey scholarship committee, i am sending u my app. Pls let me kno if i won the scholarship. Thx!
How does this sound to you? Is this what a serious contender for a $1,000 prize looks like? You can be the judge of that!
Additionally, be sure to thank the committee for taking the time to consider your application. In the event that a scholarship provider reaches out to you, respond in a timely manner. Your communications can certainly help you stand out as a young, ambitious, college student worthy of a scholarship prize.
Lastly, while it won’t help your chances of winning a scholarship, here’s some food for thought. If you do win an award, it’s good practice so send a sincere note of thanks. Sending a personal thank you shows a scholarship provider that they made the right choice by choosing you. Simply put, showing a little gratitude never hurts and can help you build a strong relationship with scholarship donors and/or scholarship committee members.
Summary: 5 Ways to Make Your Scholarship Application Stand Out
Now that you’re ready to make your essay stand out in the scholarship process, it’s time to start applying! With the above lessons in mind, it’s a good idea to apply to as many scholarships as possible.
Here’s a brief summary on how you can stand out in your scholarship applications:
- Tell a great story in your scholarship essay – it should be personable and compelling to read
- Know your audience and speak to the mission of the scholarship opportunity
- Tell the scholarship committee where you’re going with your education and career and highlight the impact that winning the scholarship will have on your life
- Ask for letters of recommendation early and ensure your references are very supportive of you
- Always be courteous and professional in your communications and, where possible, thank the scholarship provider for their time
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