Considering how tuition fees have skyrocketed in respective tertiary institutions, it’s important that college students learn how to avoid scholarship mistakes that would hinder their chances of receiving scholarships to help fund their academic dreams.
Making mistakes when applying for a scholarship can be costly and once your application is submitted, it becomes too late to make any corrections. It’s always better to avoid common but costly mistakes when a scholarship opportunity is on the line. Let’s show you how to simply avoid making mistakes when filling out your application form for a scholarship.
The dreadful thing about scholarship mistakes is that most scholarship platforms don’t tell you what you’ve done wrong when they reject you in a scholarship application.
Scholarship Mistakes
The magnitude of your mistakes in a scholarship application would make your application have a complicated consideration process, or it may result in total disqualification.
Take a look at these scholarship mistakes and know where you’ve been getting it wrong.
Giving up
You must understand as a scholarship applicant that you are not going to win every scholarship. In the same vein, your scholarship application will not be rejected every time.
As you continue to apply for a scholarship, the process gets a lot easier, you get to learn from your previous mistakes, and the reasons you were rejected the first time. Learning from your mistakes makes you better.
No Uniqueness
This is one of the most neglected scholarship mistakes. When writing a scholarship essay, just know that your reader has read a lot of essays from a wide range of students.
Writing a story that is very conventional, or drawing instances from a viral platform in your scholarship essay may not be the right thing to do. Most scholarship winners are students who can capture the reader’s attention by telling a reasonable and creative story during the scholarship application process.
Try to do an excellent job in this department, and you’ll see your stories kept in the archive of your scholarship donor and referred to during any event. Being clear and unique when writing increases your chances of receiving the scholarship.
Therefore, always be your judge first. Ask yourself how you would have felt if you were the one reading that particular story.
Think if somebody might have sent a similar story and try to be uniquely creative.
Ignore Social media
You didn’t think this could be one of the scholarship mistakes, but it is. Scholarship competition cannot be more accessible, especially when a lot of qualified applicants and a few scholarships are offered.
In cases where there are many qualified applicants, the scholarship provided becomes very creative. Scholarship providers, even the admission board, tend to look at the social media activities of the applicant.
What is your activity on social media like? Is it something you are proud of? Is it something that your scholarship platform will be happy when they see it? If not then, you need to do some cleanup on your social media during the scholarship application process.
Having to wait till the deadline
Most scholarships are first come first serve and waiting until the last minute may disqualify or reduce your chances of winning the scholarship. Waiting until the last minute is not the most beautiful thing to do when it comes to the scholarship application. It is one of the scholarship mistakes that has far-reaching implications. Many students have lost some great opportunities because of reluctance in early application.
Before you consider taking the time to apply whenever you want to, remember the fact that there are variations in time zones. And waiting until the last minute may mean that the scholarship has already expired in the providers’ timezone, but is still valid in your time zone.
Some detrimental effects could come from waiting until the last minute before applying. What if at the last minute, power goes off or internet network reception becomes very bad?
Falling for scams
There are scammers in every industry, including scholarships. Any scholarship that requires you to pay a certain amount of money before you are offered the scholarship tends to be a scam.
Be careful where you put your personal information. Some platforms are not offering scholarships they want to collect your data so they can steal your identity.
Always do a careful revision on the scholarship platform, and pay attention to your instincts.
If you are having a weird feeling about that particular Scholarship, you can skip it and go to the next Scholarship. It is not the only Scholarship in the world
Rushing your essay or application materials
Remember what is at stake, and make sure you do an excellent job. Don’t rush through your scholarship essay or any application material. Take it to take them one by one.
Most people are guilty of kind of mistakes, even outside the (scholarship) academic contest, rushing things would make you accrue a lot of mistakes and cost you a fortune. Your scholarship application is no different.
Ignoring the small Scholarship
It is conventional to pay attention to the big scholarships. Your thought maybe that if you can win one big scholarship, then you wouldn’t need any other scholarship.
Not just you, other students may be thinking the same thing. But the truth is, when you apply to many smaller scholarships, you’ll stand a bigger chance of receiving financial assistance for college than somebody applying to one big scholarship.
Applying for Scholarships, you don’t qualify for
Real scholarships would always have some eligibility criteria. All conditions of giving a scholarship revolve around its legibility criteria, of which if a student doesn’t meet that particular criteria, then he or she wouldn’t be considered for a scholarship.
However, some students go ahead to apply for scholarships that they are not eligible for, hoping that the scholarship provider would overlook their ineligibility and offer them the scholarship. This is almost impossible. And it will be a waste of time to apply for a scholarship you are not eligible for.
Applying for scholarships you don’t qualify for is one of the mistakes you can make in your scholarship application. Look for scholarships that align with your interests and apply to them.
Skimming is not good
Don’t just rush through the information provided by the scholarship, this is among the scholarship mistakes and it can cost you. Pay attention to the criteria.
Make sure to provide all that is required of you. Also, show that you understood the essay question by giving a relevant answer to the question.
Review and make sure that you’ve provided all that is required before submitting your application. Missing any required material may disqualify you from being offered the scholarship.
Discontinuing Scholarship search after entering college
Don’t forget that your college fees may increase. And it is essential that even after entering college, keep applying for scholarships because it will help you offset the cost of tuition fees and other related academic expenses.
Conclusion:
Giving up is a self-disqualifying threat, and it is not good and should be avoided if one must be successful in the scholarship application.
Thinking that you’re too old to apply for a scholarship is not a good idea. And in the same, way, assuming that you are too young to look for a scholarship will decrease the chances of becoming a pro in scholarship applications.
Critically Purge yourself of these mistakes and see yourself become successful in the scholarship application.
Good luck.
Frequently Asked Questions on Scholarship Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
What are the most common mistakes applicants make on scholarship applications?
Common and costly mistakes applicants make when applying for a scholarship include failing to follow application instructions, missing deadlines, submitting incomplete applications, using generic essays rather than tailoring them to the scholarship, and spelling and grammar errors.
How can I avoid missing deadlines?
Make a calendar or schedule with every scholarship deadline, set reminders, and submit your application early.
Why is following instructions so important?
Following instructions when applying for a scholarship is the most important part of the application process. Scholarship committees will often disqualify applicants failing to meet basic requirements like presenting required documents, formatting rules, or even word count.
What if I don’t qualify for all the listed criteria? Should I still apply?
You can apply for a scholarship only if you meet every mandatory eligibility requirement.
What are common mistakes in scholarship essays?
Common mistakes made by applicants when writing an essay include writing off-topic responses, repeating your résumé rather than sharing a unique story, and using a one-size-fits-all essay for other scholarships.
