10 Ways to Improve Your Students Success at Winning Scholarships

Help your students get prepared for
the scholarship search early, ideally
before or at the beginning of senior
year.

Create a mini-library of books
they can use to not only learn
about scholarships, but also
about college, graduate
school, standardized tests,
and even having a winning
attitude.
Give them access to practice
standardized tests.
Sponsor small writing
contests based on some of
the most popular scholarship
essay questions.

Develop a searchable web based resource of local and
national scholarships including links to PDF applications.

Motivate students by sharing
scholarship success stories of
others.

Bring in past students who
have been successful at
winning scholarships.
Put pictures and profiles of
successful students,
particularly from your area in a
newsletter or a web site or on
a bulletin board. Discuss what
they did and their experiences
in a small group setting if
possible.
Talk to your students about
winning college and
scholarship strategies.
Celebrate success with them
and broadcast good news!

Encourage students to apply for both large and small
scholarships, particularly in your local area.

Urge students and parents to attend scholarship and financial
aid workshops EARLY in their high school career. Doing so
even as a ninth or tenth grader can help students learn the
scholarship process including the role of extracurricular and
community activities.

Post a scholarship bulletin board with flyers, monthly
scholarship deadlines, and college fair dates.

Offer a scholarship class or workshop to help students and
parents learn the scholarship process. Workshops should
help students and parents with learning the following:

How to search for scholarships and other aid
How to assemble a winning scholarship application
package
How to write and perfect essays that showcase talents,
activities, and experiences
How to avoid the most common mistakes on college
and scholarship applications.

Offer workshops that focus specifically on scholarship and
college essay writing.

Make sure all of your students have a résumé. Strongly
encourage student participation in extracurricular and
community activities.

Post a checklist for students listing all information you need
from them to write an excellent recommendation.