College is a great investment in your future success, but it can be expensive. Applying for and gaining scholarship awards can go a long way toward making school more affordable, but you have to know when to apply to maximize your success.
Whether you’re a parent helping your teen plan for their future or you’re an aspiring college student getting an early jump on your college planning (smart!), here’s everything you need to know about scholarship application timelines, strategies, and tips for getting the best opportunities.
When Should I Start Applying for Scholarships?
There’s no simple answer to when you should apply for scholarships. Some scholarships have deadlines as early as a year before college enrollment, while others may be available while you’re well into your college career.
For example, academic scholarships that are based on merit often have early deadlines. Ideally, you should start applying during your junior year of high school. The same is true of athletic scholarships, which may involve recruitment. You should work with your coaches in your sophomore or junior year to prepare for athletic scholarship opportunities.
Local scholarships sponsored by community-based organizations can have varying deadlines, so it really depends on the scholarships you’re aiming or qualify for. Take a look at the scholarships that may apply to you at the beginning of your junior year – and no later than your senior year – to ensure you have plenty of time to get your application finished by the deadline.
Don’t forget that you may have scholarship opportunities after you’re enrolled, so keep up with your scholarship searches once school starts.
Is Applying for Scholarships Early Better?
Generally, yes, applying for scholarships early is the best approach. Deadlines can be tight and scholarship opportunities are competitive, so you may need time to gather your letters of recommendation or references, write engaging essays, and meet specific eligibility requirements.
Stay on Top of Scholarship Deadlines
Keeping track of deadlines can be challenging, but a little effort goes a long way. Here are some tips for keeping your scholarship applications and deadlines organized:
- Create a scholarship calendar with deadlines, either on a digital app or physical calendar.
- Work with your school advisors or guidance counselors to get scholarship recommendations and deadline reminders.
- Use phone alarms or task management apps to schedule key dates for your scholarship applications and submissions.
Best Way to Find Scholarships
Finding scholarships is half the battle. Here are some places to look:
- Online scholarship databases like Fastweb and Scholarships.com offer scholarship opportunities that you can filter by type, award, deadline, application criteria, location, and more.
- Your institution’s financial aid office may know about local and national opportunities that are a good fit for you. Don’t forget to also talk to your high school guidance counselor or advisor about scholarship opportunities. You may find some hidden gems.
- Industry-specific organizations may offer scholarships for students pursuing relevant degrees.
Scholarship Tips for Success
Stay organized and track your application materials, recommendation letters, character references, and transcripts in one location that’s easy to access.
- Don’t use a generic essay! Tailor each essay to reflect the specific scholarship’s goals and relevance to you.
- Pay attention to smaller scholarships. Though the bigger scholarships offer a bigger “bang for your buck,” smaller awards often have lower competition – and all those awards can add up.
- Ask for letters of recommendation early. You want your recommenders to have plenty of time to complete your letters.
- Proofread and edit your essay. Grammar mistakes and typos can hurt your chances, so take your time with your essays and proofread and edit until they’re polished and professional.
- Get ready to promote yourself. Scholarship applications require a little self-praise, which can be difficult. But that’s what it takes to capture attention, so don’t be afraid to brag a little about your talents, awards, and extracurricular or volunteer activities.
- Double-check the eligibility criteria for your scholarships and make sure you have all the required documents. There’s no sense in applying for scholarships that you’re not eligible for.
- Don’t limit yourself to one or two scholarships. There’s no reason you can’t apply for any scholarship – as long as you’re eligible – so manage your time and send out those applications!
Find Scholarship Opportunities with the Sophia Scholarships and Discounts Network
If you’re looking for scholarship opportunities, Sophia is proud to offer the Sophia Scholarships and Discounts Network (SDN). This network is exclusively available to Sophia learners who’ve completed at least one course, giving them access to a network of institutions that offer tuition scholarships and discounts.
This is an exciting opportunity for qualified learners to connect with financial assistance for Sophia’s partner schools. As long as you’ve completed at least one course, you can opt-in and apply for applicable scholarships and tuition discounts – even if you’re not yet enrolled in a college or university. Get started today with a free trial to Sophia!
