The Scholarship Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide to Cultivating a Profile That Wins Awards

Introduction: The Hunter’s Heartbreak

I remember the weight of the envelope in my hands.

It was thin—too thin.

Inside was the culmination of six weeks of obsessive work: an application for one of the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships in the country.

On paper, I was the perfect candidate.

I had the grades, the test scores, the leadership positions, the volunteer hours.

I had followed every piece of conventional wisdom, treating the scholarship process like a high-stakes hunt.

I had tracked my quarry, polished my weapons—my resume and transcripts—and fired off what I thought was a kill shot of an essay.

The rejection letter wasn’t just a “No.” It was a generic, form-letter dismissal that felt like a slap in the face.

All that effort, all that time spent chasing this single, massive prize, had resulted in nothing more than a footnote.

I was burned out, frustrated, and deeply demoralized.¹

The experience echoed what so many students feel: a sense of hopelessness in a hyper-competitive system where you can do everything “right” and still come up empty-handed.³

I had been a scholarship hunter, and the hunt had left me exhausted and with nothing to show for it.

That failure became the most important moment of my academic career.

It forced me to abandon the conventional playbook and ask a different question, a question that would change everything: “What if the goal isn’t to hunt for scholarships, but to become the kind of candidate scholarships are designed to find?”

Part I: The Gardener’s Epiphany – A New Way of Seeing

The answer didn’t come from a college counseling book.

It came, unexpectedly, from learning about sustainable agriculture.

I was fascinated by the contrast between an industrial farm that depletes its soil for a single crop and a permaculture garden that builds a rich, self-sustaining ecosystem where many different things can thrive.

The metaphor struck me with the force of a revelation.

I had been acting like an industrial farmer, or a hunter, trying to force a single outcome from a depleted system—my own energy and motivation.

This sparked a complete paradigm shift in my thinking.

I stopped seeing the process as a hunt and started seeing it as gardening.

The Hunter vs. The Gardener

• The Scholarship Hunter: This is the model most of us are taught. The Hunter frantically chases individual targets, often the biggest and most visible ones. Their success depends heavily on luck and timing. They expend massive amounts of energy for sporadic rewards and become easily discouraged by the inevitable misses. This approach directly mirrors the common student experience of information overload, application fatigue, and a crushing loss of motivation when rejections pile up.¹
• The Scholarship Gardener: The Gardener takes a different approach. They don’t chase; they cultivate. They begin by meticulously preparing the soil—their personal story and profile. They carefully select the right seeds—their activities, projects, and experiences—that align with that story. They nurture these seeds over time, creating a rich, thriving ecosystem. The harvest—scholarships—becomes a natural outcome of a well-tended garden, not the result of a frantic chase. This is a proactive, strategic, and sustainable approach that builds momentum instead of burning it out.

My epiphany was this: You can’t win the scholarship game by playing someone else’s.

You have to change the game entirely.

The rest of this guide is dedicated to teaching you how to trade in your hunter’s gear for a gardener’s tools.

It’s a step-by-step manual for cultivating a profile so compelling that opportunities will start to find you.

Part II: Preparing the Soil – Cultivating Your Authentic Story

The most critical work of a gardener happens long before a single seed is planted.

It’s in the patient, thoughtful preparation of the soil.

In the scholarship world, your soil is your story.

A rich, authentic, and well-understood narrative is the foundation upon which everything else is built.

Too many students skip this step, jumping straight to listing their achievements, which is like trying to grow prize-winning roses in barren clay.

Subsection 2.1: Discovering Your Core Narrative (The Seed)

Before you can tell your story, you have to know what it Is. Your core narrative is the central theme of your life so far.

It’s the “why” behind your ambitions, the unique lens through which you see the world.

It’s what makes you, you.

Scholarship committees read thousands of applications; what they remember is not a list of stats, but a compelling, authentic story.⁵

Finding yours is an act of deep self-reflection.

Start by asking yourself a series of foundational questions.

