High Schoolers, Don’t Lose Thousands in Scholarships – Avoid These Application Blunders Now!

Picture this: you’re a high schooler, a lot of things on your plate to deal with. You are in your final month of high school and are not so secretly imagining the big scholarship that has your name on it. But would be a dream to unravel… Only to realize – oops your essay was never attached. Don’t believe me? Well, this is a true story – my cousin Jake lost out on a scholarship worth $5,000 just because he thought hitting submit wasn’t a hard thing to do.

Scholarships today are quite akin to oxygen – without them not a chance you can survive. With the ever-increasing tuition of school, a single scholarship can be lifesaving for many. Over the years I’ve seen excellent students face the same challenge and I’M empathetic towards their plight. So, grab your coffee or juice box, and join me as we talk about the mistakes, grab the problem by the horns and push towards that congratulatory email.

The Sneaky Slip-Ups – Mistakes You Didn’t Know You’re Making

We all know that meeting deadlines is fundamental and could be very simple. However, there is a catch. They can easily swing to your worst nightmare. There was this one time when there was a girl who broke down into tears while eating her cereal because she realized “March 1” was actually “May 1.” Deadlines are cunning and deceptive, to say the least.

Another common mistake is not following the guidelines which is equally as dangerous. When scholarship committees add a cap of “500 words max,” I promise you they are not joking. Failing to comply leads to your essays being shredded to bits before you can utter the word “oops.”

Spelling and typos, or their cousin blunders, do and will have disastrous consequences. Think of it this way: you don’t show up on a date with spinach stuck in your teeth, right? There was a reviewer that I spoke to who recalled an application that would have gotten tossed for “their” and “there” being swapped too many times.

And please don’t get me started on “vanilla essays.” You should make sure that your story isn’t something every applicant will tell. If it is, then, people will fall asleep. Additionally, make sure the financial forms are not switched because misplacing $500 with $5,000 does not earn you friends.

The Great Faux Pas – Mistakes That Scary Shout Inexperience

Some mistakes, like self-promotion, reveal a bit too much about a person’s ego. Phrases like, “I am the best thing since sliced bread,” comes off a little too euphoric, little too narcissistic. One of the blunders I once witnessed was omitting the reason “Why you?”.

A common claim goes, “It is too common for me to hear essays self-advertise a particular accomplishment in meticulous, itemized detail, yet fail to offer context.” It’s not only a set of figures that you need to break the basics – passion helps as well. Incomplete applications? It is similar to removing icing from the cake, which is pure deliciousness, but disappointing.

On the other hand, if you consider yourself a contestant for a dancing scholarship and chose to apply with a science essay, congratulations, you missed the mark by a mile. Don’t get me started on weak recommendations, they are a firm yes and no. Sam, a friend of mine, politely asked his Gym Coach for a letter. The man is amazing, but he didn’t have the slightest idea of Sam’s intellectual capacity. You can always select someone who knows exactly why you were successful in all your classes and can prove it.

The Risks – Problems Unexpected Blunders

How is it possible to pass on that $500 scholarship because it seems to be “too small” to fit into your hectic schedule? That is a major no-no in my books. The bit-by-bit achievement will create the groundwork for larger achievement essences are needed and let us be honest now, $500 can buy you textbooks! Or are we speaking about undressing committee after you apply?

Your $500 undressing textbooks scholarship does not seem to require any effort. A quick email that says “Did you get my stuff?” will suffice. And do not forget overwriting and over drafting. Over drafting is probably one of the slyest ones. There was this time I assisted a student with an 800-essay getting an 800 essay down to a 500 just provide helping. It did not become succinct. It turned into a simply put an essay masterpiece.

And for the love of God, do not show your growth. A college adores a good comeback by saying “I flunked algebra, I took a calculator and passed my next exam,” much more than “I am perfect” always. And what about those silly little tech mess ups? Those are evil. Imagine the poor reviewer with a blurry pdf and dead links. Everything must be checked before clicking the send button.

Turning Disasters into Magic – How to Avoid These Mistakes

You will have no worries due with your essays being on time if you self-psych, where you plan the essay due date a week earlier. Just don’t tell anyone how you outsmarted the system. If you have directions, try an unconventional approach. You may want to read them, but try doing it slowly and preferably out loud. That sounds a bit crazy, but believe me, it works! Soft typos can be eliminated with free grammar checker or a good friend. More challenging soft errors are best cleaned with a friend.

Avoid explosive starts that are not subtle and replace them with your audience trying to understand why the solution is so personal and dear to the heart. Perhaps that time you dame the robot you built from scratch, or how about giving food to the homeless on Thanksgiving. Persuading essay recommenders is equally as difficult with some being completely essential. Go on, rundown their polite achievements as well. ‘Coach, will you mention that amazing science fair project?’ Done, gold emerges.

Disasters Blunders into Easiest Steps – Here is How to Avoid Them

Adopt a detective’s attitude and ask yourself, “How can I leave no stone unturned?” Go through every box and file, and every comma for that matter. Children have less life experience than adults, so they are better at picking up a missing signature. To many, it can be lifesaving. Once you are done, do a little jig, or a fist pump. Submission deserves swagger. After a week or so, you want to follow up with a short, “Just to check, did my app land safely?” That should be a week from today. If the response is “no”, that’s perfectly okay. Each rejection is an opportunity to learn something new. You are stronger than “thank you, but no thank you”.

Conclusion

So, you think the chase for this scholarship was difficult? Beautiful girl, that around the world charm is unbeatable. I have seen many students go from a shocking “there’s no way I’ll get this” or so earning an even more heroic “I’m framing this award letter” and so can you. Sometimes, the solutions are waiting a little while. Your dream school is waiting and I am rooting for you to push yourself for the application before it applies for itself.

Bonus Section: Useful Tips and Helpful Lines

You have a roadmap, edit twice, hand it in early, tailor every detail, seek out help when necessary, and most importantly smile, you got this. For the essay part, I want you to express how awesome you are in ten words, “I built a first place winning solar car.” That is bound to change how you feel.

And remember, you want this opportunity and you deserve it. Don’t stop working hard and don’t let doubt tell you otherwise.