Scholarships Season Already?

Is It Scholarships Season Already?

            Students are getting settled in their classrooms and memorizing locker combinations. Parents are finally able to establish some sense of structure after the lazy days of summer. It will be one full year before college begins; so how can it be time to look into scholarships?

            According to Scholarships America, February 1 through the end of April is the busiest time of year for college scholarship applications. And even though February feels like it’s far off, there are a number of tasks students must complete long before application deadlines.

The search

            Before students can apply for scholarships, they must find them. A student’s first stop in researching what opportunities are available is the office of their high school counselor or career center. Counselors serve as points of contact for grant makers and should be able to supply information on programs both local and national. Tell your counselor that you plan to attend college and would like more information on scholarship awards.

            Your extracurricular activities also may provide scholarship possibilities. Clubs and volunteer organizations, such as Boy Scouts of America and United Way, offer scholarship funding. Local organizations such as churches, Junior League, community foundations and honors societies also offer awards. Into pottery? You may be surprised to find there are scholarships available through national potter’s associations. And of course, athletic scholarships are available through post-secondary institutions and national clubs.

            Even though you might not know which school you will be attending, look into scholarship opportunities provided by those institutions you might attend. Often, application deadlines for awards fall earlier than admission announcements. Yes, you run the risk of applying for scholarships at a school you might not actually attend; but if you do attend the school, you will have tapped into a lucrative funding source.

            Finally, search the Web for scholarship organizations and opportunities. We’ve listed a number of reputable links at www.mnmasoniccharities.org/scholarships.html. And remember to use your good judgment: if a search engine asks for money, it’s probably not legitimate. The best scholarship search engines we’ve found are free, such as Fastweb.com, Scholarships.com and CollegeBoard.com.

The process

            It now takes an application to complete an application! Many high schools require that students fill out forms to request teacher or counselor reference letters and transcripts. And almost all scholarship applications ask for official, not photo-copied, test reports. The fact is, the process of completing a post-secondary scholarship application is one of many steps and requires a good deal of patience.

            You will want to choose wisely who will prepare your letters of reference. It is a good idea to select those individuals with whom you have a strong association and rapport. Prior to officially requesting their advocacy, you may mention to them that you’d like them to be a referral source. Prepare and supply a vitae or resume of your activities, awards and accomplishments so that your advocate can speak intelligently on your behalf. And continue to cultivate positive relationships with your referrals – recommendation letters have often turned award applicants into recipients.

The resources

            There are many websites and books that can not only help you find scholarship opportunities, but advise you on how to submit a winning application. Look for those that offer real-world examples of award-winning essays and meaningful tips. The Minnesota Masonic Charities website offers tips on how to prepare a strong application at www.mnmasoniccharities.org. Do your homework, use the information available, and get an edge on your scholarship application.

            Believe it or not, it’s time to get started.

About the author: Kelly Johns serves as director of communications for Minnesota Masonic Charities and administers the MMC Scholarships Program. Contact her at kelly.johns@mnmasonic.org to find out more.