5 tips on how a good scholarship application can boast your chances of winning a scholarship in 2012

What could i have done to increase my chances of winning a scholarship?” or “why didn’t i win a scholarship?” are obviously some of the numerous questions students and career personals do ask every day. Before we go further, let us see what a scholarship really means. The encarta dictionary defines scholarship as a financial help for student or a sum of money awarded to a student to help with living expenses, study, or travel. From this definition, we can then say that a scholarship is”free money". now, if scholarship is a free money, the question now is; "is this free scholarship money really free?". if i most tell you this, scholarship is not free, you have to pay for it, but definitely not with cash but with a good scholarship application.

Winning a scholarship is directly proportional to a good scholarship application. The truth is that, if your scholarship application is bad, there is no way you will get that free money or scholarship. majority of students who need this free money(scholarship) forget to understand the major ingredient needed to boast their chances of winning a scholarship- the scholarship application. this is so, since they are more focused on winning a scholarship and definitely what a scholarship will add to their lives while forgetting the driver of every successful scholarship award- the scholarship application.

in the next paragraphs to follow, we shall be looking at 5 tips on how a good scholarship application can boast your chances of winning a scholarship in 2012. However, all you have to do is just sit back and enjoy the ride as we take you through the processes that will automatically increase your chances of winning your next scholarship.

1. Adhere to instructions

Many scholarship applicants make the mistake of not adhering to directives. “Who wants a doctor or a construction engineer who cannot follow instructions?” i believe no one would follow such professionals. the easiest way to lose a scholarship without even giving the scholarship committee or judges much time to access your scholarship application is for them to notice that you didn't adhere to instructions and directives. do you know what they do to such scholarship applications where the applicants didn't follow instructions? well, let me tell you. They squeeze the scholarship application and throw it into the trash bin. i bet you don't want your scholarship application to be that scholarship application that will be thrown into the trash can? if you don't want that, please adhere to instructions.

2. Prepare your scholarship recommendation letters

Some scholarship providers do request for a scholarship recommendation letter(s). When this is the case, you really have to see it as an opportunity to get ahead of the crowd by utilizing its benefits. you may be asked to provide one or two scholarship recommendation letters from two different persons. in going about your scholarship recommendation letters, follow this guideline:

• your scholarship letters of recommendation should be very current, not several years old. 
• Typically, one letter should be from a person in that particular or related field of scholarship consideration, one who knows your skills and experience. this person can address your abilities and how you perform in that institution if given the scholarship. 
• Another letter should be from someone who has known you for a long time, such as a neighbor, a friend, a person in your church, or a person from your school (preferably from your department). this reference can address your moral character, and how you have worked to get where you are today. 
• be sure your scholarship recommendation letters are signed by the person, who writes them, and there is a typed name and address and phone and e-mail address, so if there is a question, they can be contacted.

3. Eligibility

Be sure you are eligible for the scholarship you are applying for. you must meet the minimum requirements for the scholarship, or you may need to wait another year or two before you apply for that particular scholarship after you must have be proven eligible to apply for that scholarship. you don't really have to rush or be in a hurry in winning a scholarship. don't let all your hard work to be a total waste of time just by applying for a scholarship you're not eligible to apply for. believe it or not, many scholarships go unawarded. so, just wait for a scholarship you're eligible for, then apply.

4. Never leave any blank spaces

As this might sound and look so surprising to you, it is also capable of making you loose that scholarship you always dream of winning. Like the title of this article says, you have to use every legal way boast your chances of winning a scholarship and that is what we have to do. Your level of conscientiousness continues to show by how you complete any forms in the scholarship application form. on the scholarship application form, as with all forms, you have to fill out all blanks legibly. research has shown that, when you leave these spaces totally blank, the readers or scholarship judges wonder whether you forgot or missed the blank, or if it was intentionally left blank. i bet you don't want the scholarship judges to second guest you? because that is very fatal to your chances of winning a scholarship.

note that this does not mean you should just fill every blank space with irrelevant information. try to get the right information for each blank space. you only have to leave a blank space when leaving it is inevitable.

5. writing the scholarship essay

majority of international scholarships i have come across usually do ask for ascholarship essay to be submitted alongside other scholarship application documents. the simple truth is that, the scholarship essay is your avenue to shine above all odds. the essay is your opportunity to give the sponsors a feel of your personality. in your scholarship essay, you have to address the guidelines and questions given for the essay. just be original! 

you don't have to start reiterating what the scholarship recommendation letters have already addressed. try to tailor down your though to a particular area for each paragraphs. in your scholarship essay, you are required to tell the scholarship provider what makes you unique and why you should receive their scholarship award. don't cluster ideas and thoughts. make it simple and straight to the point. remember, you only have a few seconds to convince the scholarship judges or readers about what you wrote about on your scholarship essay.

here are some ideas to get you started:
• my interest to the study in (the institution's name) began when…
• i always wanted to receive training from….

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