Don’t rush this process.

Write down your answers.

Talk them over with people who know you well.

• Values: What are the 3-5 principles you care about most? (e.g., community, creativity, justice, efficiency, discovery). Where did these values come from?
• Curiosity: What subjects, ideas, or problems genuinely fascinate you, even outside of school? What do you find yourself reading about or watching videos on in your free time?
• Impact: If you could solve one problem in your community or the world, what would it be? What change do you want to create?
• Perspective: What unique experiences have shaped you? Are you a first-generation student, an immigrant, a caretaker for a family member, an artist in a family of scientists? How does this background give you a perspective others might not have?.⁷

Your answers to these questions are the raw material for your core narrative.

Look for the patterns.

Maybe your value of “community,” your curiosity about biology, and your desire to solve health disparities in your neighborhood combine into a core narrative: “I am a future public health leader dedicated to building more equitable healthcare systems.” This isn’t just a career goal; it’s a story.

It’s the seed from which your entire application will grow.

Subsection 2.2: Grounding Your Narrative in Tangible Impact (The Root System)

A seed is just potential.

For it to grow, it needs a strong root system to anchor it and draw nourishment.

In your application, your activities—extracurriculars, jobs, volunteering, family responsibilities—are not the story itself.

They are the evidence for your story.

They are your root system.

The mistake most “hunters” make is treating their activity list like a scorecard, a collection of disconnected achievements.

The “gardener” understands that each activity is an opportunity to provide proof for their core narrative.

• Instead of: “Member of the Debate Club.”
• Think: “My time in the Debate Club is evidence of my core narrative about using reasoned argument to advocate for social justice.”
• Instead of: “Worked 20 hours/week at a grocery store.”
• Think: “My job taught me responsibility, time management, and gave me a ground-level view of food supply chains, which is evidence for my core narrative about creating sustainable local economies.”

This reframing is powerful.

It transforms your application from a simple list into a persuasive argument.

It directly counters the flawed strategy of “resume building”—doing activities just because they look good.

Scholarship committees and admissions officers can spot a lack of genuine interest from a mile away.⁸

When your activities are clearly connected to a central, passionate narrative, they become infinitely more compelling.

A part-time job or caring for a younger sibling is just as valid and powerful as an internship if you can articulate how it shaped you and provides evidence for your story.⁹

This creates a powerful positive feedback loop.

Once you have a clear core narrative, you begin to choose your activities more intentionally.

A student whose narrative is about “environmental stewardship” will naturally gravitate toward starting a school recycling program or volunteering for a river cleanup.

These targeted activities, in turn, provide incredibly rich and specific stories for their essays, which further strengthens their core narrative.

This is how you build a profile that is not just impressive, but coherent and deeply authentic.

You are no longer collecting random points; you are cultivating a garden where every plant serves a purpose in the larger ecosystem of your story.

Part III: Surveying the Landscape – Finding Where You’ll Thrive

Even the most beautiful garden will fail if planted in the wrong climate.

A cactus won’t survive in a swamp, and an orchid won’t last in a desert.

As a Scholarship Gardener, your next task is to survey the vast and often overwhelming landscape of scholarship opportunities to find the environments where your unique profile is most likely to flourish.¹

This is a strategic process of matching your carefully cultivated story to the scholarships that are designed to reward it.

Subsection 3.1: Understanding the Major Biomes: Merit, Need, and Identity

The scholarship world can be broken down into a few major categories, or “biomes.” Understanding the fundamental nature of each one is the first step to a successful search.

