Crafting a Competitive Scholarship Application

Transcription

1 Crafting a Competitive Scholarship Application Increasing the competitive edge for college scholarships Workshop Objectives Overview of scholarships Developing a résumé that really attests to the quality and quantity of a student s leadership, volunteer activities, awards, honors, etc. Writing an essay that makes a scholarship application standout from the others Obtaining letters of recommendation that make a real difference Including a high school fact sheet Scholarships funded by outside (non-university) sources 1

2 Know Your Scholarship Application submission deadline (plan ahead) What makes a complete scholarship application packet Know your audience Application criteria (customize your application as you would your job résumé) Set proper and reasonable expectations The Résumé Objective: To concisely but comprehensively describe one s awards, honors, leadership roles, volunteer activities, and other accomplishments. If successful: Will demonstrate to a donor what a student is capable of achieving with their financial support and how well he or she will represent their university or foundation as a recipient of their scholarship. 2

3 Components of a Competitive Résumé Academic achievements, awards, and honors Extracurricular activities (quality and quantity) Leadership (quality and quantity) Volunteer activities (quality and quantity) Work experience Special circumstances (be brief and to the point) Amanda s Résumé 3

4 Julie s Résumé Maria s Résumé 4

5 The Essay Objective: To write an essay that personalizes the scholarship applicant by conveying something unique and memorable about the student (i.e., a challenge or hardship, talent, special accomplishment, etc.). If successful: The application will standout (be remembered) from competitors and be more likely to be selected for a scholarship. Recipe for a Competitive Essay Spend three hours thinking about the essay for every one hour spent writing it (brainstorming) i Write about something one cares about and knows (demonstrate passion and intellectual curiosity) Have someone (preferably a good writer) proof read the essay Create the review committee environment (have reader review the essay in two minutes) Ask readers to summarize what they read (determine if the main points were remembered) Read the essay out loud Be focused and not overly broad Keep the audience in mind (review committee is composed of year olds) Toot your own horn but do it just right 5

6 Common Mistakes Poor spelling (Do not rely on spell-check) Poor grammar Not paying attention to the essay instructions (i.e., length, spacing, etc.) Not logical in its progression Misuse of words its/it s, their/there/they re, compliment/complement, etc. Trite words such as myriad, plethora, dearth, etc. Clichéd phrases such as expanding my horizons, making a better tomorrow for myself, etc. Overuse of I the I essay Essay Topics That Are Overdone or Risky/Inappropriate Overdone Boyfriend/girlfriend problems (breakups) Being raised by a single parent Overcoming an athletic injury Religion Risky or Inappropriate Personal drug use Inappropriate behavior Humorous essays unless a naturally funny writer Profanity-laden essays Poetry-type essays 6

7 Jenny s Essay Timothy s Essay 7

8 The Letter of Recommendation Objective: To get a letter from a teacher, counselor, clergyman, or other individual who knows the student well and can speak to some unique aspect of his or her life, thus, helping to further personalize and flesh out the scholarship application. If successful: The letter will give the donor a better, more in-depth sense of who the student is and what he or she has accomplished making the application come more alive and more likely to receive a scholarship. Tips for Securing a Good Letter of Recommendation Ask someone who really knows you Do not use a family member, friend, or fellow student Give the recommender ample time to write a thoughtful and personalized letter Give the recommender a copy of a résumé and essays as a mental primer Recommendation letter should not simply repeat what is already covered in other parts of the application 8

9 Mee Yang s Letter of Recommendation Jose s Letter of Recommendation 9

10 Fact Sheet Average SAT/ACT scores Graduation rate Number (percentage) of graduates attending college Number of Advanced Placement courses offered Socio-economic characteristics of the community Outside Scholarship Opportunities Online search engines such as FastWeb.com and BrokeScholar.com Scholarship reference books at the public library Local organizations and groups within your community National scholarship foundations such as Gates Millennium, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, National Urban League, etc. 10

11 Workshop Objectives Overview of scholarships Developing a résumé that really attests to the quality and quantity of a student s leadership, volunteer activities, awards, honors, etc. Writing an essay that makes a scholarship application standout from the others Obtaining letters of recommendation that make a real difference Including a high school fact sheet Scholarships funded by outside (non-university) sources Questions 11

12 Presenter Contact Information Christopher D. Murr, Ph.D. Director Financial Aid and Scholarships Texas State University-San Marcos