Winning Scholarships: Attention to Detail Will Pay Off

Sure, you may have to actually invest some time and thought in the process but it could pay off in a big way. Assuming most students won’t heed this warning, those who do could be in for a free ride or at least a significant amount of financial aid from a number of scholarship providers. It’s simple, really - read and follow the instructions of each scholarship for which you apply. That, and make sure to keep your profile up-to-date at Scholarships.com once you have completed your free college scholarship search. If you haven’t done so already, conduct a free college scholarship search. Do this as early as possible when you’re a high school senior, if not earlier, so you can be aware of what is available and how you can make sure you qualify when the time comes. Check in often and take a few minutes to review your profile to make sure it is as accurate as possible and review your search results to see if any new scholarship opportunities may have been added. Here are some basic steps to take to ensure the best possible chance of winning scholarships:

• Conduct a Free Scholarship Search at Scholarships.com

  There is never any need to pay a scholarship website claiming they can guarantee scholarships or that they do the work, etc. and charging you $50, $100, sometimes even more.

• Review Your Profile

  Once you have completed your search, carefully review your profile to ensure all the information you have submitted is accurate. If necessary, have a fellow student, a sibling, a teacher or parent go over it with you, since it is often difficult to spot one’s own errors.

• Review Your Search Results

  Mark your favorites where appropriate and delete the scholarship awards that do not appeal to you. If necessary, you can always restore the deleted items to your list later, once you have applied for all of your favorites.

• Visit the Website of the Scholarship Provider

  Winning scholarships often depends upon the applicant thoroughly reading and following the instructions provided by the scholarship provider. Read the instructions and official rules very carefully, making certain to follow each instruction to the letter. Though it is possible some providers may overlook a minor infraction, don’t waste what time you’ve already invested by neglecting this step, as it could be the deciding factor in whether you are awarded a scholarship.

• Return Frequently to Update Your Information

  If your GPA increases or you take up a new activity, make sure your profile at Scholarships.com reflects this. Maybe you have changed your mind about the college you want/plan to attend or the major you will study there. Any of these things might mean you qualify for scholarships you didn’t when you first conducted your search. Even if nothing has significantly changed, Scholarships.com is constantly adding new scholarships for which you might qualify and which may not have been in your initial search results.