• Merit-Based Scholarships: This is the biome most people think of first. These awards are given based on a student’s demonstrated skill, talent, or “merit”.¹² While this often includes academic achievement like a high GPA or test scores, it’s a much broader category than many realize.¹³ Merit can also mean exceptional talent in the arts, athletics, leadership, or a specific technical skill.¹⁵ Many universities automatically consider applicants for merit scholarships based on their admissions application, while others require separate submissions.¹⁴ The key takeaway is that “merit” is not a monolith; it’s about showcasing excellence in a particular area.¹⁸
• Need-Based Scholarships: This biome is designed to make education accessible by providing financial assistance to students who demonstrate financial need.¹⁹ This need is typically calculated using a standard formula: a college’s Cost of Attendance (COA) minus your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a similar form.²⁰ It is a widespread myth that you can’t win scholarships if your family isn’t low-income.²¹ While some awards are strictly need-based, many are “need-aware,” meaning they combine financial need with a merit component. Organizations like the Gates Scholarship and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation specifically look for high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds.¹³ These scholarships can come from the federal government (like the Pell Grant), state governments, or private institutions.²²
• Identity-Based Scholarships: This biome is dedicated to fostering diversity and providing opportunities for students from specific backgrounds or communities. These scholarships recognize that a student’s identity—be it their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, or being the first in their family to attend college—is a source of strength and unique perspective.²⁵ Organizations offer these awards to support underrepresented groups in academia and various professions.²⁷ The range is vast, with scholarships available for students of almost every ethnic heritage, from Afghan to Yemeni ²⁹, as well as for women, LGBTQIA+ students, and students with disabilities.²⁷

Subsection 3.2: Discovering the Hidden Niches: The Power of Specificity

Beyond the major biomes lies a world of “microclimates”—niche scholarships that are often the most fertile ground for a well-prepared gardener.

These are the local, corporate, and “unusual” awards that have smaller applicant pools and, therefore, better odds of success.³⁰

The biggest mistake students make in their search is thinking too narrowly or too broadly.

They either limit their search to only their specific major (an aspiring nurse only searching “nursing scholarships”) or they make assumptions based on a scholarship’s title.³²

A classic example is the AES Engineering Scholarship, which is famously open to students of

all majors, not just engineering.³²

The gardener’s approach is to think laterally.

That nursing student should also be searching for “healthcare scholarships,” “community health awards,” and scholarships offered by local hospitals.

This is also where you can truly leverage your unique qualities.

The world of unusual scholarships is wonderfully strange and proves that there is an award for nearly every passion or trait.

There are scholarships for:

• Hobbies and Interests: Duck calling, beekeeping, marbles, model railroading, and even designing a plan to survive a zombie apocalypse.³³
• Unique Traits: Being left-handed, being a twin, being over a certain height, or having red hair.³⁴
• Specific Actions: Promoting vegetarianism in your community or creating a greeting card design.³³

These scholarships are not just novelties; they are strategic opportunities.

While a national merit scholarship might receive tens of thousands of applications, a scholarship for fly-fishing enthusiasts who live in Oregon will receive a tiny fraction of that number.

By taking a thorough inventory of your unique story, you can uncover these hidden niches where your application won’t just be one of many, but one of a kind.

This strategic approach to finding scholarships requires a shift in mindset.

Instead of chasing only the largest, most competitive awards—a strategy that often leads to burnout and disappointment—the goal is to build a diversified portfolio of applications.

Think of it like a financial investment strategy.

You should have a few “reach” applications for the big national awards, several “target” applications for scholarships where you are a strong fit (like state-level or major-specific awards), and a larger number of “likely” applications for local or niche scholarships with less competition.

This balanced approach dramatically increases your probability of winning something.

And securing even a small, $500 local award is a huge victory.

It validates your efforts, builds momentum, and provides the psychological fuel needed to continue the marathon.²

Table 1: The Scholarship Biomes – A Comparative Guide
Biome (Type)	Primary Basis for Award	Common Requirements	Gardener’s Strategy
Merit-Based	Academic/Talent Achievement 12	High GPA, Test Scores, Portfolio, Audition 16	Showcase excellence and the dedication behind your achievements.
Need-Based	Demonstrated Financial Need 20	FAFSA, CSS Profile, Parent Tax Returns 36	Document your financial situation accurately and completely.
Identity-Based	Background/Group Affiliation 27	Proof of Heritage, First-Gen Status, Essay on Identity 28	Weave your identity into your core narrative, showing it as a source of strength.
Niche/Unusual	Unique Trait, Hobby, or Interest 34	Creative Essay, Proof of Skill (e.g., video), Specific Action 33	Lean into what makes you unique; tell the story no one else can.

