Prepping for the Scholarship Application

As the many scholarships programs kick off, it is a good time to consider how to make the most of your  application.

Although most scholarship applications require similar components -- application form, essay(s), letters of recommendation and test scores – how an applicant addresses these components can mean the difference between a solid submission and one that is overlooked. Some things you should know:

The Application Form

Think of the Application Form as your resume; it is your introduction to the grant-making organization and so, should reflect who you are and what you’ve accomplished.

That said, the Application Form is not the place to try out your new, multi-colored gel pens or artistic skills. Minnesota Masonic Charities (MMC) often receives scholarship applications that look as if they should be framed, not read. It is never a surprise that what these applications make up for in aesthetic appeal, they lack in substance.

Fill out your application online, if possible, or legibly by hand, if necessary. Use black ink. Answer questions fully and simply. Remember: an incomplete application is a disqualified application. Check to make sure you’ve answered every question. Then check again.

Include all relevant information, but don’t overstate your case. If you served food at a soup kitchen, say so; “managed culinary distribution at a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the gastronomy of those in need” just makes scholarship committees wonder what else you’re exaggerating. Keep it simple.

The Numbers

If applications require that you send test scores and/or high school transcripts, make those requests before you submit your application. A scholarship committee likes to see this kind of proactive approach and appreciates that all application components have been submitted on time.

A note about test score or GPA requirements:  Yes, it stinks that a mere number can dictate who is worthy of scholarship consideration and who is not. You may be the best thing since butter met bread, and your ACT score may only be slightly lower than the required score to apply, but no, MMC cannot accommodate special cases, and neither will most grant makers. Truth is, the pool of wonderful candidates is a vast one; without at least one qualifying marker, the selection process would be next to impossible. So do yourself and the selection committee a favor: if you don’t make the cut, don’t apply.

Recommendations

Scholarship candidates may view this qualification as an afterthought, but selection committees do not. Often, letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors and community leaders can make or break an otherwise-vanilla application. And while scholarship applicants have no control over what their references communicate about them, they have absolute authority over who does the communicating. First rule of thumb: choose your references wisely.

Most scholarship candidates know those teachers they’d feel most comfortable approaching for this task. Consider not only your relationship with the teacher, but also what they can share about you, your accomplishments and abilities. If the application calls for letters of recommendation from other sources – extra-curricular or community leaders – find those that can speak to projects in which you’ve played leadership roles or circumstances that demonstrate what sets you apart from the pack. 

Teachers and counselors are usually inundated with requests for recommendations, so make their jobs as easy as possible. Supply them with addressed and stamped envelopes, a resume, and clearly articulate procedures and deadlines. Ask for recommendations early in the game so that yours are first among the many letters your references must write.

The Essay

Scores of books have been written espousing the tricks to writing winning essays (see our Resources section for some good essay guides). There’s good reason for all of the fuss: the essay can be a deciding factor between competing applications.

What makes the essay so important is also one of the key reasons why many essays fail: it is the only real insight a selection committee has into who you are and what you value. Given its significance, the essay can take on a life of its own, compelling applicants to submit excessive or overwritten dissertations that lack personality and authenticity. Even an essay that is well-written but largely antiseptic can be passed over for one that may be less grammatically finessed, but more genuine. A good guideline: be yourself.

When approaching the essay question, first think about your authentic response. If the question is Why do you believe you should receive this scholarship?, your truthful answer may be Because I need the money. Delve into your answer further: Do you need funding because of extenuating circumstances? Have you overcome those circumstances in any meaningful way? Consider how the true you would respond to the question, not the person you believe the selection committee is looking for.

Putting your authentic foot forward doesn’t mean forgoing formalities. A good essay should communicate who you are and how seriously you take the process. Edit and proofread your work and be sure to have a friend or family member look it over as well. Nothing says “pass” to a selection committee more readily than a typo that could have been avoided with spellcheck.