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Secrets to Dressing for College Scholarship Success
Are you looking for ways to increase your college scholarship success rate?
There are instances, however, that call for letting go and getting out of favorite pairs of jeans, pajama pants, and/or sweats.
This would be for:
- The scholarship interview
- Dropping off a scholarship application packet at a sponsoring organization
- Participating in a scholarship competition with a group of peers
- Meeting with a college financial aid officer and/or admissions rep
I’d like to share with you a true story of a real scholarship competition participant and exactly what the student’s parents experienced on that exciting day of competition.
This is from the mom’s point of view:
The night before the competition, which was for a full-ride scholarship at the university my son had his heart set on going to, I advised him to get his dress clothes ready to wear for the next morning.
He balked, looked at me as though I had lost my mind, and questioned why he would need to wear nice clothes to the competition.
I told him he must “dress for success” and that there would be admissions officers, college representatives, and quite possibly scholarship judges there observing the students.
He had spent weeks carefully preparing the various components of his scholarship application, so why would he show up in an old pair of jeans and t-shirt?
It was very clear to me. Unfortunately, he did not see or understand my point of view, but fortunately, he complied, albeit grumbling and wondering if he would be the ONLY one dressed up at the competition.
The next day was the scholarship competition day!
We set out early to make the long drive to the university and got there with plenty of time to spare. As we entered the building where most of the competition would take place, I couldn’t help but notice the major lack of students wearing dress clothes.
What we saw were holey jeans, very short skirts, ratty school hoodies, and lots of t-shirts.
My heart sank a little, but I held fast to the knowledge that dressing for success is an important skill and that first impressions are very important in all walks of life.
My husband and I sat beside our frustrated and rather cranky son and heard him grumble again about how NO ONE else was dressed up. We then started looking around very carefully and spotted two boys professionally dressed in shirts and ties and a few girls looking very nice in conservative dresses.
I absolutely love my teenager, but needed a few minutes away from the daggers that his eyes were throwing my way and walked over to look at a table set up with university information.
Standing there by the table was the admissions representative that had given the presentation the first time we had visited the college a few months prior. I couldn’t help but confess to him that my son was upset with me and my husband about our request for him to wear his nice clothes for the competition.
He shared with me these words (to the best of my memory),
“Your son is one of three boys and two girls that we have seen today that dressed up. We have already noticed him!
It is amazing that for a full-ride scholarship more students don’t take this competition seriously and dress nicer. We have seen several holey jeans and lots of too short skirts.
You did a great job by having your son dress appropriately. It is very hard for kids of this age to stand out, but in this case they should want to make a good impression and be noticed.
They could win a full-ride scholarship today!”
You can only imagine how thankful I was for his understanding words and excited that he had noticed my son! As he finished talking to me and I wandered away, my son started walking towards me.
He was stopped by the same admissions rep, who complimented him on his attire and told him how important it was to dress for success.
I don’t know exactly what he said to my son, but I do know that all grumbling ceased at that very moment. We won’t find out for a while if he won the scholarship, but I do know that dressing for success was the right decision and I am so glad that my husband and I stuck to our guns and insisted that our son dress up.
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Isn’t that a GREAT story?
It’s all true and I can’t wait to find out if that student had college scholarship success.*
I also know that this mom has read my scholarship guide ebook and knows the importance of presenting a whole scholarship package, not just the bare minimum.
Open to High School Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors! APPLY NOW HERE
A few more pointers for students about scholarship competitions and interviews:
- Read over the essay that was originally submitted
- Research the company, organization, or founder of the scholarship
- Be prepared to share what makes them different from other applicants
- Have a compelling reason for how the scholarship money will be used
- Know the “why” behind the award (read this)
- Have questions to ask the interview(s) ready
- Follow-up within 24 hours with a hand-written thank you note
Get all the winning scholarship secrets right here now >>
READ MORE WINNING SCHOLARSHIP TIPS HERE
How do you feel about dressing for college scholarship success?
You may also like: College Scholarship Judge Reveals Winning Secrets
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Monica Matthews is the author of How to Win College Scholarships. She helped her own son win over $100,000 in college scholarships and now shares her expertise with other parents and their students. She truly has “been there, done that” in regard to helping parents and students navigate the scholarship process.
Her method of helping students in finding college scholarships, writing unique and compelling scholarship essays, creating amazing scholarship application packets, and more have taught desperate parents to help their own students win thousands of scholarship dollars. She teaches them how to apply S.M.A.R.T. with outstanding results.
Monica’s scholarship tips have been featured on many prominent websites, and she has been dubbed the “Go-To” expert on college scholarships.
This is a great tip and is honestly something that I’d not thought of before!
Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog post, Mandi. If you need any help in your quest to win scholarship money, don’t hesitate to contact me. 🙂
Dressing smart is so important – my son went to his university interviews wearing a smart suit, shirt & tie and clean shoes. Always make a good impression- college/university interviews, job interviews – making the effort makes a difference.
Linda, you and your son are so smart and way ahead of the game. YAY!
It drives me nuts seeing how kids and young adults dress for important events these days. Have some respect and class for the event you are attending. Good job mom!
I know, UG! Some kids just “get it”, but others need firm loving reminders. Thanks, Gary!
Your appearance is important as it shows professionalism, how invested you are, and also respect. I think this advice can apply to anyone going for a job interview. Unfortunately, our appearance does make an impression and in the competitive world we live in it is something we are judged on. Great advice Monica.
Thanks so much, Sue! You are so right, to get ahead we all need carefully consider our appearance. I appreciate and value your input!
It is shocking how many kids do not get this message. My girls have heard the ‘wear appropriate clothing’ for whatever the event is their whole lives. Hopefully it sticks when it counts!
I think that sometimes kids need to hear advice from someone other than their parents for situations like this, unfortunately. We really try though, don’t we? 🙂
Yes, I think it is always something that feels a bit odd and confusing at that point in your life. Many students don’t particularly have formal clothes, and they know that college students are not known for being smartly dressed, so it can seem odd that there would be any reason to dress formally for college interviews. But it’s competitive and, ultimately, colleges are looking for those in whose long term success they have the most confidence. And, in that context, things like taking the interview seriously, and knowing when it is appropriate to adapt and look and behave more formally, are probably indicators of a mentality for success. Plus, as the admissions officer said, if most kids stick with casual, standing out from the crowd and being memorable is not a bad thing.
Very well said! Thanks so much for your input. I really appreciate it! 🙂
What a great story. Luckily I raised a shallow son who was all about appearances and enjoyed dressing up and his two sons are already into coordinated clothing and outfits. Who knows what rebellion might come forth in the teen years, though! Dressing well does matter.
Your son sounds smart to me and not shallow, Molly! 🙂
So where were you when I was putting myself through NYU? 🙂
I maxed out my student loans, and gave up every weekend of my college life to wait tables to pay my tuition.
This sort of info would’ve been a life saver for me. So glad you are making this available to a new generation of students, especially given how much college costs today!
I hear you, Austin! I worked 2 jobs all through college to pay my tuition, as my parents had 4 kids left at home to provide for. A big part of my motivation to help my own son win scholarships was the memories of missing out on a lot in college because of my work schedules. I’m glad I can be here for today’s generation of college kids. 🙂
I love the truth of the son vibrating with annoyance at everyone else being dressed up. I rarely get out of jeans but a few things merit taking care with my appearance. Weddings, funerals, and interviews. It is a sign of respect
I totally agree. Respect is modeled and taught. Some teens resist, but deep down inside I think they know it’s right to dress up for certain important occasions.