While it’s great to understand the basics of scholarships for college students, what’s more important is knowing how to make your scholarship application stand out and rise to the top. To help you achieve that goal and maximize your odds of being selected for different scholarships, we’ve provided a list of scholarship application tips and tricks below: Invest the time and energy to search & apply
Most students will visit a college or university website to learn about scholarship possibilities and google something along the lines of “scholarships for college students.” While great places to start the scholarship hunt, they’re just that, places to begin. To maximize your chances of winning institutional and private scholarships, you’ve got to commit time and energy to search near and far before submitting the strongest applications possible.
Cast a WIDE net at your college or university (then cast it even wider)
Don’t limit yourself by simply completing an institution’s general scholarship application. Although many colleges and universities use a single scholarship application to consider students for a number of different scholarships, don’t limit yourself by stopping there. Ask financial aid and scholarship advisors what additional scholarships are available, such as those for your specific major. Also, you can inquire with different student clubs and organizations In essence, you want to tap into and apply for any and every possible scholarship opportunity. The wider you cast your net, the more you’re likely to catch.
Get up close & personal with “private scholarships”
There are an infinite amount of private scholarships for college students. Some are easy  to find, while others are the opposite. However, they’re just waiting to be found. Talk to businesses in your community and ask about scholarship opportunities. Speak with your employer, if applicable, and have your parents check with theirs. In your online searches, try using different terms, keywords, and phrases for potential opportunities. Keep your eyes and ears open.
Know a scholarship's awarding criteria & eligibility requirements before applying
Doing your homework ahead of time can save you time and potentially boost your odds of landing one or more of those coveted scholarships. What you don’t want to do is fill out a scholarship application and hit submit without knowing whether or not you’re actually eligible. Take the time to find out for sure.  Once you know you’re eligible to apply, read through every shred of text you can find about the specific scholarship. Specifically, you want to find the scholarship awarding criteria. If letters of recommendation are required, learn how many you need to get and who you need to ask. If there’s an essay required, don’t just read the prompt and immediately begin writing.  In general, take time to learn more about a particular scholarship, why it’s awarded, who awards it, and what the awarding committee looks for in potential scholarship recipients. It may be helpful to look at who received the scholarship in the past.