Scholarships:

Obstacles,

Strengths,

and Clicking Submit

Amanda Skorich

Director of Development

Minnesota State College Student Association

Debt has Adjectives

Scholarship Fears

Facts about Scholarships

Many scholarships actually don’t have many applicants.

Boards are excited to give away their money.

If you apply once and don’t get it, it’s ok to apply again.

Applying should be free! Never pay a cent!

In 2007-2008, The National Postsecondary Student Aid Study

said that $2.91 Billion were awarded in Undergraduate

Scholarships

The Basics

Read the Whole Application

Research the Company

Set Calendar Deadlines

Apply for as many as you can/set a goal!

Apply for ones that are specific to you, not ones

anyone can apply for unless it’s very simple.

Proof Read

NOT!

Did I Do That…? What you will need to know about yourself

Activities/ Clubs you are involved in on your campus and community

Occupation you would like to enter

Subject areas you excel at/favorites

Honors/Awards/Special Recognitions

Cumulative GPA

Your positive qualities and strengths

People who could write letters of recommendation

People who could proof your application

Strengths

Don’t Just List Your Jobs/Positions Held

You need to express what skills you

learned/used.

Why you are passionate about it?

Worksheet

• List your Jobs/Positions Held

Choose three skills to match up with each

Draw Them a Picture How will you do that?

You don’t know them!

Share your personal stories.

Tell them the truth!

What’s different about you that is memorable?

Tell them things that they can relate to. Ex: Question: What is your favorite subject in college? I love history class because I’m always learning

something new. My favorite history topic is the Civil War because I like to participate in reenactments in my spare time.

People can relate better to the above statement rather than “History” being your answer.

Always think of a question as ending with, “why?”.

Letters of RecommendationComponents

Introduction

Explain that you are applying for scholarships and the

criteria you want them to talk about.

Express why you picked them to talk about those points.

Hard Ask

Inform them about the company they are writing the

letter to so they can keep that in mind while writing the

letter.

Give them the due date. If you are giving them plenty

of time, tell them the day before it’s due, just to make

sure.

List where/how to submit it.

Tell them when you want to know if they can do it by.

Thank them for their time, their patience with you, their

mentorship, their support, etc.

There are Scholarships for Everything! Check out these areas you could receive a scholarship from:

College Specific

Athletics

Academic

Departmental

Private Organizations

Corporations

Unions

Volunteerism

Religious

Gender

Profession/Career

Need Based

Parent/Family Member’s Employers

Local Festivals

Honor Societies

Michigan Llama Association Membership Scholarships

Check these out! Careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch/

Search over 5,000 Opportunities

ScholarshipExperts.com Helps you find scholarships that match your profile

FastWeb.com Create a profile, scholarship opportunities sent to you based

on your provided information

Financialaidfinder.com Provides many sources for financial aid, not just scholarships.

SFM Foundation Scholarship For Children with Parents Injured on the Job

MSCSA McCormick and Leadership Scholarship www.mscsa.org/scholarship

American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship: afsascholarship.org

Applicants read about fire sprinklers and answer questions using the book for a chance at $2,000

Apply!

Questions?

Amanda Skorich

Director of Development

MSCSA

1515 Robert St. So. West Saint Paul, MN

55118

(651)203-9462

askorich@mscsa.org