How to Complete A Scholarship Application

Scholarship applications vary from scholarship to scholarship. Some might ask you to do an essay, for example, while others might just ask you for your financial need information. Others still might require that you send a portfolio of your artwork. How do you complete a scholarship application? The short answer is as follows:

• Get your application materials well in advance of the deadline.
• Fill them out as soon as possible so you will be aware of what information you need to track down.
• Mail them in by the deadline, if not before.

To make sure you maximize your chances of being awarded the scholarships that you're applying for, do make sure to read each application thoroughly. Depending on who is offering the scholarship, one error in formatting or neglected piece of information could send your application to the scrap heap.

Personal Information
Any scholarship you apply for will ask you to complete a section of personal information. This will include your name, your date of birth, and perhaps your Social Security number as well. Here, you will also probably find a check box for male or female, too.

Racial and Ethic Information
Many scholarships also ask for racial or ethnic information. Usually, you are asked to provide this information by filling out a series of check boxes. Some scholarship applications will give the option to decline to identify yourself.

Financial Information
Especially if you are applying for need-based scholarships, you should get your financial ducks in a row before sitting down to tackle the pile of paperwork that is scholarship applications. You will probably need information about your income, and if you are a minor, information about your parents' income as well. All of the financial information that you need to provide on a scholarship applications can generally be obtained through your tax return, so you might want to locate that.

Creative Components
If your scholarship is need-based but requires an essay, or if your scholarship is merit-based and requires a sample of your work as part of your application, neither of these cases is cause for procrastination. As you are checking out the requirements of your scholarship applications, make a date with yourself well in advance of the day you need to mail your scholarship application to get going on the creative component of your scholarship application. Lots of people want scholarships, so rest assured (or don't rest -- get to work!) that there are many people besides you interested in this scholarship who are not going to leave drafting an essay or preparing or portfolio of artwork or photography until the last minute, and so neither should you.

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