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7 Tips for Applying to Scholarships


"Winning a scholarship starts and ends with finding one that is the right fit for you."

How to Pay for Your Michigan Nursing Career


1. Read eligibility rules very carefully. You will waste your own time if you end up applying for a scholarship that doesn’t apply to you. Even if you’re only slightly under the minimum GPA requirements, or didn’t know that you needed to have volunteering experience, your application will be dismissed if you misunderstood or did not read the eligibility requirements. This can seem harsh, but it is fair. How would you feel if a scholarship you really wanted was awarded to someone else who didn’t meet the minimum requirements?


2. Do your homework. Research the program or foundation offering the scholarship as extensively as you can. Find out what their mission, goals & values are so that you know how to appeal to them. A great place to start is simply looking at their website and social media. Position yourself as a candidate who shares the same values as they do. If you don’t share their values, perhaps it isn’t the right scholarship for you. It’s better to find out whether or not you’re a good fit before you write a lengthy essay or spend the day asking for letters of recommendation.


3. Get organized. Write down reminders in your calendar for when scholarships are due, and prioritize by their due dates. Typically scholarships for the fall school year are due between October and March of the previous year. Awardees are usually notified in late spring and go on to spend the summer knowing that their financial burden in the fall is lighter. Pay special attention to the due dates. Should the application be submitted online or through the mail? Is it due by a certain time on the 15th or by 11:59pm on the 14th? Should it arrive to the organization by the due date, or be sent out & postmarked by that date? These are the questions you should have answered right away, and plan accordingly.


4. Be prepared. If your application needs to be mailed out a couple of days early to ensure a timely arrival, then plan for that. Remember to make sure you have stamps, printer ink, a copy of your transcript, or anything else that you may need well in advance. If you don’t have a printer or computer, set aside some time to go to the library or even a friend’s house to borrow their supplies well in advance of the deadline.


5. Make it personal. Those responsible for selecting the scholarship winners can see hundreds or even thousands of applications and/or essays. Show them your personality in a meaningful way that stands out. However, be wary of over-sharing or over-dramatizing; you should always be genuine.


6. Proofread. Proofread your application and/or essay, and then proofread it again. Read it out loud, print it out, or have a friend take a look. A misspelled or misplaced word can cost you a scholarship. Having a well written essay shows that you are intelligent, thorough, and detail-oriented.


7. Check out our scholarships page. Winning a scholarship starts and ends with finding one that is the right fit for you. Search for scholarships that you’re eligible for and apply to as many as you’d like. With every scholarship you apply for, you increase your odds of getting help paying for school.

We promote annual scholarships. Maybe you were so busy with work or school that you missed the deadline for a scholarship you would’ve liked to apply for. Or perhaps you applied for a scholarship and simply didn’t get it this year. That doesn’t mean it isn’t right for you. We share a large number of annual scholarships that will open back up and are due around the same time the following year. Next time around you’ll know what to expect and how to improve!


To browse available nursing scholarships, visit our scholarship page.

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