Breaking Down Scholarships for Novices: An Introduction for First-Time College Applicants

If you're like most prospective college students, financial aid is a key part of your journey to college. Around 60% of U.S. families used scholarships to pay for college in the 2021-22 academic year. With the average cost of attendance hovering around $30,000-$60,000, it's no wonder why!

Of course, if you're a first-time college applicant or a first-generation college student, finding the right scholarship opportunities in 2023 can be stressful. With countless scholarships and grants to save you from student loans, it's hard to tell where to start your search. Worse, navigating the nuances of deadlines, essays, and more can be confusing.

The good news is that there's plenty you can do to prepare. From enhancing your application to researching scholarships, let's take a look at how you can increase your chances of winning financial aid.

Start Early

Many first-time college applicants are surprised by just how early they'll need to start their scholarship applications.

It's a good idea to begin your search by at least the end of your junior year of high school. You should also be prepared to continue your search throughout your entire senior year.

In addition, you can even continue applying for scholarships throughout your time at college. The scholarships you win can help you pay for your following years of tuition. 

Prepare for Your Applications

To prepare for your search, make a list of criteria to narrow down your options. This may contain some or all of the following:

• academic major or program
• hobbies and activities you're passionate about
• sports
• extracurricular activities
• volunteer experience
• your family's racial/ethnic background
• your hometown or state

These search criteria can help you identify your eligibility for niche scholarships, which we'll discuss more below.

In addition, you'll want to prepare your application materials in advance.

Common materials include transcripts, essays, and letters of recommendation. In some cases, you may also want to prepare a standout resume for career-focused scholarships. Proof of financial need may also be necessary.

Last, don't forget to decide how you'll stay organized. Make sure you're keeping important details like deadlines, the amount of the award, requirements, and more. We recommend keeping a scholarship search spreadsheet.

Understand How Scholarships Work

If you've never applied for college before, it's important to remember that not all scholarships are created equal. There are two main types: merit scholarships and need-based scholarships.

As their name suggests, merit scholarships award applicants based on what they've accomplished. The requirements for these scholarships are often strict, many of them demanding things like a high GPA or excellence in a specific sport or activity.

Need-based scholarships, on the other hand, grant money to applicants who need financial aid. In many cases, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) determines your eligibility, as we'll discuss next.

File the FAFSA

Filing the FAFSA is crucial for any college applicant. This allows you to ask for financial support during your college years.

Completing the FAFSA can be difficult, especially for first-time applicants. You'll need to provide personal details for yourself and your parents, including your names, ages, income and financial information, and social security information. You'll also need to provide a list of your top ten schools.

If you struggle to complete this form, your high school guidance counselor or college financial aid office can help. However, be sure to go early: their offices will often be busy before the annual FAFSA deadline.

Know Where to Look

Once you've filed the FAFSA, it's time to begin your search. You can find scholarship opportunities in multiple places.

One of the best places to check for scholarships is with the financial aid office of the school you plan to attend. Your school may also have a list on its website. Many schools offer scholarships for first-generation students, so be sure to keep an eye out for them.

It's also a good idea to reach out to your high school counselor. Often, they will be able to help you find and secure scholarships you're eligible for.

You can also turn to your community for aid. Check with local organizations, such as community clubs, places of worship, professional organizations, civic groups, ethnicity-based organizations, and even local businesses like your parents' employers. You can also check with your local library.

One bonus of finding a scholarship this way is that local scholarships tend to be less competitive than their national alternatives.

Last, but not least, turn to online resources. There are countless scholarship search engines online that have lists and databases of scholarships. Our scholarship directory, for example, includes a range of scholarships for our members.

You can also do a simple Google search. This may be ideal when you're seeking specific niche scholarships, as we'll discuss below.

Seek Niche Scholarships

It's always easier to receive grants and scholarships when fewer applicants are competing for them. Seeking niche scholarships based on your specific situation can be a great way to get the financial aid you need.

This is especially true for first-generation students. There are countless scholarships that present awards to first-gen applicants. However, the requirements may vary from scholarship to scholarship, so it's important to read with care to ensure your eligibility.

You are a first-generation student as long as your parents have either not gone to college or not graduated from college, depending on the scholarship. Most scholarships won't look at the graduation rates of your grandparents or other family members, and they will still consider you a first-generation college student even if an older sibling has gone to college.

In addition, it can also be helpful to find scholarships that empower an underrepresented minority. Financial aid for Black, Hispanic, or Native American students, for example, is common.

You can also find niche scholarships based on your interests and career goals. Depending on your interest, these scholarships may award smaller amounts of money, but every dollar counts!

Beware Scholarship Scams

Though most scholarships offer exactly what they say, it's important to be aware of the potential for scams.

