1. Beware of scholarship scams - You should never be asked to pay money in order to apply for a scholarship. If you are asked to pay, then it is most likely a scam.
2. Apply for scholarships unique to you - Instead of applying for the broad, corporate scholarships; begin searching for scholarships that are unique to your major, ethnicity, family background, location, etc.
3. Start searching for scholarships locally - Research groups and organizations within your community. The national scholarships draw thousands of applicants; you will have better luck by finding scholarships in your area. See the photo below for an idea of where to start.
4. Inquire about scholarships - Some companies have monies for scholarships, but they do not do a very good job of letting students know. If you think a company may have scholarship monies, feel free to write them a scholarship inquiry letter like this one.
Here are a few additional scholarship engines that may assist you in your search!