#CampusChat 12-2 Simple Successful Scholarship Strategies

• What:   #CampusChat Twitter Chat
• When:   Wednesday, December 2 (Did you miss the chat? No worries! The Transcript is below.)
  
• Time:    9:00 – 10:00pm, EST
• Topic:   Simple Successful Scholarship Strategies
  
• Guest:  Seth Bykofsky @GetCollege
• Host:  Monica Matthews @AidScholarship

Make sure you are following @GetCollege so you don’t miss any of his tweets!

Q1.  You like to keep the scholarship process simple, what exactly do you mean by this? #CampusChat

A1.  Knowing where to look for scholarships seems simple, but can be daunting and frustrating.  #CampusChat

A1. The objective is to narrow the field, focus in on scholarships for which you qualify and are attainable. #CampusChat

A1.  Once you know where to look and which scholarships to go after, the rest is relatively simple – APPLY! #CampusChat

A1. “Simple” doesn’t mean fast, effortless, or without work. It’s a process through which students maximize their opportunities. #CampusChat

Q2.  What are some easy ways students can find college scholarships?  #CampusChat

A2. Think local. Those cabinets in the Guidance office are full of scholarship opportunities. #CampusChat

A2. In the community – banks, stores, service organizations, employers. There are scholarships hidden in plain sight. #CampusChat

A2. Check out scholarships offered by the colleges themselves. Most are listed on the college websites. #CampusChat

A2. Don’t forget those scholarship search engines. Fastweb. Niche. Chegg. They can literally be a wealth of opportunity. #CampusChat

A2. And always submit FAFSA. Federal grants. Work-Study. Many colleges use FAFSA as their applications for scholarships. #CampusChat

Q3.  What are some simple scholarship applying strategies?  #CampusChat

A3. Apply for the smaller awards ($500, $250) as well as the big. More of them. Easier to apply for. Greater chance of winning. #CampusChat

A3. Most college scholarships are contests and sweeps. Neither merit nor need involved. APPLY. You have to be in ‘em to win ‘em! #CampusChat

A3.  Don’t be afraid of essays. You’ve already written how many? Most can be tweaked to fit the scholarship prompt. #CampusChat

A3. Dedicate time to search and apply for scholarships. The search is simple, but time consuming and requiring ongoing effort. #CampusChat

A3. Stick with it! The return is rarely immediate. Your laptop is not a slot machine. Persistence pays off! #CampusChat

A3. Keep on applying for scholarships while in college. After all, there’s a tuition bill on the horizon! #CampusChat

Q4.  What should students focus on in the scholarship essay? #CampusChat

A4. Focus on unique talents and skills in your scholarship essays. Create a scholarship Resume. #CampusChat

A4. Whatever you do in your essay, be responsive to the prompt. #CampusChat

A4. Brevity is the soul of wit – and the makings of a good essay. Be succinct. Be to the point. Be yourself. #CampusChat

Q5.  How can students use their talents to find & win scholarships? #CampusChat

A5. There are scholarships for almost everything, even everyday activities and common attributes. Seek and ye shall find! #CampusChat

A5. Left-handed? Transgendered? Star Trek fan? Expert Duck Caller? Duck Tape Master? There are scholarships out there for you! #CampusChat

A5. The most valuable “talent” is perseverance. So easy to quit when you don’t see immediate results. Stay with it. Apply! #CampusChat

Q6.  What are 3 simple strategies for capturing the attention of the scholarship judges? #CampusChat

A6. Be concise. You need to have them at “hello.” #CampusChat

A6. Be sincere. Judges can smell fake intent a mile away. #CampusChat

A6. Be genuine. Let your personality and character shine through. #CampusChat

Q7.  What online scholarship search sites do you recommend to students? #CampusChat

A7. Start at Fastweb.com, and use this as a base. You’ll be taken to other sites. Come back to Fastweb. #CampusChat

A7. Scholarships.com, Niche.college.com, Chegg.com Stick with what works for you. Keep it simple. #CampusChat

A7. Even College Board’s scholarship search at https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/grants-scholarships is helpful. #CampusChat

Q8.  What do you think a parent’s role should be in the scholarship process? #CampusChat

A8. Parents should encourage students to “search and apply,” without harping, hounding, or helicoptering. #CampusChat

A8. Parents can look and apply for scholarships, too. Filling out a form. Hitting “submit.” It becomes a vocation for some. #CampusChat

A8. Incentivize students. “We can afford college ‘B.’ If you want to go to college ‘A,’ you need to get scholarship money!” #CampusChat

Q9.  How does keeping the scholarship process simple benefit students? #CampusChat

A9. I live by KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) through all facets of the college admissions process. It’s not rocket science. #CampusChat

A9. Most people will avoid the difficult and tedious like the plague. Simple, one-step-at-a-time, keeps students in the game. #CampusChat

A9. Eye on the prize! It doesn’t get any simpler than that. #CampusChat

Q10.  What are your 3 overall top simple successful scholarship strategies? #CampusChat

A10. Seek out the scholarships that you qualify for, from every possible source.

A10. Apply. Apply. Apply.

A10. Did I mention, APPLY? It’s not as if Ed McMahon is going to knock on your door with a check for $10 million in hand! #CampusChat

A10. I know. I know. “Who’s Ed McMahon?” #CampusChat

A10. No one can guarantee scholarship money. I can guarantee that if you don’t apply, you won’t get much money for college. #CampusChat

A10. It really is that simple! #CampusChat

Great info!  You can find Seth @GetCollege at www.TheCollegeWhisperer.com  #CampusChat

I invite you to grab your free copy of my 10 Best College Scholarship Tips found here. #CampusChat