The Dos And Don’ts Of Scholarship Applications

By Author: Rajat Kumar
Total Articles: 52

Scholarship programs are a boon for all kinds of students. They allow you to pursue higher education while reducing the stress of coughing up high college and university fees. Every year, lakhs of students can apply to various scholarship programs under different types of quotas. In this article, we have highlighted some of dos and don’ts to keep in mind when you apply for graduate and post graduate scholarships that can help you streamline your application process.

What to do while applying for a scholarship

Begin the scholarship search process as early as possible: Most students spend a lot of time debating when they should begin the application process. They often tend to procrastinate by looking at the last date for application. It is always better to begin the scholarship application process as early as possible. Remember that the entire process is quite slow so you need to be patient and you must continue send your applications to different scholarship programs even if you’ve not heard back from those you’ve already sent out applications to.

Apply in different categories: Whether you are applying for graduate or postgraduate scholarships in India, remember that you needn’t limit yourself to only one scholarship category. Apply in various categories like merit, minorities, sports or any other if you fall under it. This improves your chances of getting a scholarship.

Provide recommendation letters: You should provide recommendation letters along with your scholarship application because it gives you an edge. Ensure you get the letter from someone you are confident will highlights your qualities and abilities in the best possible way. You must give the person writing the recommendation a significant amount of time and a copy of your academic records or student resume so they have a good reference point to write the letter.

Things to avoid while applying for scholarships

Don’t disregard lower amount scholarships: Most students make the mistake of applying only for large award amount scholarships. However, you need to remember that there is lesser competition for smaller amount scholarships which increase your chances of winning at least some amount of money. Remember that you can apply for as many scholarship programs in India as you like so even a small award can go a long way.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t win immediately: You should continue applying to various scholarships and not give up, even if you are not rewarded for your efforts immediately. You need to remember that yours is not the only application; that there are lakhs of students like you who are applying at the same time as you. So keep persevering.

Don’t neglect scholarships that require you to write essays: Some colleges and universities providing scholarships ask for statements of purpose (commonly known as essays) when you apply for scholarship after graduation. Even if it is not your strong suit, you can take help and create these essays. Writing essays becomes easier once you get the hang of it. But neglecting them altogether is not wise.