Back to the question: where does one actually find scholarships. In a previous post, I talked about using online sources, and I hope you are using those techniques (search engines, college websites, google, and pinterest). In this post, I'd like to talk about a few ways to find scholarships that are NOT on the computer.
The first is a book (remember those?). way to find scholarships that is often overlooked...because it uses a book. few other tried-and-true ways to find scholarships.
Yes, a book (remember those?). There is one book in particular that is updated every year and is the standout resource for scholarship listings. It's the Ultimate Scholarship Book 2018. I included the link to buy it on Amazon, but you can buy it through Walmart, Target, or any other book seller. My advice is to buy it your 9th or 10th grade year, so that you have time to really research and use the book to find the scholarships that are best for you. By the time you are headed to your senior year, you'll have found the scholarships best for you--and all that information will be on your own personal scholarship spreadsheet (see Scholarship Tip #4: How to Organize).
Here's how the book, Ultimate Scholarship Book 2018, works:
Each scholarship includes a summary, as well as critical information such as what ages / grades can apply for it; award amount, deadline, and how to submit. There is a CODE for each scholarship, and you enter that code on the online website: www.ultimatescholarshipbook.com After that, you'll be directed to the website for that specific scholarship page. The perks to using the book are that you direct you own search, and you can save the URL addresses on your scholarship spreadsheet for future reference, without flooding your inbox.
It does take quite a bit of time and research, but it can yield great results. The size of the book is a little intimidating, but if you use this book in tandem with your own personal spreadsheet, you'll be on your way to scholarship success!
Monday, January 22, 2018
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Scholarship Tip #5: Be RAD
This Scholarship Tip is one of my favorites because it helps students enjoy the journey. Too many times, well-meaning people will say something like, "Be sure to do that...it will look great on your resume." The problem is that you can fill up a resume and still lack direction, and definitely shortchange the person you could become. Instead of focusing on the resume, I like to tell students to "Be RAD", because this way they enjoy the process and become the person they want to be (and by the way...the resume takes care of itself if a student is really working to Be RAD).
I know: Be RAD. It sounds like a logo on a 1980s t-shirt...but it's actually a motto I hope every student remembers, and uses to direct their experiences during high school. It is very easy to feel overwhelmed during these years with all the "should dos" that get piled up, and to feel the need to join lots of clubs and activities in an attempt to stand-out. Twenty years ago, the phrase that every student wanted to have ascribed to them, and that every parent wanted associated with their child was to be a "well-rounded student". The goal was to be involved in multiple activities, to perform well in them, and build up a lengthy resume.
Well, my friends, times have changed. I honestly think it's a healthy change, because the things that now help a high school student stand out on college and scholarship applications are the same things that help them later on in college and careers. It's to build expertise in a few focused areas, rather than this "well-rounded student" that is good at many things, but never goes beyond the surface level. To help with this new approach, I've come up with the acronym "Be RAD".
R = RIGOR
A = AUTHENTICITY
D = DEPTH
Now, for specifics.
RIGOR. Rigor means to be challenged, to be stretched, to find a task demanding and difficult and still keep at it. If you have RIGOR in a task, you will learn and become better. On the flip side, if something is too easy for you--you aren't advancing, you're essentially treading water. This concept of needing "Rigor" to advance is true with academics, sports, arts, music, performing, etc. It is true for every area! So, whatever you are pursuing, be sure you are challenging yourself--applying "RIGOR" to your learning and activities.
AUTHENTICITY Authenticity can also be thought of as genuine and real. This is a guiding principle so that students don't feel like they have to go with the most popular trend at their school, or pursue an interest because their friends are. Be sure that you don't copycat other's interest because you can supposedly be successful or well-paid. You will be happy AND successful by following your own authentic interests. If you are interested in math, don't let disparaging comments deter you from seeing all the possibilities of higher-level math classes and careers. This is true for any interest--if it is an authentic interest to you--run with it! See what happens!
DEPTH Depth is exactly what it sounds like...going deep. It's possible to go deep in any area. Interested in Soccer? Then join a team, volunteer to referee, read about the sport and athletes, practice everyday, and find extra opportunities beyond the school team to excel in this area. If you're interested in music, you can also go deep. You can obviously practice you instrument daily...but you can also extend yourself by reading about types of music and composers, organizing a music group to play for community events, joining one (or more) musical clubs, attending symphonies and concerts, and studying with older musicians. Going deep allows you to understand the topic from many different sides, and to become a true expert in that area, even in high school.
Pretty cool, right? Being RAD is a way to become the coolest, most advanced, and progressed version of yourself. It's a way to BECOME rather than just filling up time with random activities and certificates that might look good on a resume. I promise, the resume will look good if you first focus on Being RAD from that inner part of yourself, and pushing yourself to RIGOR, being AUTHENTIC, and going DEEP. Be RAD.
I know: Be RAD. It sounds like a logo on a 1980s t-shirt...but it's actually a motto I hope every student remembers, and uses to direct their experiences during high school. It is very easy to feel overwhelmed during these years with all the "should dos" that get piled up, and to feel the need to join lots of clubs and activities in an attempt to stand-out. Twenty years ago, the phrase that every student wanted to have ascribed to them, and that every parent wanted associated with their child was to be a "well-rounded student". The goal was to be involved in multiple activities, to perform well in them, and build up a lengthy resume.