Scammers often take advantage of students' desperation to attend college for less. They may claim to offer to help with financial aid or to pay for your tuition. They may even appear to come from a reputable organization.

However, there are a few warning signs to look out for.

You should never pay anyone to fill out your FAFSA for you. Though your guidance counselor or financial aid office may help, they'll never charge you.

You should never pay anyone who asks for money for a seminar or scholarship. There should be no fees involved with applying for a specific scholarship. Don't provide your credit card number or bank information to hold a scholarship.

You should never feel pressured into a scholarship. Though all scholarships have deadlines, scammers often use sales pitches to make students more likely to fall for their tactics. 

Apply With Care

When you begin applying for scholarships, it's critical that you read the details with care.  

Determine Your Eligibility

Make sure you're eligible before beginning your application! Most scholarships will include eligibility information along with the scholarship details, but you may need to reach out to the awarding group for clarification.

Read the Instructions

In addition, make sure to read the instructions multiple times. Even small mistakes can render your application ineligible. Common errors include not following word count restrictions and providing fewer letters of recommendation than required.

Identify the Deadline

We've said it before, but this advice is crucial: make sure you're tracking the deadlines of your applications! All the preparation in the world won't help if you miss a deadline by even a day. 

Market Yourself

Once you begin putting your application together, don't forget that success is all about marketing yourself.

You must impress the judges, so do your homework and get to know the awarding organization. Learn what they're looking for, read up on what they care about, and consider their professed goals, mission, and values.

Don't hesitate to boast: that's what the judges are looking for! Speak highly of yourself and your accomplishments.

If you have specific plans after college, especially if those plans will help your local community, be sure to bring them up. Judges love knowing how their scholarship fund will help a region or community.

Craft Your Essay

In the same way you'd tailor a cover letter to a job application, you'll want to tailor your essays to a scholarship application.

Take the time to answer questions and essays based on the school or program in question. As we've mentioned above, consider what the judging organization might be looking for and craft your essay to show how you fit their criteria.

It's important to approach your essay in a creative way. Remember, you'll need to get the attention of people who may be combing through hundreds or thousands of essays. Crafting a powerful hook, demonstrating your creativity, and telling a good story can help you set yourself apart from the crowd.

If you're a first-generation college student, it may be helpful to bring this up. Your status may also help you stand out.

As you write your essay, however, don't forget to be genuine. Sharing your perspective and personal story through your authentic lens can help highlight who you are.

Get Feedback

Before you click "submit," it's a good idea to get a second set of eyes on your application. If possible, ask a family member or friend to look over your application. If your high school has a tutoring or resource center, you may also be able to get help there.

Feedback can help you tweak your essay to better communicate your goals and talents. It's also a good way to get proofreading help. However, don't expect anyone else to comb through the formatting requirements for the scholarship: you should make sure your essay matches those on your own.

Follow Up

You may have heard that it's important to follow up after a job application, but did you know it's also a good idea with scholarships?

Following up shows that you're still interested. It can also help demonstrate your professionalism. A follow-up note to say "thank you" after a scholarship interview is also a sign of politeness.

Better still, if any part of your application has been lost or misplaced, double-checking with the scholarship organization can help you get your paperwork back in order. You can check to be sure that a scholarship organization received every part of your application. This can include your SAT or ACT scores, your transcripts, your letters of recommendation, or your FAFSA information. 

A simple email will often do the trick. However, if the scholarship provider has listed an alternate option like a phone number for communication, be sure to use that instead.

Apply for Many Scholarships

You should always apply for as many scholarships as possible. If you're eligible and you have the time, apply!

Experts estimate that as much as $100 million in scholarships goes unclaimed each year. This can happen when no one applies for a scholarship or when the applicants were ineligible.

Even smaller scholarships can go a long way toward paying for your college tuition. Students tend to skip over scholarships that award hundreds of dollars in favor of options that award thousands. However, smaller scholarships often have less competition, and every little bit adds up.

Though we've said it earlier, one last piece of advice bears repeating: keep applying. Keep applying throughout your senior year and your years at college. Every scholarship you win means less money to pay back once you've graduated college. 

Find Scholarship Opportunities in 2023

When you're a first-time applicant, applying for scholarships can feel overwhelming. However, at the end of the day, there are countless scholarship opportunities in 2023 and beyond that await you. It's just a matter of applying!

Organizing your application process, finding the right scholarships, and tailoring your application to each opportunity can be crucial. Follow the guidelines above to ensure success on your journey to college.

As you search for scholarships, don't forget to check out our directory. You can get access to exclusive scholarship listings through the Honor Society Foundation. Join us today!