Have a teen heading to college? You likely have one big question on your mind: How are we going to pay for it?
If you’re like many families, financial aid won’t cover the full cost of enrollment, and your child may need to apply for scholarships to help cover the gap. With this being the case for many students, another question may arise: How can my child make their scholarship application stand out?
This article is sponsored by PSECU.
For 25 years, PSECU has offered a company-sponsored scholarship program – the PSECU Scholarship – for graduating high school seniors.
The PSECU Scholarship
Since PSECU's scholarship program began in 1997, the not-for-profit credit union has disbursed more than $750,000 in scholarship funds, helping more than 150 students embark on higher education and begin their careers.
 |
Learn more now about the PSECU Scholarship and how your student can apply!
While each scholarship sponsor may be looking for something slightly different, here are some tips on what makes scholarship applications stand out in the hopes that it’ll help your child on their own scholarship application path.
1. Provide clear, concise explanations
In addition to gathering academic information, PSECU’s scholarship application requires students to submit a list of their top 10 extracurricular activities and awards. Examples include school club participation, volunteer experiences, and jobs.
If your student is asked to complete a similar task, remember that while they are very familiar with the clubs they are in, application reviewers aren’t. Be prepared to give a clear explanation of what the club does. Don’t just list “Mini-THON” and say they were a student leader — describe what that means. What is the mission of the organization? What concrete tasks was your child responsible for?
When writing your explanation, also keep in mind that those reading the applications often have many to review in a short amount of time. So, on top of being clear, you must be concise. Rather than writing many detailed paragraphs about their involvement, tell your child to think of it as an elevator pitch for their role in that club or organization and cut out any “fluff.”
2. Write an essay that is meaningful and authentic
Another key part of PSECU’s scholarship application, like many scholarship programs, is an essay. Regardless of the prompt, which may vary by year, these essays provide a glimpse into who your teen is — an experience that has affected them, someone that is important to them, a learning goal that has shaped them, etc.
One of the most common mistakes applicants make when answering essay prompts is searching for answers to the prompts online and using similar information in their essays. It is usually easy to tell when an applicant does this due to repeated statistics or quotes. This removes the personal feeling from the essay and makes it challenging for reviewers to differentiate them from other submissions.
Another common mistake is weighing the essay down with statistics. While data is a powerful tool, including too much in place of personal experience can make your essay lose its emotional impact. Instead of writing an essay like a research paper (unless they've been asked to do so), look for opportunities to weave any statistics or other factual details naturally throughout the personal story.
Of course, as with all things, there’s a necessary balance. While reviewers want to hear about what made an experience or event meaningful, they also want authenticity. Try not to make sweeping emotional statements (i.e., “This was life-changing,” without including why) or say what you think reviewers want to hear (i.e., “Financial literacy is the most important thing to me,” without explaining the impact).
3. Don’t forget the basics
No matter how well you balance data and emotion or how clearly you explain your club participation, there are a few basic things your teen needs to do for their scholarship application to stand out in the right ways:
- Follow the prompts. One mistake students make with essay prompts is trying to reuse an essay they’ve written for a different college or scholarship application. While there’s nothing wrong with repurposing unique work, it takes some intentional effort to make it fit each application. Don’t just change the introduction or tack one new sentence onto the end. Ask your student if what they're submitting answers the question you’ve been asked, and if not, advise them to adjust it accordingly.
- Check for typos. The most important of the basic rules? Check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Even the most beautifully written essay or perfectly crafted application is blemished by an avoidable typo. Attention to these details is crucial and shows pride in the work.
- Have someone review the application. Before your student clicks submit, review their application for them, or ask another trusted family member, friend, or teacher to review. It's easy for anyone to become blind to mistakes when you’ve stared at them for too long. Having a fresh set of eyes review your teen's work can help catch errors before pushing the submit button.
4. Watch for important deadlines
Pay close attention to deadlines. If an application is due at 12 p.m. ET, you don’t want your child waiting until 11:59 a.m. to submit the application. Additionally, have your child read through and understand eligibility requirements before beginning the application process so there are no last-minute surprises.
Learn more now about the PSECU Scholarship and how your student can apply!
|
