Repeat after me: “Free college money is good college money.”
There are lots of scholarships out there for military spouses, dependents, and service members who want to attend college and other training… and some of them are just waiting for you.
Yes, you can use the Post-911 GI Bill / the Forever GI Bill if you have access to it, but you can also compete for scholarship money to support your education and training needs. Doing so will enable you to use the GI Bill later on or save it for a dependent.
Some scholarships are more competitive than others, but you (or the loved one you are coaching) can increase your chances of successfully winning scholarships by following a few simple guidelines.
There are lots of scholarships out there for military spouses, dependents, and service members who want to attend college and other training… and some of them are just waiting for you.
Yes, you can use the Post-911 GI Bill / the Forever GI Bill if you have access to it, but you can also compete for scholarship money to support your education and training needs. Doing so will enable you to use the GI Bill later on or save it for a dependent.
Some scholarships are more competitive than others, but you (or the loved one you are coaching) can increase your chances of successfully winning scholarships by following a few simple guidelines.
1. Pay attention to deadlines. Deadlines, like time itself, fly by when you’re having fun… or when you have 5,000 other things to do. Make sure you’re fully aware of upcoming deadlines and the work you need to complete by:
- Putting a reminder on your calendar and in your phone for the hard deadline.
- Putting a reminder on your calendar and in your phone for a week before that deadline—just in case.
- Planning backward so you know the steps you must take to meet each application’s criteria and have solid deadlines for those steps along the way.
2. Follow the directions. It’s so easy to forget the minor details when you’re stressed out about the big picture. But, when it comes to college and training scholarships, those pesky details are a part of the bigger picture. If you don’t meet the basic requirements, chances are your application won’t get a second look—especially if it’s a competitive scholarship.
- Submit the type of file the application requests… not just the one that is easiest for you. If the application asks for all of the components in a single PDF file instead of multiple Word files, you should submit that PDF.
- Title your submissions using the guidelines listed in the application.
- Make sure you include all of the components the committee requests. There’s nothing like that sick feeling of being eliminated for work you failed to attach or complete… especially when you know you could have done it.
Scholarship money can add some peace to your educational experience. 3. Fully answer the essay questions you are given. I know, it seems like we’re always talking about writing—why you should love grammar, why cover letters are important. It’s an occupational hazard.
So, at this point, I’ve sat on a few scholarship committees. I’m always amazed by the variety of answers provided to the same essay questions (sometimes in a good way… sometimes in a not-so-good way). I understand that these questions can be general, sometimes on the verge of being completely vague. Some may ask you to do too much, others too little. Regardless of the quality of the question(s), it’s imperative that your response explicitly deal with the topics posed in the question.
Many scholarship essay questions delve into topics where it’s easy to generalize and stray off topic. Some will ask about personal successes, failures, and goals. No matter the topic, stick to it, and offer concrete examples to illustrate your points.
So, at this point, I’ve sat on a few scholarship committees. I’m always amazed by the variety of answers provided to the same essay questions (sometimes in a good way… sometimes in a not-so-good way). I understand that these questions can be general, sometimes on the verge of being completely vague. Some may ask you to do too much, others too little. Regardless of the quality of the question(s), it’s imperative that your response explicitly deal with the topics posed in the question.
Many scholarship essay questions delve into topics where it’s easy to generalize and stray off topic. Some will ask about personal successes, failures, and goals. No matter the topic, stick to it, and offer concrete examples to illustrate your points.
4. Have someone review your packet before you hit submit. Please, please. Just like with a resume, a second set of eyes is useful when it comes to a scholarship application. A friend removed from the process is more likely to pick up on issues that you’ve missed, but they still love you enough to be invested in making sure that you get it right. If your friend tells you everything is perfect, make sure you run it by one more set of eyes (just in case).
Remember, free money is good money. Apply, apply, apply for scholarships to complete your schooling. Just make sure your application follows the guidelines and represents the best version of yourself.
Good luck!
Jamie
Story by Jamie Boyle
Good luck!
Jamie
Story by Jamie Boyle
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