If you’re trying to win scholarships but feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone. I used these exact steps to graduate debt-free from UCLA. This blog post is the first part of my eBook, The Ultimate Scholarship Guide, where I break down my full scholarship strategy. You can grab the full PDF — plus my scholarship tracker — to stay organized and win those scholarships!
In this post, I’m sharing the exact steps I used to win scholarships and pay for college — so you can do the same. After reading, make sure to check out the next two parts in the series to keep building your scholarship success plan.
Step No. 1: Why Mindset Is the First Step to Win Scholarships
Before we begin, let’s get our heads in the game and understand why this matters.
Right now, you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in yourself and your future. Imagine this: spending just a few hours writing about your story, your dreams, and your goals—two pages at most—and potentially being rewarded with hundreds or even thousands of dollars. That’s life-changing money for just a little effort!
Scholarships are one of the easiest ways to fund your education without ever having to repay a dime. Don’t let this chance slip through your fingers. Trust me, as a graduate, I wish I could still apply for scholarships to cover my bills now! To truly make a difference, treat scholarship applications like a part-time job and dedicate a few hours each week. This is your moment, so seize it and make the most of every opportunity to secure the funding you deserve.
Step No. 2: Write a Scholarship Essay That Helps You Win Scholarships — Even If You’re Not a Perfect Student
Everyone thinks you need to be the “perfect” student to win scholarships, but here’s the truth: perfect is boring! While some scholarships do have GPA requirements and a strong GPA can help, grades aren’t everything. I’ve applied to scholarships against students with higher GPAs and still came out on top—because I knew how to stand out with my scholarship essay.
The reality is, everyone wants free money for college, but we all have unique reasons for pursuing a degree. Your scholarship essay is your chance to share your story and what makes you different. It’s your platform to show scholarship committees why you’re worth the investment—beyond just your grades.
If you want to win scholarships, your scholarship essay has to tell your story in a way that’s memorable and personal.
As I mentioned before, we all have different reasons for enrolling in college and choosing a major that will guide our careers. Most students applying for scholarships are at least 17 years old, meaning you’ve had at least seventeen years of life experiences shaping your decision to pursue higher education and a specific career path. To write a strong college essay, it’s crucial to understand yourself—your past, present, and future—and how your experiences have led you to this point.
One approach I’ve found helpful is thinking of your life as a circle—your past, your present, and your future. Let’s start with the present: Why are you pursuing a career as an immigration lawyer when there are thousands of other careers to choose from? Or why are you choosing a degree in sociology, when many college counselors suggest political science or history as pre-law tracks? You may have your reasons, but to really stand out, it’s important to let your passion shine through. Anyone can pick a major with the goal of becoming a lawyer, but showing your unique journey and commitment is what will make your scholarship essay memorable.
Think about what you’re doing right now to prepare for your future career. Are you volunteering to tutor others preparing for the U.S. citizenship exam? Or are you researching immigration trends to stay ahead of the curve? These examples of your proactive steps can really make a difference. Bonus points for sharing your community service or any work that shows your dedication to your field and giving back.
Now, let’s turn to your past. What pivotal experiences have shaped your decision to pursue a degree in sociology, with the ultimate goal of becoming an immigration lawyer? Reflecting on your past will help you identify a key moment—whether it was a person, an event, or an institution—that sparked your interest. It could be a personal encounter, a lesson from your community, or even a turning point in your life that made you realize you want to help others through law.
When you look back, don’t just list accomplishments—dig deeper. What motivated you in those moments? What did you learn, and how did those lessons lead you to your career choice? This is where you truly have a chance to connect your personal story to your academic and career goals.
Finally, let’s talk about your future. Once you become a lawyer, what are some of the goals you want to accomplish? Maybe you want to advocate for policies that protect immigrant rights or work with non-profit organizations to provide affordable legal assistance to underrepresented communities. Perhaps your dream is to open your own law firm focused on immigration cases, providing support to families navigating the legal system. Think about how you want to use your law degree to create a meaningful impact. Your future goals are just as important as your past experiences and present actions. By sharing your aspirations, you’re not only showing scholarship committees what you’re passionate about but also demonstrating your commitment to making a difference in the world. These future plans help illustrate that you’re not just pursuing a degree for the sake of it, but that you have a clear vision for how you’ll use your education to give back and improve your community.
When writing your personal statement, it’s best to start with the present, reflect on the past, and finish with your future goals. By bringing together your present, past, and future, you create a scholarship essay that not only explains why you want to pursue a career but also shows how your journey has shaped who you are today. This deeper understanding of yourself will make your application stand out and help you present a powerful case to scholarship committees.
Step No. 3: Win More Scholarships by Reusing Your Best Answers (Work Smarter, Not Harder)
Believe it or not, the competition for scholarships is much lower than you’d expect— especially for local scholarships within your hometown or community. It’s not because people don’t want free money (who would pass that up?), but because many assume that applying takes too much time. That’s where my method comes in—to save you time and energy, so you can apply to more scholarships while still having time for your personal life.The key to my method is reusing your writing.
After reading Part 2 and creating your scholarship essay, you’re already halfway there! In my experience, 95% of scholarship applications ask variations of the same core questions, such as:
✩ “Why do you want to pursue a college education?”
✩ “What are your educational and career goals?”
✩ “How will you use your degree in the future?”
These questions all focus on your story, so why reinvent the wheel for every application? With one strong scholarship essay, you can tailor your responses by cutting, editing, and pasting to fit the word count and specific question for each scholarship.
Here’s how I did it:
1. Create a “Master Scholarship Essay.” Write one detailed, polished essay (about two pages) that highlights your academic achievements, career goals, and personal passions.
