How To Stand Out When Applying For Scholarships By DJ Bettencourt
Applications for scholarships can be quite daunting. It’s not always possible, but you have to place yourself out there and hope that someone will read your application. Simply make sure you’re following all the guidelines so your scholarship application stands out among the many others that are filed. Here are some pointers on how to go about doing that:
Carry Out Some Research
Before you start writing your application, do your research. Find out what the scholarship committee is looking for in a candidate and how they make their decisions. This can be done by reading previous awardees’ applications or contacting the person who administers the scholarship program. Once you know what kind of student they are looking for and how they decide on winners, it will be easier to tailor your application accordingly.
Make Yourself Memorable
The best way to stand out from the crowd is to be unique. DJ Bettencourt claims that scholarship selection committees will pay attention to you if you can set yourself apart from the other applicants and highlight your skills. When you send in your grant application, there are a few things you can do to make it stand out.
- In your essay or film submission, highlight a unique skill or pastime. Perhaps no one else has ever won an award at a state science fair like you have, or perhaps you are the only one who plays chess in your school’s chess group. The key takeaway from this is to make use of anything that makes you stand out from the crowd in a positive manner as part of your application so that scholarship committees will take notice.
- During interviews with members of the selection committee, be ready for some challenging questions, such as inquiries about future career goals or even inquiries about what the candidates did when they were teenagers.
Showcase Your Assets
Showcase your strengths in your grant application as a starting point for differentiation. The best method to achieve this is to recognize your strengths and weaknesses, then focus on enhancing the latter. Don’t be afraid to look at yourself critically and identify some of your interests. Hobbies? Interests? living objectives? Write about yourself using these responses as motivation.
After determining what makes up your identity, it is time to write about it. The last thing anyone wants is a dull description filled with vague generalizations about how amazing everything about them is, with no specifics. DJ Bettencourt advises ensuring that every aspect of who you are comes across clearly in both tone and content.
Be Prepared For Some Tough Questions
If you are a secondary school student, you should start considering college right away. Additionally, applying for scholarships is a great method to get money for college. Although applying for a grant can be simple and enjoyable, you still need to put in some effort.
The most crucial aspect of applying for scholarships is being prepared for difficult inquiries and being aware of the best ways to respond to them honestly and openly without divulging too much. Many people have experienced similar circumstances, so they may have some useful ideas. If there is anything that causes you to feel awkward or embarrassed when answering a question, don’t hesitate to ask someone else for guidance.
Additionally, bear in mind that not everything always goes as expected. Try again the following year or speak with the person who presented those awards directly to help them better comprehend the circumstances surrounding their selection, so perhaps things will go more smoothly than anticipated the following year.