There are three methods
in which you can obtain a scholarship application and learn
more about the organization providing the scholarship, scholarship’s
eligibility requirements, and past scholarship winners, which
are:
•
Web Site
Most scholarship providers post information about their
scholarship(s) on their web site. Posting this information
on their web site saves everyone time and money, which
can make the difference in submitting your application
before the deadline date. There are various types of scholarship
applications on the Internet. The most common applications
are: electronic (online) application and downloadable
Portable Document Format (PDF). However, there are other
application types such as MS Word Document; and plain
text applications.
Before you start downloading and printing an application
from the scholarship provider’s web site, make sure
the information and application is current. If the web
site specifies an application deadline for the previous
year, the application and/or eligibility requirements
may have changed. If you encounter this problem, request
a print application directly from the scholarship provider
by either writing, emailing, or calling.
•
Writing or Emailing
Writing or emailing the scholarship provider is another
method use to request and obtain an application. If you
use this method, you must create a request letter. Your
request letter should be brief and to the point; it should
briefly describe your educational and career goals, and
request an application. Type your request letter, and
make certain that it is neat and free of spelling and
grammatical errors. You can use the same letter to request
an application from other scholarship providers. Make
sure you change the scholarship provider’s name
and the date. If you are mailing your request letter,
type it, and enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope
with it. Some sources may require it.
Some scholarship providers offer multiple awards, if
this is the case, specify the name of the scholarship
for which you are requesting an application. If you
are requesting multiple scholarship applications offered
by the same scholarship provider, you can list all the
scholarship name(s) on your request letter.
If you have not received a response after 2 to 3 weeks,
you should write or email a second request letter. It
is acceptable to use the original letter, but you must
change the date. As a reminder, many scholarship providers
are large organizations that receive many requests;
there may have been a chance that your first letter
was lost in the paper shuffle. If you sent a second
request letter and still have not received a response,
the sponsoring organization may no longer offer the
scholarship. If there is a telephone number available,
call the organization to inquire about the existence
of the scholarship. Use common sense when speaking with
a scholarship provider - Don’t be RUDE!
Calling
If you are going to call the scholarship provider, remember
to be polite to the receptionist. If a scholarship provider’s
telephone, fax, or email address is not included with
their contact information, this is a clear indication
that they do not want applicants to contact them by that
method. If you encounter this problem, visit their web
site or write a request letter.
Scholarship Track Form
Download a FREE copy of the Scholarship
Track Form. This form will help you keep track of your scholarship
search, important dates, and to make sure that you send all
the supporting documents requested by the sponsor along with
your application. Use this form for each scholarship you’re
applying for and before mailing your application to the sponsoring
organizations. This material is excerpted from a book entitled
The
Scholarship Workbook, which is available for
sale.
