Complete the application in full
Answer every question. If a question doesn’t apply, don’t leave the answer field blank. Write “N/A” in the field, or, if the reason the question doesn't apply isn’t obvious, include the reason. Be sure to supply all additional supporting material, such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, and essays.
Follow directions
Provide everything the application asks for, but don’t supply things that aren’t requested — you could be disqualified. Be neat, because neatness matters Always type your application, or, if you must print, do so neatly and legibly. Make a couple of photocopies of all the forms before you fill them out. Use the copies as working drafts as you develop your application packet.
Make your scholarship application personal
The key to writing a strong essay is to be personal, authentic, and specific. Include concrete details to make your experience come alive. Even the simplest experience can be monumental if you present honestly how you were affected.
Watch all deadlines
To help keep yourself on track, impose your own deadline that is at least two weeks before the official deadline. Use the buffer time to make sure everything is ready on time and you don’t have to rush through the application. Don’t rely on extensions — very few scholarship providers allow them at all.
Make sure your application gets where it needs to go
Include your name and follow directions on all pages of the application. Pieces of your application may get lost unless they are clearly identified. Keep a backup file in case anything goes wrong. Before sending the application, make a copy of the entire packet. If your application goes astray, you’ll be able to reproduce it quickly.
Do Several Revisions
Read your essay out loud several times to different people — including older family members, parents, or teachers — and get their feedback. Also, let the essay sit for 48 hours before you come back to it and revise it. Remember in your earlier years of high school when your teachers made you print your essays out, mark them up in your favorite shade of red and then submit a new draft? Do that! Too often, applicants lose the respect of those reading their essays due to grammatical errors and typos.
Be authentic
you are not the only person applying for this scholarship. Many students who apply for scholarships put on their "best face" possible and unknowingly come across as fake. Tell your story, not someone else's story.
Be prepared to talk about yourself
it's important to remember that this interview is about you! Be prepared to answer questions about not only your academic achievements but your extracurricular activities as well. You will be asked about your strengths and weaknesses. This is often the most difficult question for students to answer.
Ask Good Questions
Don’t let your interviewer make you do all the talking! When the time is appropriate, ask them a couple of questions. Questions like: “What exactly are you looking for in the recipient of this scholarship?” or “What has inspired you most about the previous recipients of this scholarship?” are a couple of good ones to get you started! Asking questions shows your interviewer that you are engaged and actively participating in the conversation.