You may feel like you already have enough to do managing senior year classes and activities, college and financial aid applications and other commitments.
Even though it may seem like you don't need to add to your load, a couple of simple tricks can help you feel less anxious about scholarship results. And, you'll be ready with an informed answer when Mom or Dad asks about your progress.
Here's how to stay on top of scholarship applications:
Get Organized from the Beginning
Set up a spreadsheet with all your scholarship application information. Your scholarship search is unique, but you can set up a basic spreadsheet using the suggested categories below and customize them as needed.
For each scholarship you apply for, include the following information as applicable:
- Name of scholarship
- Scholarship sponsor
- Sponsor contact information, including preferred methods of contact or no-contact requests
- Award amount
- Whether the scholarship is a one-time or renewable award
- Name of the website, person or other source that made you aware of the scholarship
- Website login information
- Required elements for the application
- Deadline
- Submission date
- Expected date of award notification
- Method of award notification
- Any additional requirements to accept scholarship
- Notes or special information
Check for Updates
Once you submit a scholarship application, make sure you check often for updates and notifications. Depending on the scholarship, you may need to check your email (don't forget to look in your spam folder), listen to voicemail or log in to the scholarship website.
- Respond quickly. You may receive a notice that your application is missing some required information. If you're missing information or the scholarship sponsor has questions, respond as quickly as you can.
- Check often. Set aside a specific time every day to check your scholarship applications. It may be helpful to move all scholarship-related email to special folder in your inbox. Some email applications allow you to set up rules to do this automatically.
- Pay special attention to announcement dates. Watch for notifications that you have earned a scholarship or are a finalist. Enter any to-dos to submit additional required information or to accept the award on your spreadsheet, and then follow through.
If you haven't heard within a few days after a publicized announcement date, you may want to follow up with the scholarship sponsor. First check your spreadsheet to ensure that the sponsor didn't specify no contact or specified only certain forms of contact, though.
Organizing your scholarship application information and staying up to date with notifications will help you remain calm while you wait for results.
