The Scholarship To-Do List, Part 4: Online Search Strategy

Typically, the internet is the first place students and parents will search for scholarships. And, while this can work, it’s better to complete a couple steps to make the most of your online efforts. For review, I will quickly list those steps (you can also click on the links, they will take you to the full articles):

1. Understand the importance of an activity list.

2. Create a very specific activity list.

3. Visit your academic advisors.

Simple steps, sure. But, they’re essential to your online success. Here’s why: an activity list will help you create a strategic, focused plan of attack. Your counselors might be able to direct you to especially helpful sites you might have otherwise ignored or alert you to scholarships not listed online.

Once you’ve completed steps one, two, and three, you’re ready to search online. Now, before you jump onto Fastweb or another scholarship search engine, make use of your activity list. Follow the steps below to succeed online.

1. Use long-tail search terms.

A long tail search term is a phrase, rather than word, you type into the Google, Yahoo, or Ask search bars. For instance, instead of searching for “scholarships,” (which can return an overwhelming number of web pages) you’ll have better luck using a long tail search term like “art scholarships” or “scholarships for boy scouts.” In addition, use synonyms for scholarship like “grants,” “awards,” and “endowments.” To find scholarships that you’ll be especially qualified for, use your activity list. Type in “[your Activity] scholarship(s)” into the major search engines: you’ll be pleased by the return of more specific sites. 

2. Find activity-related groups.

Use your activity list to find specific groups that cater to your interests: most have scholarships. Associations, clubs, groups, and professional organizations offer many scholarships to students that participate in their activity or pursuing degrees in their area of expertise. For instance, if you’re interested in photography (yes, this is an example I use a lot, but bear with me) you would type in “photography association.” When I did this, my search returned the site for Professional Photographers of America. Using the site search function, I typed in “scholarships.” Seven results popped up. To do this with your specific activities, simply choose an activity, type in “[activity] associations.” You can also do this with your major or future profession. For instance: “physical therapy association.” In addition, use synonyms for association like: organization, club, group, etc. The key here is to have fun with this process and think creatively.

3. Use the news function 

Many times, I forget that I can use different search functions and get different (and sometimes better) information. It pays to use the “news” search function on search engines (you find this near the top of the page on Google, above the search bar on Yahoo.) Before you conduct a search, click on the link for “news.” Then, proceed with your search as you would normally. When you search using the news function, the results are media stories about your search terms. This is beneficial because most scholarship donors publicize the winners through newspaper or TV stories. When they advertise the winners, you can find out about the award, when applications are typically due, and what it takes to win. (Plus, if a scholarship related to your interests pops up, it validates the scholarship.) The only downside to this type of search is that you probably missed the current-year deadline. I use this function primarily to plan for the upcoming year. The lesson is that if you want to win awards, you must think ahead. 

4. Don’t limit yourself to one search engine.

I use Google all the time. And, while Google is a very good search engine, it’s not the only one. While other search engines like Yahoo and Ask may not be as appealing or familiar to you, they tend to churn up different search results. The different lists can lead you to different web pages, and more scholarship opportunities. Don’t be scared, explore and compare. You never know what you might find.

I hope that these steps will help you conduct a very fruitful online scholarship search. With a little creativity, dedication, and web surfing I know you’ll have much success. 

Your College Scholarship To-Do List Part 3: Visit your academic advisors (high school website).

When you're searching for scholarships, I know you might be tempted to visit Google first thing. 

Totally understandable. 

But, unless you want to be overwhelmed and confused, you’ll avoid that step for the time being. Instead, go to your high school website. 

Most schools provide a list of local scholarships available for students (these scholarships are better than those you’ll find in large scholarship databases because they're local, so you'll have less competition. By applying here instead of online to national scholarships, you automatically increase your chances of success.)

Some schools list awards available by month. Others list all the scholarships are available for the entire year. If your school lists them by month, visit your counselor and request the entire list. This way, you can gather all the required materials early and save yourself stress later.

Typically, you’re going to have to click around a bit to find scholarships, but the pattern is usually something like this:

• Visit your high school’s homepage

• Click on Departments or Academic Departments

• Visit the Career Center or Academic Advisors Section

• See if there are any of the following categories, then explore: scholarships, grants, financial aid, paying for college, college planning.

If your high school does not have this web resource, visit your advisor or counselor directly, and ask them for their assistance. Most scholarship donors will notify schools about their requirements. Most counselors have this information.

I found many of the scholarships I won through my high school career center (website). Trust me, if I did it, you can too. 

Happy hunting! 

Your College Scholarship To-Do List Part 2: Create your [very specific] activity list.

In my last post, I talked about the importance of writing an activity list before you start looking for scholarships. To read my previous post, see it here.

Today, I'm going to run you through the basics and help you brainstorm your own activity list. So, without further ado, here you go:

How to create an activity list:

1. Separate a sheet of paper into three sections, titled: Activity, Years Participated, Specific Achievements/Contributions.  

2. List ALL the activities you’ve participated in, including those activities dating back to elementary school. Ask yourself these specific questions:

• What groups/activities/programs did I participate in when I was younger? In Junior High? In High School?

• Where have a traveled? Did I go with a group or on my own? What did I learn?

• What church or religious groups did I participate in?

• Where and when did I volunteer?

• Where have I worked?

• What do I like doing when I’m not in school?

• What are my hobbies?

• Have I or do I participate in school-sponsored athletic programs?

