Learn about scholarships and financial aid.

• Scholarship Basics (College Essay Guy) You GOTTA read this one!

Organize and keep track of your scholarships!

• Scholarship Tracker (sample) (College Essay Guy)

Meet all application deadlines.

• Use the scholarship tracker.

• Plan ahead and ask for assistance early.

• Scholarships are not easy to get. A late application may not be read.

Don’t ignore small awards.

• Small awards can add up. 

• The larger the award, the more competition you’ll face.

Don't pay to apply for a scholarship. 

• If the offer sounds too good to be true, it's probably not legit. 

• If in doubt, run it by your counselor.

Request letters of recommendation early.

• Ask your counselor if there is a procedure to follow to request letters of recommendation at your school.

• Some applications require letters of recommendation. 

• Think carefully about who should write these letters and choose people who can speak to your strengths and ability to overcome your weaknesses.

• It's ok to ask the same person to submit letters for different scholarships/colleges since they probably saved the letter.

• Letters from family members are generally a no-no. 

• Give your recommenders no less than two weeks notice so they have time to write the letter. 

• Be prepared to provide them with additional information about yourself or the scholarship. 

• Make sure to follow up with your recommender to assure that your letter was submitted.

Write a great essay.

• Think carefully about the question being asked and use this opportunity to tell the selection committee things about you that might not be shown elsewhere in the application. 

• Get help with editing for grammar and spelling, but do your own writing—the committee wants to hear from you personally. 

Attend a scholarship workshop.
Check your high school websites or ask your counselor if there are any scholarship workshop opportunities either in person or virtual.

Time to SHINE! Applications will often ask you to talk about what you do with your time. 

• Tell them about recognitions and awards you've received. 

• Emphasize activities that show your talents and passions, especially things that demonstrate your ability to lead, take initiative, persist through adversity, and care for your community. Don't underestimate yourself - employment and family responsibilities can say a lot in your favor as well.

Try, try again.

• Keep trying even if you don’t win a scholarship right away. 

• Save copies of every application that you complete so you don’t have to start from scratch every time.