The scholarship process is often intimidating for students already expected to balance college applications along with coursework and extracurriculars. While it can be difficult to get a handle on at times, it’s a major part of getting ready for college. So, what are the ways students can best be prepared?

This process doesn’t look the same for everyone. Mrs. Willard, a counselor specializing in College and Career, said, “Ultimately, it’s going to vary from student to student, depending on how dedicated they are to applying for scholarships.” The process can be time-consuming, as different scholarships have different requirements, deadlines, and essay prompts. 

Senior Addie Arakelian also shares what it’s like to come across scholarships. “It’s a lot of work to find the right scholarships that apply to me,” she stated. Not every scholarship is going to be a perfect fit for every student, making the process tailored to individuals rather than a universal thing. 

The right resources also make an impact on the search. Mrs. Willard noted school-provided things such as Naviance, scholarships promoted on grade-level Google Classrooms, and bulletin boards within the halls. When Arakelian searched for scholarships, she added, “Looking online and looking locally, or even looking for ones from my university, helped.”

Once you find a scholarship to apply to, completing the requirements can be daunting, especially when multiple essays on different subjects need to be written. Arakelian suggests online guides, such as websites and YouTube videos, to aid the writing process. 

The key to success when it comes to applying for and receiving scholarships is really staying organized. “Create a spreadsheet with the deadlines, how much everything is, and what you need to do for each scholarship,” continued Arakelian. She found that most helpful, as it was easy to navigate what needed to be done and when. 

Mrs. Willard also suggests saving every version of an essay written for a scholarship, as they can be revised and reused for multiple applications. This way, a student doesn’t have to go through and write as many individual essays, saving them time. 

The most difficult part of coming across scholarships is the time it takes, the stress it causes, and the burnout students feel. “Seniors are overwhelmed; most scholarship applications are done in a hurry right before the due date,” noted Mrs. Willard. They usually come as an afterthought due to all of the other responsibilities students are expected to handle in their senior year. 

There are ways incoming seniors can best prepare for this long process. “Definitely start sooner than later,” shared Arakelian. Mrs. Willard specifically emphasized the importance of asking for letters of recommendation from teachers early in the process, and to begin to build awareness about scholarships before senior year. 

The search doesn’t end after graduation, either. Mrs. Willard added, “Many scholarships exist for college students.” While the process of applying is a large amount of work, taking the time to do it is worth it to make college more accessible.