Before you know it, graduation will be here, and so will college. But how will you manage the costs? The answer: scholarships. The following basics should assist you as you begin the work (and it is work) of locating and procuring scholarships.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION- Most scholarships are going to ask for at least two letters of recommendation. Teachers, employers, and counselors are great sources for letters, but be sure that they know you well enough to be able to write an anecdotal letter about you and all your great qualities. Ask five or six people for letters so you will have a variety to choose from and to make sure you have the required number before the deadline. Be sure to ask for letters of recommendation at least two to three weeks before you actually need them. Follow up four or five days before the deadline to see if the letter is ready. Your visit will also provide a gentle reminder about the task. Provide the person with a list of activities that you are involved with so that they may use it as a reference. Don’t forget to ask them for several copies and for permission to copy the letter for other scholarships and applications; usually photocopied letters are acceptable, but the original is always better. Request the school letterhead (most teachers will use this automatically). Most importantly, send the person a thank you note. This gesture shows the person that you appreciated the time they took to help you out. Follow the guidelines as directed by the application; if the committee only wants two letters of recommendation, provide two only. Letters from close family friends and relatives are only appropriate as directed in the application.
THE ESSAY- Most scholarships are going to require the applicant to write one or more essays. The type of essay and the topic will vary from scholarship to scholarship, but the format for an essay is generally the same. The essay should almost always have a title, typed clearly at the top of the page. If the essay has a broad subject such as “reveal something to us about you that you think we should know,” try to focus on one specific life experience. Don’t try to conquer a big broad topic such as “sports have changed my life.” Instead, focus on something narrower such as that championship soccer game that your team lost last year and how that changed your views on failure. Before submitting your essay, have at least two people proofread it for errors. Also, avoid the use of the words interesting, good, fun, or nice. These words are bland and vague, giving the reader an unattached feeling to the author. For additional information and tips, review the Personal Statement Power Point on the UMHS OWL.
TRANSCRIPT- Unless the scholarship specifically asks for an official transcript, have your counselor print you out a transcript and take it down to the printers. Make as many copies as scholarships you plan to apply for. You may wish to highlight AP or Honors courses and your GPA to make things easier for the committee
SCHOLARSHIP FOLDER- Keep all of your applications, letters, essays, etc. in a folder or file. On the outside of the file, keep track of application deadlines and the date you actually mail the application. Note that some scholarships ask for additional paper work, such as sample work. Check the application several times to make sure that it is complete and neat.
MORE THANK YOU NOTES-If you receive the scholarship that you applied for, be sure to send the committee or scholarship sponsor a thank you note. For some scholarships, it is possible to reapply each year. Sending a thank you note is not only professional and courteous, but will increase your chances of receiving the scholarship the following year.
Introduction |
Expository Writing |
Argumentation |
General Writing Info
Reading Strategies |
Grading Rubrics |
Seniors