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6 Summer Activities That Can Help Students Win ScholarshipsSummer is one of the best times for students to strengthen their scholarship and college applications. While many students take a break from school-related activities, those who use the summer strategically can position themselves for scholarship opportunities, college admissions, and merit aid long before senior year. Whether you’re a parent, counselor, educator, mentor, or college access professional, consider sharing these ideas with students this summer. 1. Start Scholarship Research EarlyMany of the nation’s largest scholarship programs open in the summer and have deadlines beginning in early fall. Students do not need to wait until they are accepted to college—or even until senior year—to begin searching for scholarships. In fact, some students can begin earning scholarship money as early as elementary or middle school. For younger students and families, explore Senior Year Head Start to learn how to prepare early for future scholarship success. Students should use the summer to:
Once opportunities are identified, students should organize deadlines and application requirements using The Scholarship Monthly Planner (the newest edition will be available August 1) to stay on track. For additional scholarship search strategies, see Winning Scholarships for College or Senior Year Head Start. 2. Participate in Community ServiceScholarship committees consistently look for students who make a positive impact on their schools and communities. Summer is an excellent time to:
Meaningful service experiences not only strengthen scholarship applications but also provide valuable stories students can use in scholarship essays and college application essays. Learn more about the connection between community service and scholarships in Winning Scholarships for College and Scholarships for Average Students. 3. Update or Create a Student RésuméA strong student activities résumé can make scholarship applications easier and help students identify areas where they can become more competitive. Students should:
If gaps exist, summer is the perfect time to build leadership, service, mentoring, tutoring, or employment experience. A well-organized résumé also becomes a valuable resource when completing scholarship applications, college applications, and recommendation requests. See Winning Scholarships for College for guidance on creating an effective student résumé. Or attend The Scholarship Boot Camp or The Scholarship Class for High School Students & Their Parents. 4. Explore Raise.MeStudents who have completed 9th, 10th, or 11th grade should consider creating a profile on RaiseMe. By entering the following information for a profile:
students can qualify for micro-scholarships offered by participating colleges and universities. Summer provides the perfect opportunity to update accomplishments from the previous school year and begin exploring colleges that may be interested in recruiting students with a wonderful scholarship. So far, Marianne’s son has been offered over $528,000 from colleges and universities who have viewed his Raise.Me profile. He is entering his senior year of high school. Check out Winning Scholarships for College or Senior Year Head Start for more information about starting early. 5. Rising High School Seniors: Build Your College List NowMany students are surprised to learn that scholarship priority deadlines are often much earlier than college application deadlines. One student working with Marianne discovered that a college on their list offered priority scholarship consideration for applications submitted by November 1, even though the regular admission deadline was February 1. Students should spend the summer:
Students who complete their college list by June 30 may also qualify for a chance to win a $40,000 scholarship through College Board’s BigFuture program. 6. Already in College? Scholarships Are Still AvailableMany students mistakenly believe scholarship opportunities disappear after high school graduation. The reality is that college students can continue applying for and winning scholarships throughout their undergraduate years. Students who are already enrolled in college—or preparing to start college this fall—should explore Scholarships for College Students and continue searching for new opportunities. One scholarship example for current college students is the Live Más Scholarship. Learning about scholarship opportunities before applications open can provide a significant advantage when deadlines arrive. Learn From a Family That Has Won More Than $1 Million in ScholarshipsMarianne Ragins won more than $400,000 in scholarships as a high school senior and became one of the nation’s most recognized scholarship winners. Her daughter later earned more than $622,000 in scholarships, and her son began winning scholarships at age 16. Before even starting his senior year of high school, he had already received more than $528,000 in scholarship and merit aid offers. Together, Marianne and her children have earned more than $1.5 million in scholarships and merit awards. Beyond her family’s success, Marianne has helped thousands of students win millions of dollars in scholarships through workshops, classes, books, and educational programs. Ready to Help Students Get Ahead?If you work with students—or have a student at home who wants to reduce college costs—summer is the perfect time to start preparing for scholarship season. The students who begin preparing before deadlines arrive are often the students who have the most scholarship opportunities available to them. Start by registering for one of Marianne’s online classes or using one of her books and resources to build a stronger path toward paying for college. See www.scholarshipworkshop.com/bookstore to explore more. Or visit Amazon for a list of Marianne’s best scholarship and college resources.*
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