Scholarship Tips

SCHOLARSHIP TIPS    

  • Download the Letter of Recommendation form and Activities Chart  from Naviance (left hand side, under pages).  Using the electronic version, it is easy to copy and paste information into scholarship forms.  You will find that many scholarships are asking for the same information.  Fill out and make copies of it to give to teachers, school counselor, employers, supervisors, or coaches you may want to write letters of recommendation for you.
  • Check Naviance once a week or more to check on any new scholarship postings.  If you’re scouting out the year before …note the application due dates in a google calendar, and put a reminder in to check for a new application.  The applications usually don’t change TOO much, so it would be a good idea to work ahead from an old application.  Put a note in your google calendar to CHECK for a new application and update accordingly.
  • Keep a shared (with guardian)  google doc or sheet of all scholarship deadlines to keep organized and manage deadlines. Naviance has a planning organizer as well.
  • Photocopy/scan or take a picture of all of the scholarship applications you submit for backup.  Also, one application may help you fill out the next application.
  • Keep all of your essays on your computer and/or google drive.  You will notice that many of the essay questions become repetitive.  You can change each essay for the different essay questions you will be asked.  It is super important that you change school/program  names….don’t send in a Stanford scholarship with the Yale name on it.
  • Find out if your bank or your guardian’s bank offers scholarships.  Also, if you have contacts at local businesses, check to see if they have a scholarship program for high school students.  If they don’t, but they are interested, they can call OSAC (541-687-7395) to set up a scholarship program.
  • Do volunteer work or community service. Many of the local scholarships are awarded to students who have given their time and commitment to their community.
  • Use the Career Center volunteers as a valuable resource.  They are there to help you with your scholarship search and scholarship questions.
  • Remember that scholarships usually do not fall into your lap.  It is hard work to receive scholarships.  You will have to commit a certain amount of time each week to work on your scholarship search.  Treat it like a class …apply the same amount of time toward applying for college and scholarships that you would for your toughest class.  You may get quite a few rejections along the way, but do not give up.  You definitely will not get a scholarship that you don’t try for, so go for it!  Keep in mind that some scholarships have NO applicants at all…..or very few!
  • Even when a scholarship amount looks small when looking at the cost of tuition – still apply.  If it takes you an hour to complete the application and it is “only” for $100, think “what job out there pays $100 an hour?”  And you can use the money to pay for a couple of books.  It will all add up and help you out!  Keep contact name and addresses of all of the scholarships you apply for so you can write thank you notes.

 

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