2. Organize your applications. I kept two Google Docs: one for my master essay and another to track all the scholarships I applied to. In the second document, I listed each scholarship’s name, deadline, word count, and the specific essay questions they asked.
3. Tailor and reuse. For every new application, I copied and edited sections from my master essay to fit the scholarship’s question and word count.
This approach isn’t just efficient—it’s smart. You’re not submitting duplicate work; you’re strategically repurposing your own story to meet the requirements of each scholarship. By focusing your energy on creating a solid foundation with your scholarship essay, you’ll save countless hours and be able to apply to more scholarships without burning out.
Remember, the hard work is in crafting that first, impactful essay. Once that’s done, the rest becomes so much easier!
Step No. 4: Keep Applying to Win More Scholarships — The Snowball Effect That Pays Off
Now that you’ve learned how to craft a standout scholarship essay and reuse it strategically across multiple applications, it’s time to understand the impact of the snowball effect on your scholarship journey.
Scholarships come in all shapes and sizes, with awards ranging from $200 to $1,000, $35,000, or even full-ride packages. It might be tempting to skip the smaller scholarships and focus solely on the big-ticket awards of $10,000 or more. After all, wouldn’t it make more sense to channel your energy into fewer, high-value opportunities and be done faster?
Here’s the catch: everyone else is thinking the same thing. As a result, those large scholarships are highly competitive, and while they’re worth applying for, you shouldn’t overlook smaller awards.
Think about it: when you have to fork over $200 for a textbook next semester, you’ll wish you’d applied for that $500 scholarship that could have easily covered the cost. While a single $500 award might not feel like much compared to a $40,000 scholarship, the beauty of scholarships is that there’s no limit to how many you can win.
This is where the snowball effect comes into play. The more scholarships you apply for, the more likely you are to win. As those smaller awards start stacking up—from $500 here to $1,000 there, and maybe even a $5,000 scholarship—you’ll see your total funding grow steadily. Over time, those smaller amounts snowball into something much bigger, helping you chip away at your tuition, fees, and living expenses.
To make the snowball effect work, commit to applying for at least three scholarships every week. Using the reusing strategy from earlier, you’ll likely spend less than an hour per application. Most students only apply for three to seven scholarships during their entire academic career, so by consistently applying, you’ll already be ahead of the pack.
When I committed to the snowball effect, I won my first scholarship, and that win was all the motivation I needed to keep going. I kept applying, week after week, until I had enough scholarships to graduate debt-free. The process might feel slow at first, but as those awards start rolling in, you’ll see just how powerful the snowball effect can be.
So, take that first step—apply for at least one scholarship this week and watch your momentum grow!
Step No. 5 Search Smart to Win Scholarships
Uncovering Scholarships: Where, When, and How to Find Them
Many people assume that scholarships are only available in the fall, but the truth is, scholarships are out there year- round! You just need to know where to look and how to keep track of them. While national scholarships often gain attention in late summer and early fall, don’t forget about the countless local scholarships that are available all year long—you simply have to know where to search.
Start by checking for school-based scholarships at your high school, college, or university. Many institutions have dedicated scholarship opportunities for their students. For example, I discovered a scholarship portal through my county that allowed me to submit one application to be considered for up to 40 scholarships! All I had to do was search online for scholarships using my hometown and “scholarships” as keywords.
As I continued my search, I realized something surprising: almost every organization and business has scholarships to give out. Why? Offering scholarships can serve as a tax write-off, which means many businesses and nonprofits are motivated to create scholarship programs. From my experience, the months of March and April are particularly active for scholarship opportunities.
Also, don’t overlook scholarships offered through your parents’ workplaces. Many employers, especially unions, have scholarship programs for employees’ children. Your own workplace might offer scholarships, too! For instance, I’ve heard of McDonald’s offering scholarships to their employees.
What If You Miss a Deadline or Don’t Qualify?
If you find a scholarship but the deadline has passed or you don’t currently meet all the qualifications, don’t give up! Most scholarships are recurring, so chances are they’ll be available again next year. Write the scholarship details in a calendar or planner and note what qualifications or materials you’ll need to prepare for next time. By planning ahead, you can ensure you’re ready to apply when the opportunity comes around again. In fact, I’ve been awarded the same scholarship multiple times simply by reapplying each year.
Staying Organized and On Track
As a visual learner, I found that using a calendar to track scholarship deadlines and goals was a game-changer. It helped me stay committed to my goal of submitting at least three applications per week. I treated the process like a part-time job, but instead of earning minimum wage, I had the chance to secure hundreds or even thousands of dollars that went directly toward my future.
Lucky for you, I’ve created a Scholarship Application Tracker to help you stay on top of everything—from senior year of high school to the last year of college. You can purchase it on my Etsy store, along with a digital guidebook that complements this blog series!
I understand how busy life can be, whether you’re a high school senior cherishing your final moments before graduation or a college student juggling classes, work, and social life. However, with a little organization and dedication, you can stay on track and significantly reduce the cost of college. Remember, every effort you put into applying for scholarships is an investment in your future!
Now that you’ve learned the five key tactics I used to win scholarships, you’re one step closer to graduating debt-free. Remember, with the right mindset, strategy, and consistency, you can win scholarships and take control of your college journey.
Next up: I’ll walk you through how to craft the best scholarship essay— one that tells your story, stands out, and helps you win even more scholarships. Don’t miss it!
This post is your ultimate guide to win scholarships — breaking down the exact steps I used so you can do the same and graduate debt-free.
You can check out the other two blog posts that complete The Ultimate Scholarship Guide series: