Tips on Applying for Scholarships

Read the criteria carefully

• Check that you meet all eligibility requirements before applying.
• Applications from ineligible students are not considered.
• Many scholarships require a high GPA, so focus on maintaining your academic performance.

Be thorough when completing your application

• Read the application instructions carefully.
• Incomplete applications are ineligible.
• Prepare your answers in a Word document first, then copy/paste into the online form for a clean, professional appearance.
• Proofread everything — avoid spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, or blank fields.

Choose strong references

• Select current, professional references who know you well (at least 6 months).
• Good choices include: instructors, employers, religious or community leaders.
• Avoid family, best friends, or roommates.
• Let your referees know what you’re applying for and provide award criteria so they can write relevant, personalized recommendations.
• Please provide your referee(s) with a copy of this Scholarship Reference Letter Guidelines document.

Make a strong personal statement

• Always enclose a letter introducing yourself to the scholarship committee telling who you are and why you are the best candidate for the scholarship.
• Treat it like a written interview — be clear, sincere, and specific.
• Highlight your personal and professional goals.
• Include a list of your extracurricular activities, such as clubs, sports, student government, volunteer work, co-op jobs, part-time jobs, etc.
• Feeling overwhelmed? UFV's Personal Statement Tips & Suggestions can help with this process.

Meet the deadlines

• Start early and don’t wait until the last minute.
• Give yourself time to complete each step and gather required documents.
• Late applications will not be considered.