Scholarship Search Strategies That Work
Scholarships are free money that doesn't need to be repaid. With the right strategy, you can significantly reduce your college costs.
Where to Find Scholarships
Local Sources (Highest Success Rate)
Community foundations and local nonprofitsEmployers (your parents' companies often offer dependent scholarships)Religious organizations and civic groups (Rotary, Lions Club, Kiwanis)Your high school counselor's officeState scholarship programs
National Databases
Fastweb.comScholarships.comCollege Board Scholarship SearchCappexYour college's own financial aid portal
Niche Scholarships
Based on heritage, background, or identityField-specific (STEM, arts, business, etc.)Based on hobbies or extracurricular activitiesEssay competitionsAthletic scholarships (contact coaches directly)
Application Strategy
Start Early and Apply Often
Begin searching in your junior yearSet a goal: apply to 2–3 scholarships per weekCreate a scholarship calendar with all deadlines
Reuse and Adapt Essays
Many scholarship essays ask similar questionsWrite strong base essays, then tailor them to each applicationAlways address the specific prompt — don't submit a generic essay
Quality Over Quantity in Recommendations
Choose recommenders who know you wellGive them at least 3 weeks noticeProvide them with a summary of your achievements and the scholarship's values
Winning Tips
**Follow instructions exactly** — many applications are disqualified for formatting errors**Tell your story** — scholarship committees fund people, not GPAs**Apply for "smaller" scholarships** — $500–$2,000 awards have less competition**Don't pay to apply** — legitimate scholarships never charge fees**Thank your donors** — many renewable scholarships require continued engagement
Avoiding Scams
Never pay an application feeBe wary of "guaranteed" scholarshipsDon't provide bank account informationResearch the organization before applyingIf it seems too good to be true, it probably is