Don’t wait until the last minute to get your application for the scholarship ready. Ask your guidance counsellor for applications at the beginning of the year. They will have a lot of information, and it may change from week to week so be sure to check back with them often. If you aren’t vigilant you might lose a chance to apply for a scholarship that would have been perfect for you. Keep all your scholarship information neat and in a folder. This way it won’t get creased. Believe it or not, a creased scholarship form could be your downfall.
Organize a list of all your extra curricular activities. Most of the scholarships will require you to list them chronologically. Having a list already made up will save you time and you will be able to ensure that all the information is accurate. Also giving a copy of the list to your recommendations will help them to highlight specific aspects of your activities.
Before you mail off each submission be sure to triple check that you have done everything and included everything they need. Everything should be clean and neat, make a copy for your own personal reference and then post it off.
When going for the follow up interview, go over your submission form several times. Think of what questions they might ask during the interview and formulate responses. Be positive, calm and polite. Saying things like please and thank you will make a very good impression. You want to be remembered as the polite person with the winning smile and great attitude. Don’t, in any way, be negative. Treat it like a job interview, in some ways it is. Be sure to outline what you want to get from your time at college, and where you hope it will lead you.