Part IV: The Art of Presentation – Making Your Garden Irresistible

You’ve prepared your soil and surveyed the landscape.

You have a rich, authentic story and a list of promising environments where it can thrive.

Now comes the moment of presentation: crafting an application that makes your cultivated garden irresistible to the scholarship committee.

A winning application is not a collection of separate documents; it is a coherent symphony where every element—the essay, the activity list, the letters of recommendation—works in harmony to sing the praises of a single, powerful theme: you.

Subsection 4.1: The Unforgettable Essay – Your Story in Full Bloom

The scholarship essay is the heart of your application.

It’s where your statistics become a story and your achievements gain a soul.

It is your single greatest opportunity to connect with the judges on a human level.⁶

A memorable essay is a blend of strategy and Art.

1. Deconstruct the Prompt, Understand the Audience: Before you write a single word, read the prompt carefully. What are the key themes? What values is the scholarship provider looking for? Research the organization’s mission.⁵ If the scholarship is from a foundation dedicated to community service, your essay should highlight your own commitment to service. You are tailoring your story to show them you are the living embodiment of the values they champion.
2. Hook the Reader Immediately: Scholarship reviewers read hundreds, sometimes thousands, of essays.³⁷ You must grab their attention from the very first sentence. Avoid starting with “My name is…” or “I am applying for this scholarship because…” Instead, start in the middle of a story, with a thought-provoking question, or a vivid image.⁵ “The scent of antiseptic and stale coffee is the smell of my future” is far more compelling than “I want to be a nurse.”
3. Show, Don’t Tell: This is the golden rule of all storytelling. Don’t just state your qualities; illustrate them with specific examples and anecdotes.⁵

• Don’t Tell: “I am a resilient and determined person.”
• Show: “After my robotics team’s motor failed an hour before the final competition, I spent forty-five frantic minutes rewiring a spare motor from a defunct project, using nothing but a multi-tool and two YouTube tutorials. We didn’t win, but our robot crossed the finish line under its own power. That was my victory.”

4. Structure for Impact: A great essay has a clear structure. Your introduction should hook the reader and introduce the central theme. The body paragraphs should each explore a specific aspect of that theme, using stories and examples as evidence. Your conclusion should not just summarize what you’ve said; it should reflect on the meaning of your experiences and look forward, connecting your past growth to your future ambitions and explaining how this scholarship is the critical next step on that journey.⁶
5. Maintain a Positive and Inspirational Tone: Even when discussing difficult challenges or hardships, the focus should always be on growth, learning, and resilience. Scholarship committees want to invest in students with a positive outlook who can turn adversity into strength.⁵ Your story should be one of triumph, not of victimhood.

Subsection 4.2: Enlisting Your Advocates – The Art of the Recommendation Letter

A great letter of recommendation (LoR) provides third-party validation for the story you tell in your essay.

It’s a trusted voice confirming that you are who you say you are.

A generic or lukewarm letter can undermine your entire application, while a glowing, specific one can be the deciding factor.

1. Choose Your Recommenders Wisely: Your best recommender is not necessarily the teacher who gave you the highest grade. It’s the person who knows you best as a person—your character, your work ethic, your passion.⁴⁰ This could be a teacher whose class you actively participated in, a club advisor who saw you lead a project, a coach who witnessed your perseverance, or a boss who can speak to your responsibility.⁴² Politely ask them, “Do you feel you know me well enough to write a strong letter of recommendation for me?” This gives them an easy out if they don’t, which is far better than receiving a forced, generic letter.⁴³
2. Ask Early and Professionally: Give your recommenders a minimum of one month’s notice before the deadline.⁴⁰ This is a sign of respect for their time. Ask them in person if possible, and follow up with a polite email summarizing your request.
3. Equip Them for Success: This is the single most important step in the process, and the one most students neglect. Do not simply ask for a letter and hope for the best. You must equip your recommender to be your best advocate. Provide them with a neat, organized folder (digital or physical) containing:

