All Scholarship Applications are Alike - Right?
Evaluating thousands of scholarship applications has definitely
left an impression on me. I still remember some of them, because
the students who submitted them managed to get into my head in a
personal way. Many books and articles will tell you that
"personalization" is good, but they don't tell you how to
accomplish that. I saw a photo attached to an app showing the
senior student shaking hands with the President of the United
States. Another enclosed an audio tape that revealed his talent
to play the fiddle in a country band. A girl had her photograph
taken with a well-known professional golfer after she had won a
state tournament. A boy included a picture of his debating
trophies. Another had won a two day fishing tournament and held
the trophy in a picture to pro! ve it. Another had built his own
computer. Still another had patented her own invention, a device
for counting inventory units. In each case the items were part
of the requirements of the scholarship award - not just thrown
in for effect. These are super examples of "personalizing" a
scholarship application, but it doesn't have to be that
noticeable. There were also attempts at personalization not well
received: a picture of a girl in a very tiny bikini. The word
thong comes to mind. Another included prize ribbons with a
request to return them when the judging was over - we had to
send them back at our own expense! Another application had an
algebra homework assignment inside, oops. We sent that back,
too. Her siblings were probably blamed for its disappearance.
One application had a Santa Claus hat inside. It came from
Alaska. I'm still trying to figure that one out. Why is
personalization so important? Imagine that you are on the
committee, sitting around a table with 247 scholarship forms. It
is the committee's job to pick a winner. All of the apps appear
to look alike. All things being equal, which one is going to be
chosen? It's impossible to say. But, let's suppose that one
personalized his/her request and made it stand out positively
from the rest. Now, someone has taken the time to be bold,
inventive and creative. They have made it possible for the
scholarship committee to know more about who they are. They are
more than a just a piece of paper with a name on it. They have
revealed intimate sides to their personalities. Who will win
now? The choice is obvious. Personalize don't dramatize. Use
good judgment and common sense when personalizing. Try to
imagine who the people are making! up the committee. Then, send
in your request knowing that, out of all who sent their forms,
you are the one who will win. You are the person who deserves
the money. Planning produces positive outcomes when the
scholarship effort is truly a family affair. To learn more about
planning to win scholarships visit http://ScholarshipDoctor.com
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