In some ways applying for a scholarship is similar to applying for a job. You need something like a resume and you need to prove that you are good enough and that you deserve the job. This application process prepares you for later in your life when you will need to find a good job. And just like then, there are things that can make or break your application and that can improve your chances.

One thing is to not wait until you are desperate. That is until the last moment when you do not have enough time and you are under pressure. That is a big no. Search for scholarships early on bulletin boards, online and at the financial aid offices.

Apply to more than one scholarship and get a little organized. Have a checklist and make sure that you don’t miss the deadline. It is better to be one of the first to apply than one of the lasts.

Write and excellent essay that you can personalize a little. Let it show that you are a passionate human being and that you are ambitious. It is a good idea to write about things that interest you. Give examples of what you have achieved so far and how you managed to do that. Give examples of your motivations. Ask someone else to look at your essay when you finish it also and proofread it.

Be careful about the contact info that you leave on the forms. Insert a professional email, the type that has your email and it is on Gmail rather than on other dubious servers. It might be good to set the privacy of your Facebook account or delete content that you wouldn`t want the commission to see.

And take care to submit and mail the application correctly. Make a copy of all the documents that you are sending and request a receipt confirmation so you make sure that the letter hasn`t got lost somewhere. Stand-by in case they need any further info from you. Sometimes they might need another document or something like that and you need to send it fast. Follow these tips and you will surely get a scholarship or grant.