• The Scholarship Details: A link to the scholarship website and a summary of its mission and criteria.
• Your Resume/Activity List: A clean list of your accomplishments.
• Your Core Narrative/Essay Draft: A copy of the essay you’re writing for the application. This allows them to see the story you are telling and align their letter with it.
• A “Brag Sheet”: This is a brief document where you remind them of specific things you did in their class or organization. For example: “You might remember the presentation I gave on the historical context of Frankenstein,” or “I was particularly proud of how I organized the fundraising car wash for our club.” This gives them the specific, concrete anecdotes they need to make their letter powerful and personal.⁴⁰

4. Follow Up with Gratitude: After they have submitted the letter, send a handwritten thank-you note. It’s a small gesture that shows immense appreciation and maintains a positive relationship for any future requests.⁷

A winning application is one where all the pieces reinforce each other.

Imagine a scholarship reviewer reading your essay, where you claim to be a “compassionate and innovative leader.” They then look at your activity list and see “Founder and President, Peer Tutoring Club.” Finally, they read a letter of recommendation from your club advisor that says, “I watched spend hours developing a new scheduling app for our tutors and then patiently mentor a struggling freshman, demonstrating a rare combination of technical innovation and true compassion.” The reviewer’s confidence in you skyrockets.

Your claim has been supported by data and validated by an external expert.

This symphony of coherence is what makes an application stand out and feel undeniably authentic.

Table 2: The Gardener’s Toolkit – Application Checklist
Component	Key Action	Avoid This Common Mistake	Pro Tip
The Essay	Answer the prompt with a personal story 5	Using a generic, “one-size-fits-all” essay 46	Tailor your story to align with the scholarship provider’s mission 7
Letters of Rec	Equip your recommender with a full information packet 43	Asking last-minute or with no context 46	Provide a “brag sheet” with specific anecdotes you want them to highlight 40
Activity List	Frame activities as evidence for your core narrative 9	Simply listing duties without context or impact	Quantify your impact whenever possible (e.g., “raised $500,” “managed 10 volunteers”)
The Final Read-Through	Proofread everything out loud, slowly 38	Submitting an application with typos or grammatical errors 47	Have at least one other person read your entire application before you hit “submit” 5

Part V: Tending the Garden – The Marathon of Maintenance and Mindset

A garden is not a one-time project; it is a living system that requires ongoing care.

The scholarship process is a marathon, not a sprint, and tending your garden involves diligent organization, mental resilience, and the wisdom to celebrate your progress along the Way. Without these, even the most promising garden can be lost to weeds and weather.

Subsection 5.1: The Rhythm of the Seasons – Organization and Time Management

The sheer number of deadlines, requirements, and documents can be overwhelming, which is a primary cause of application fatigue.¹

An organized gardener is a successful gardener.

• Create a Master Tracker: Your most essential tool is a simple spreadsheet or calendar.¹ Create columns for the Scholarship Name, URL, Deadline, Award Amount, Required Documents (Essay, LoRs, Transcript), and Application Status. This central dashboard is your command center, preventing anything from slipping through the cracks.³¹
• Break It Down: Looking at an application that requires three essays and two LoRs can feel paralyzing. Combat procrastination by breaking down each large application into smaller, manageable tasks.⁴ Your to-do list shouldn’t say “Complete X Scholarship.” It should say “Draft essay #1 for X,” “Email Dr. Smith for LoR,” “Request official transcript.” Checking off these small items builds momentum.
• Prioritize Your Portfolio: Use the strategic portfolio you developed in Part III to guide your efforts. When time is tight, focus your energy on the applications where you have the strongest chance of success—your “target” and “likely” awards—while still giving your “reach” applications a solid effort.

