Winning College Scholarships- 10 Universal Judgment Criteria

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to win college scholarships should be aware of these characteristics and try to show how each one applies to them in the scholarship application.

In addition to this, scholarship applicants should try to find out as much as possible about the goals of the people who are sponsoring a particular scholarship.  Sometimes it is possible to find out the names of others who have previously won and contact them to ask about what their experience was and what they know about the motivations of those offering the scholarship.  Sometimes it is possible to get copies of essays of previous winners from the scholarship administrators, and studying these can give insights as to what the judges are looking for.

With regard to the judgment criteria mentioned above for winning college scholarships, it is useful to make a list and write down what activities, awards, or other experiences you have had which apply to the various categories.  For example, a person who perhaps comes from a family that is not well off and has never had a member attend college but who has succeeded in high school and plans to go to college can emphasize these facts and show how he or she has overcome significant obstacles.  Participating in team sports obviously teaches people something about the value of teamwork, and showing how this has helped with other efforts, like a community clean-up project, for example, combines several of the traits.  Showing purpose means showing that you have thought about your future and how you might reach your goals.  Even if you completely change your mind sometime hence, that doesn’t matter.  Scholarship judges are aware that most young people are not certain about what they will do later in life and that plans can change.  Just demonstrating that one is actively thinking about how they are thinking about their “life compass” and will achieve their future goals shows that this is a person who plans ahead and is likely to succeed in achieving those goals.  This is the kind of person who deserves to win a scholarship and the right to move ahead and meet those goals and aspirations.

For certain of these categories one might try to have them addressed in letters of recommendation.  For example it might be best if someone else would address the issue of character rather than talking about how much character you have yourself.  Several other items can also be effectively addressed in letters of recommendation, like perseverance or taking responsibility.  One could politely request that the person doing the letter of recommendation address certain things, and providing a list of what you have done and accomplished can help the recommendation writer adequately talk about your accomplishments.  It is useful to make an effort to get to know certain teachers and advisors well so that they can be approached later on for recommendations.  People who really know you are in the best position to effectively write about you, and they will have the motivation to be thorough and specific in the letters they write.  A general, nonspecific letter of recommendation written without much motivation and enthusiasm will not help much for winning college scholarships.

A lot of work and thought needs to go into winning college scholarships, and it is necessary to know the traits that a specific scholarship is looking for, as well as the general criteria that scholarship judges have been using for many years.