• Other types of athletic endeavors, not school-affiliated (things like ballet, snowboarding, etc.)

• What do I plan on majoring in? What activities relate to this?

• Have I participated in any clubs?

• Do I speak a foreign language?

• What leadership positions have I held?

• Do I spend a lot of time with my friends?

• Am I technically savvy? 

• Have I been invited to join any academic groups like NHS?

• Have I been involved in student government?

• Mock trial?

• Did I go to boys or girls state? 

• Have I had internships or have I job-shadowed?

• Does my family belong to a credit union?

• Am I involved in the military?

3. After you’ve answered the questions above, try to write down specific examples or stories you remember about your participation. By diving in depth into these areas, you’ll save yourself time later because you’ll have excellent essay writing material. In addition, look for a theme that can tie your activities together. If you notice one type of activity that keeps appearing, you might use that as your theme. If you don’t have a clear “winner,” you might consider rounding out one of your favorite activities to give it more priority. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, see my last post).

Over the course of your life you’ve participated in countless activities. It’s important to write them down (or try to remember them) because you never know which ones will lead you to scholarships.

If you’re still stuck, here’s a some examples of specific activities: boy scouts, girl scouts, YMCA, United Way, Red Cross, church groups, mission groups, boy/girl’s state, academic programs, language clubs, the places you’ve traveled, any press you received for any activity, awards of any kind, your hobbies (are you a stamp collector, video gamer, skateboarder, sewer or knitter?), outdoor sports (like skiing, snowboarding, surfing, camping, hiking, climbing, etc.), and school-sponsored sports are all examples of activities that could appear on your list.

Just remember, write down anything and everything you can think of. Don’t filter yourself because this is for your eyes only. Plus, the more you write down, the more places you’ll have to start looking for scholarships. Stay tuned for my next post, I'm going to help you find scholarships by putting your list to work.

In the meantime, happy list writing!

Your College Scholarship To-Do List Part 1: Why an activity list will help you win scholarships.

When it comes to success, everyone knows what to do: develop a goal, devise a plan, and work hard. The formula is common sense. However, most people have trouble reaching their goals. Why?

In my opinion, we get caught up in the details, especially in the planning stage. We know we have to create a plan, but we spend hours deciding on the steps to take. We don’t know how to do something at some stage in the process so we put it off. We don’t know where to start, so we never start. We put off action by substituting it with planning. Unfortunately, when it comes to paying for college and winning scholarships, you don’t have time to plan: you need to take action. 

Why? 

If you don’t take action, you’ll miss opportunities. You’ll miss deadlines. You’ll lose money.

So, to help you take action (and help you win money for college) I’m providing you with the initial plan to jump start your scholarship search. These suggestions and information will come through many blog posts, so stay tuned. More importanty, ENJOY and USE THIS LIST. Take action now. You’ll thank me later. 

Step 1, Part A: Make a [very specific] activity list.

Before you get ahead of yourself, I think it’s essential to get reflective first. You need to take stock of what you’ve done, what you find interesting, and what you want to do with your future. Once you create a list of all the various “things” that make up who you are, it becomes easier to identify what scholarships you qualify for, and helps you develop a search strategy. I’ll explain.

It’s important to create an activity list for three reasons:

1. Creating a very specific activity list will help you “know thyself.” 

By listing your activities, you’ll know exactly which scholarships you qualify for and which ones you don’t. You will save time because you’ll only apply to awards that you can win. (Most people are tossed out of applicant piles because they don’t meet the requirements of the scholarship donors.)

2. You’ll create your own, specific scholarship search methodology. 

When you know your interests (past, current, and future) and your activities (past, current, and future), you can run a very specific scholarship search that again saves you time and energy. Instead of visiting Google and typing in “scholarships,” you’ll be able to seek out specific organizations that give you awards for participation in their activities. For example, if you enjoy photography, you might search “photography + scholarships.” Or, you might find a national association of photography. Usually these organizations give scholarships. Simply Google “national photography association.” In your specific case, “national (your activity here) association.” By using this type of search, you will find more qualified scholarship opportunities.

3. By listing your activities, you can develop an application theme that helps you stand out to scholarship judges. 

     Most people, when they apply for awards, simply list all the activities they’ve ever participated in. Unfortunately, most applicants have similar activity lists: student counsel, NHS, sports, language clubs, and youth groups seem to appear on everyone’s application. If you list these same activities, how will you stand out? By creating a very specific activity list before you start applying for scholarships, you’re giving yourself the opportunity to study your list, go over your activities and see what ties them together. You can give yourself a leg up on your competition by developing a theme for your activity list. 

     Let’s revisit the photography example. Say you have a deep interest in photography, and participate in the “normal suspects” list of activities. Perhaps you can capitalize on your interest in photography by having it become your theme. You start taking photos of student counsel activities, you volunteer to take pictures of premature babies at the local hospital, you submit photos from your sports activities to the high school newspaper and yearbook. Thus, when it comes time to list your activities for a scholarship, all of the “normal” activities become highlighted and interconnected with your love of photography. You prioritize your activity list to emphasize your photography abilities (typically, activities are listed chronologically. Instead, with the “theme approach,” activities are prioritized. In our case, activities with photography are listed first, followed by others). The result? Instead of being “Joe or Jane Doe,” you become “Fred or Fanny the Photographer.” Your theme helps you stand out from other applicants. 

Now that you understand how a specific activity list can help you, you need to create one. Stay tuned for my next post, I'll help you brainstorm and create an awesome activity list.