Apply for Scholarships

Key takeaways:

Private organizations offer more than 1.8 million scholarships to current and future college students every year.
Scholarship applications vary depending on the specifics of each award, but you can follow Scholarships.com’s steps to simplify your application process.
Anyone can apply for scholarships at any time; it’s never too late to begin.

According to the Education Data Initiative’s 2024 College Scholarship Statistics report, private organizations award more than 1.8 million scholarships each year. To win a scholarship, though, you first need to apply. Keep reading to find out how you can apply for and win scholarships with Scholarships.com.

What is a scholarship and why should you apply?

A scholarship is a type of financial aid that, unlike student loans, does not need to be repaid. By covering your college expenses through scholarships rather than loans, you can reduce the amount of student debt you’ll have to pay when you graduate; with enough scholarship money, you can even eliminate that debt entirely. See our What is a Scholarship? article for a deeper dive.

When should you apply for scholarships?

Though most students apply for scholarships during or prior to their senior year of high school, just like applying to college, there is no set scholarship application period. You can apply for scholarships whenever you’d like, so long as you fit the eligibility criteria and submit your applications prior to each opportunity’s deadlines. It’s never too late— or too early— to start applying for scholarships.

How to apply for scholarships

When you create a free account on Scholarships.com, we will automatically match you with all the scholarships in our database for which you can apply. We’ll also provide you with the eligibility criteria and an individual application guide for each match so that you can apply with ease. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to apply for scholarships, from start to finish.

Gather materials

Start an ongoing record of your academic, extracurricular, and career involvement as early as possible— freshman year of high school is ideal. You can use a physical journal or online spreadsheet to organize your experience; note the dates and scale of your involvement, as well as the contact information for your advisors and mentors. Later, you can use this information to write scholarship essays and request letters of recommendation.

Also keep on hand all the information your school provides you about your grades and standardized test scores. Many scholarships require you to submit academic transcripts or official reports of your ACT or SAT scores. Your school will offer you all the information you need to obtain these reports; keep the handouts and emails they send to use when applying to scholarships.

Find opportunities

The best place to begin your scholarship search is on Scholarships.com. As early as your freshman year of high school, you can create a free account and input your basic demographic information to automatically match with the best scholarships for you. From nationwide opportunities like the annual Doodle for Google contest to specialized local awards, our database has what you need to win money for college.

On Scholarships.com, you can find scholarships for every trait, academic interest, and life situation you can think of. Some of our most popular scholarship categories include merit-based scholarships, first-generation scholarships, graduate school scholarships, unusual scholarships, and more. We’ll find your perfect fit so you can stay focused on becoming the best student you can be.

Organize scholarships

Once you have your scholarship matches, organize them into a list or spreadsheet so you can keep track of your application process. Sorting opportunities by deadline is a great way to make sure you don’t miss out; Scholarships.com automatically orders your matches by deadline to give you the best chance at success.

In your list, include information like the materials required, deadlines, amounts, and links to the scholarship provider’s website. You can even organize Scholarships.com’s list of matches with our built-in tools to save, hide, and check off each opportunity within your dashboard.

Submit applications

You can begin applying for scholarships as soon as their application periods start. Set aside time to submit applications at a pace that works for you; some students aim to apply to several scholarships per day, while others apply each month. Remember, the more high-quality applications you submit, the more chances you have to win, so it’s important to balance both quality and quantity in your application process.

Scholarship providers can take anywhere from days to months to announce the recipients of a scholarship. It’s okay to be disappointed if you don’t win immediately, but try not to become discouraged. Scholarships.com winners like Leslie Nava say that when it comes to scholarships, persistence is the key to success— take rejection as redirection and keep applying no matter what.

Claim funds

Keep a close eye on your email inbox for updates regarding your scholarship applications. When you receive a “Congratulations” email, make sure you read all the text so you know how to claim your award. Some scholarship providers will ask you to attend special receptions to give you your scholarship check in person; others just require the submission of an additional form or two. Be sure you follow all the instructions you are given so you can celebrate your wins worry-free.

Some scholarships are renewable, meaning you can win them for multiple years. These awards may automatically renew or you may need to reapply each year. Sometimes you need to maintain a certain GPA or other academic involvement to renew an award year after year. Stay in contact with the scholarship provider when you receive a renewable scholarship so that you remain aware of the expectations that come with renewing your award.

Frequently asked questions about applying for scholarships

Do regular students actually win scholarships?

Countless students of all kinds apply for and win scholarships each year— and according to a recent match-back analysis, 1 in 3 of all competitive scholarship winners are Scholarships.com users. You can read success stories and full-length interviews about real winners’ real application processes right here on Scholarships.com.

Scholarship winners come from a variety of backgrounds, states, and academic fields. Our winners include graduate students like Emily Huffstetler, first-generation students like Tasfia Howlader, online students like Daisha Jackson, and rural students like Elizabeth Djajalie. Keep applying to your scholarship matches and you could be next!

Do you have to have financial need to apply for scholarships?

Unlike the financial aid offered by the government through the FAFSA, you are not necessarily required to demonstrate financial need to win private scholarships. While some private scholarships do consider applicants’ financial need, there are actually more which do not. You can win scholarships regardless of your financial need status.

Can you use AI to apply for scholarships?

While it may be tempting to use AI tools to enhance your scholarship applications– or even to automate the whole process for you!– it is a much better idea to apply for scholarships without the use of AI. Many scholarships have outright banned the use of AI in their applications; if a scholarship committee detects that your application contains AI-generated or AI-assisted content, you may be disqualified entirely.

More importantly, though, scholarships are awarded based on a student’s unique qualities. Scholarship providers care about your story as you express it to them, not as AI recounts it. You’ll also learn much more by writing scholarship essays and personal statements than by having a machine do it. The skills you’ll build through applying to scholarship essays on your own are valuable, so don’t miss out by using AI.

How many scholarships should you apply for?

You should apply for as many scholarships as you can— within reason, that is. The more scholarships you apply for, the more chances you have to win, but it’s also important that each application you submit is high-quality; you’ll need to spend time making each application the best it can be, so you’ll need to manage your time carefully.

Therefore, you should apply for scholarships in accordance with the time you have to do so. For instance, Scholarships.com winner Abbey Schaumberg submitted all her scholarship applications— about 10 of them— over Spring Break of her senior year of high school. On the other hand, Scholarships.com winner Aaron Hill used long stretches of free time at his on-campus job to apply to more than 200 scholarships. Both won enough money to cover their college expenses; if you balance your time wisely, you can, too.

What are the best scholarships out there?

The best scholarship for you depends on several factors. For instance, a high school senior who aims to major in art will have different opportunities available to them than a college transfer student majoring in business, so the two will have very different opinions as to what the best scholarships are.

Generally, the best scholarship for you will be the scholarship you have the best chance to win. Find the most specific scholarship for which you are eligible by looking for local opportunities that cater to your individual needs, such as financial status or ethnic background. Scholarships with specific eligibility criteria have fewer applicants, making them easier to win.