Happy New Year!

As college admissions season ramps up, it’s the perfect time to help your students maximize their opportunities for scholarships. Here are three actionable tips to guide them in securing the scholarships they need:

1. Encourage Early and Frequent Applications

Many scholarships have January deadlines. Advise your students to prioritize applying early and consistently throughout the season. Remind them that smaller, local scholarships can add up quickly and are often less competitive than national ones.

2. Personalize Essays for Each Scholarship

Scholarship committees value authenticity. Encourage your students to tailor their essays to the specific goals and values of each scholarship provider. Generic responses often fail to stand out, so highlighting personal stories and connections to the scholarship’s mission can make a big difference.

3. Leverage Scholarship Databases and Resources

Guide your students to reputable scholarship search engines, such as Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and local community foundations. Many students overlook niche scholarships tied to unique characteristics, like hobbies, heritage, or future career goals—these can be hidden gems!

By sharing these tips with your students, you’ll help them turn this season into a time of opportunity and success. If you’d like additional resources or have questions, feel free to reach out.

Lastly, I am so excited to share a new resource that I will be sharing with you soon! I am going to be launching a new group workshop which includes supporting your students to complete scholarship applications before the end of the workshop. Stay tuned...

To your students' scholarship success,

Ashley Hill

Scholarship Search Strategist