#omg I am actually turning to a put together studyblr that can give advice!!

[study-van]

Start your scholarship search by making a list of everything that makes you you: your academic interests, your extracurriculars, your cultural heritage, your hobbies, etc. There are scholarships out there for just about any quality and trait you can imagine, so it helps to make a  list of things you might search for. For example, you'll find scholarships based on your heritage or on your foreign language proficiency. There was even this one scholarship for non-Japanese Japanese speakers, the possibilities are limitless.

Check out your student résumé or portfolio. In this aspect my counselor was really helpful and made a list of things that set me aside.

After making your list/brain map/etc you can ask your high school counselor and/or the financial aid office at your (intended) college(s) for their help in getting your search started. You should also look for scholarships offered directly from your (intended) college(s) or university; your school might even have their own scholarship search page or board.

Your future major and career plans are also a big factor. Do you aspire to be a vet? Are you on the pre-med track? Or is environmental science your thing? Look for related professional and academic organizations to see if they offer any scholarships; they’ll often encourage students who are on specific paths by giving them money to help.

Also it doesn’t hurt to check the scholarships that organizations at YOUR country give. For example, in Turkey, Muhtar Kent Vakfı gives out big scholarships (yes, sometimes even 100%). You have a higher chance of getting those scholarships than the international or university wise ones because the pool for applicants is much more smaller.

There are also plenty of websites that let you check scholarships, albeit small ones (nearly all the universities have a list of them at their website). However, someone from my school completed her 55k$ tuition just by getting small 1k to 10k scholarships so seriously try your luck with them too.

For USA, there is also need-based and merit-based scholarships that each school gives. I honestly have no idea what sets you apart from all the other accepted students to get the merit scholarship but I did receive it from three of the universities I got accepted from so you never know! (To see what I did in high school you can check the ask here)

For need-based scholarship, there are seriously so many paperwork to do so get started on it as soon as possible. My friends started on the paperwork the summer before our senior year and was done by October and at least had that off of his work to complete.

On the topic of paperwork, regardless of the scholarship start on it as early as you can. Even before you apply, it will seriously help you relax just a bit.

So now onto some hot essay tips because most of them demand an essay from you. (The essay is most of the times what stands between you and the scholarship)I will link an answer by @mr-entj​ right here because they summed it up really well and I think there is no further thing to say!! Most of the time you can write any kind of essay if you can answer those two questions in the answer.

Lastly, some scholarships from your country will conduct an interview. Don’t be nervous about it but still take it seriously. Their main goal is to see that their money is not going to waste on a kid that doesn’t have any aspirations or will just spend their time partying and all.

During the interview, be firm about your goals and what you plan to accomplish. Again referring to @mr-entj​‘s answer they will want you to answer the two main questions: Why do you deserve the scholarship? Why do you need this scholarship? Make sure beforehand that you have a clear answer on both. If you can try to practice your answers with a friend for these two. Other than that they might throw in some questions that have no relation at all with the scholarship. (My interviewer asked about my coffee preferences) This is just to see that you’re also a person and not just this academic monster. You’ve to be human, this also goes well with the point of being yourself, if you want that scholarship don’t try to make yourself look perfect (don’t do that seriously).

Also be respectful to your interviewer, their impression of you may save you a little bit even if you fail to give a concise answer to some of their questions.

Just one last caution, as I’ve mentioned in the post, if you’re an international student, your chances for most scholarships are lower than local students so instead of solely relaying on them prioritize scholarships from your country.

Most universities/colleges will claim they’re need-based but they find loopholes so have a backup plan (independent scholarships) if you can’t get their need-based scholarship.

I guess this is a pretty neat summary as usual if you guys have further questions my asks/dms are always open!!