Well, my friends, times have changed. I honestly think it's a healthy change, because the things that now help a high school student stand out on college and scholarship applications are the same things that help them later on in college and careers. It's to build expertise in a few focused areas, rather than this "well-rounded student" that is good at many things, but never goes beyond the surface level. To help with this new approach, I've come up with the acronym "Be RAD".
R = RIGOR
A = AUTHENTICITY
D = DEPTH
Now, for specifics.
RIGOR. Rigor means to be challenged, to be stretched, to find a task demanding and difficult and still keep at it. If you have RIGOR in a task, you will learn and become better. On the flip side, if something is too easy for you--you aren't advancing, you're essentially treading water. This concept of needing "Rigor" to advance is true with academics, sports, arts, music, performing, etc. It is true for every area! So, whatever you are pursuing, be sure you are challenging yourself--applying "RIGOR" to your learning and activities.
AUTHENTICITY Authenticity can also be thought of as genuine and real. This is a guiding principle so that students don't feel like they have to go with the most popular trend at their school, or pursue an interest because their friends are. Be sure that you don't copycat other's interest because you can supposedly be successful or well-paid. You will be happy AND successful by following your own authentic interests. If you are interested in math, don't let disparaging comments deter you from seeing all the possibilities of higher-level math classes and careers. This is true for any interest--if it is an authentic interest to you--run with it! See what happens!
DEPTH Depth is exactly what it sounds like...going deep. It's possible to go deep in any area. Interested in Soccer? Then join a team, volunteer to referee, read about the sport and athletes, practice everyday, and find extra opportunities beyond the school team to excel in this area. If you're interested in music, you can also go deep. You can obviously practice you instrument daily...but you can also extend yourself by reading about types of music and composers, organizing a music group to play for community events, joining one (or more) musical clubs, attending symphonies and concerts, and studying with older musicians. Going deep allows you to understand the topic from many different sides, and to become a true expert in that area, even in high school.
Pretty cool, right? Being RAD is a way to become the coolest, most advanced, and progressed version of yourself. It's a way to BECOME rather than just filling up time with random activities and certificates that might look good on a resume. I promise, the resume will look good if you first focus on Being RAD from that inner part of yourself, and pushing yourself to RIGOR, being AUTHENTIC, and going DEEP. Be RAD.
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Scholarship Tip #4: How to Organize
Years ago, I would counsel students to keep track of things in a standard notebook--a couple pages for each month of their senior year, and a few pages for the 9th - 11th grades (which still have scholarships, but not as many as the overpacked senior year). As scholarships moved to the web, using the notebook for scholarships became antiquated (just like using the term "the web" has become antiquated:-)). I did some research of what other people used, and found this great idea from the UNIGO website. By the way, take some time and explore UNIGO--it's a massive website with loads of helpful information. You can even get lost in the website, and a little overwhelmed. If that starts to happen, click on this specific link: UNIGO Post: Organizing Applications.
Did you click on it and read it? Pretty awesome technique. I love XCel, and think it is the perfect format to organize scholarships. I just wish I had come up with it myself! Ever heard of that phrase: "Beg, Borrow, and Steal"? That applies here--if someone is willing to share a great idea for getting the job done--use it! We did--and my students have been using this Organizing Method for several years with AWESOME results! Students are keeping track of the scholarships they find in their early years of high school, knowing when deadlines are coming and how to space them out, and are submitting applications at a much higher rate.
Here are some things I would add:
Did you click on it and read it? Pretty awesome technique. I love XCel, and think it is the perfect format to organize scholarships. I just wish I had come up with it myself! Ever heard of that phrase: "Beg, Borrow, and Steal"? That applies here--if someone is willing to share a great idea for getting the job done--use it! We did--and my students have been using this Organizing Method for several years with AWESOME results! Students are keeping track of the scholarships they find in their early years of high school, knowing when deadlines are coming and how to space them out, and are submitting applications at a much higher rate.
Here are some things I would add:
- Don't feel locked into using the spreadsheet provided by UNIGO. You can create your own spreadsheet! Keep the critical fields if you create your own spreadsheet: the name of the scholarship, the URL address, deadline, window, $ awarded, and what is required to apply
- It is easy to rearrange information in XCel, so don't be afraid to add or move lines of data. You might simply want to add in scholarships first--then worry about organizing it according to the deadlines.
- Instead of only listing the "deadline", put in in the "window" the application can be submitted: the open date through the end date. Some scholarships have a 1 month window, others extend to 3 months. This way, even if 10 applications have the same deadline, they probably have varying beginning dates, and you can submit them throughout that time, hence increasing the amount of scholarships you have applied to without stressing yourself out in any one month.
- Use XCel to help you organize. There are tab buttons at the bottom to add more "sheets" as needed. If you are creating the spreadsheet early in high school, it would be helpful to create a "sheet" for each year of high school, and then a "sheet" for scholarships that can be completed once you are in college. I would advise using one sheet as a "master" sheet--where aoo the scholarships are listed.
Please note: do not overlook this step! It's easy to think that you have to look for scholarships and apply for them as you find time, but if you organize as you go, you'll cut your work in half and not have to re-search for them time and again.
What are you still doing reading this? Go make your personal scholarship spreadsheet and get organizing! I also have a scholarship template that most of my students use. Just email me and I'll send it to you. Email: krim.scholarship@gmail.com OR brooke.krim@davinciacademy.org
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