3 Top Scholarship Tips

There really is a MUCH better way to find and apply for scholarships!

In my quest to help parents and their students win scholarships, I hear this over and over,

“I applied for a TON of scholarships and didn’t win any. Most are just data-mining scams.”

Statements like this seriously hurt my ears.

Why?

Because the students who say this have not bothered to research HOW to win scholarships.

They have no idea that there is a better way to apply, and it makes me sad.

You, however, are different.

You have landed on this post hoping to learn winning strategies to help you or your student become a successful scholarship recipient.

You want to avoid student debt as much as possible.

I’ve been there, and I am so glad that you are here!

Here are my top 3 scholarship tips that will get you started in researching how to impress the judging committees and help your student win more money for college.

1. Start the scholarship process as early as possible

This is what I call Scholarship Prep, and it is an amazing way to put younger students in a more favorable position when it comes time for them to apply for most of their scholarships.

Here are three examples:

• Volunteer as a family

There are tons of scholarships open to students who value community service.

• Teach students that asking for help is SMART and not a sign of weakness

Head off problems in school early, before they affect grades.

• Get organized

Create a safe place for report cards, community service hours, contacts, award certificates, etc.

Learn 15 more Scholarship Prep actions in the How to Win College Scholarships ebooks and calculate your student’s chances of getting into any college with this free tool.

2. Ignore scholarship assumptions and myths

There are so many misconceptions about who wins scholarships.

MYTH:  Only smart kids win scholarships

TRUTH:  Many scholarship applications do not even ask for a student’s GPA or ACT/SAT score(s).

MYTH:  Most scholarships are open to minorities only

TRUTH:  There are thousands of scholarships available for all students. The key is learning how to find them without losing your mind. (Trust me on this one!)

MYTH:  We need to be broke to qualify to apply for scholarships

TRUTH:  We are a middle-income family, and all three of my boys won enough scholarships that my husband and I did not have to take out any parent loans to pay for their college education. Absolutely file the FAFSA yearly, but don’t count on the government awarding your students free money. Learn how to find it yourself through scholarships and by learning how to choose the best college that offers the most merit aid to your students.

MYTH:  All scholarships require an essay

TRUTH:  Scholarships for a student’s talents are easily found if you know how to search correctly. Examples include photography, video creation, and sports experiences.

MYTH:  Scholarship work is extremely time-consuming

TRUTH:  There are three scholarship essay prompts that are seen over and over in scholarship applications. Once students have written compelling essays for each of these prompts, they can reuse them for multiple scholarship applications, saving a TON of time. Find the three most popular essay prompts in my How to Win College Scholarships ebooks HERE.

Students need to learn what it means to apply SMART for scholarships. This makes a HUGE difference! This student says it best: ⤵️

“I was terrified when I saw how much tuition was going to be and how little aid I was given. I knew I needed to apply for scholarships, but I had no idea where to find them, or how to start. After reading Monica’s ebook I learned how to apply SMART and I won over $21,000 in scholarships! I was in shock! I am so thankful for Monica’s ebook and I could not recommend it more!!” – College Student

3. Partner with your student – When they win, you win with less tuition to pay and fewer loans to take out

Students need guidance, and the more parental involvement, the more scholarships they can apply for and the better their chances of winning.

Parents can play a key role in the scholarship process from the start by helping their teens stay organized, identifying scholarships they qualify for, reminding them of deadlines, and more.

Moms and dads, don’t be afraid to become involved and learn along with your students the best ways to create scholarship application packets that stand out from the rest and impress the judges.

Take their hands and become partners in the college scholarship process right from the start! Together, you will learn what it means to apply SMART.

Be sure to read:  College Scholarship Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Student debt is a massive burden for our students. Use the SMART applying strategies found in my How to Win College Scholarships ebooks, and I will be with you every step of the way. Monica Matthews

What are parents saying?

This mom says it best:

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