Subsection 5.2: Weathering the Storms – Handling Rejection and Maintaining Motivation

Rejection is not a possibility in this process; it is a certainty.

Every successful scholarship winner has a folder full of “no”s.

The key is how you frame it.

A hunter sees a rejection as a failed hunt.

A gardener sees it as a data point.

Perhaps the soil wasn’t the right fit for that particular seed.

Perhaps the climate wasn’t right this season.

It is not a reflection of your worth, but a matter of fit.²¹

Remember that you are not alone in this.

The pressure and stress are real and widely felt.²

It’s crucial to find healthy coping mechanisms.

• Focus on Process, Not Outcome: You cannot control the final decision of a scholarship committee. You can control the quality of the application you submit. Shift your definition of success from “winning” to “submitting my absolute best work.”
• Stay Grounded in Your “Why”: When motivation wanes, return to your core narrative. Remind yourself why you are pursuing your education and what impact you want to make. The ultimate goal is not the scholarship itself, but the education it enables.¹
• Take Scheduled Breaks: You cannot work on applications 24/7. Schedule time for things you enjoy that have nothing to do with college or scholarships. This isn’t slacking; it’s essential maintenance to keep your mind fresh and prevent burnout.⁴

Subsection 5.3: Celebrating the Harvest – Acknowledging Every Win

In a long process filled with potential rejection, you must consciously celebrate your victories.

And a “victory” isn’t just a check in the mail.

• Celebrate Submissions: Every time you hit the “submit” button on a well-prepared application, take a moment to acknowledge your hard work. This is a win. Go for a walk, watch a movie, or have your favorite meal. This practice of celebrating effort reframes the journey and keeps morale high.²
• Value Every Award: My first success with the gardener method wasn’t a full-ride scholarship. It was a $500 award from a local community organization. But that small win was transformative. It was proof that the new system worked. It gave me the confidence and validation I needed to keep going, eventually securing much larger awards. Do not dismiss small scholarships; they are the first fruits of your labor and they add up, both financially and psychologically.⁴⁸

Conclusion: Your Perennial Success

My journey began with the hunter’s heartbreak—a thin envelope that symbolized a flawed approach based on frantic chasing and external validation.

It led to the gardener’s epiphany: the realization that the most powerful strategy was not to hunt for opportunities, but to cultivate a profile so authentic and compelling that opportunities would be drawn to it.

This shift from hunter to gardener is more than just a strategy for winning scholarships.

It is a framework for life.

The process of digging deep to find your core narrative, of choosing activities that serve as evidence for your story, of learning to present yourself persuasively, and of developing the resilience to weather rejection—these are the perennial skills that will serve you long after your tuition is paid.

They are the tools you will use in college interviews, job applications, and in every endeavor where you need to communicate your value and vision to the world.

By becoming a Scholarship Gardener, you are not just investing in your education; you are investing in a more intentional, strategic, and resilient version of yourself.

You are learning to build a thriving ecosystem of skills and stories that will produce a harvest for years to come.

That is the true prize, and it’s a garden you will tend for the rest of your life.

Works cited

1. What are the biggest challenges in scholarship applications for new …, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.collegevine.com/faq/133710/what-are-the-biggest-challenges-in-scholarship-applications-for-new-college-students
2. College Application Fatigue is Real and This is What You Can Do About it, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.doctorthom.com/post/college-application-fatigue-is-real-and-this-is-what-you-can-do-about-it
3. no motivation to do scholarships : r/ApplyingToCollege – Reddit, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1hufmay/no_motivation_to_do_scholarships/
4. Keeping Your Sanity During the Application Process – Scholarships.com, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.scholarships.com/blog/keeping-your-sanity-during-the-application-process
5. Top 10 Writing Tips for Memorable Scholarship Essays …, accessed August 9, 2025, https://seu.edu/news/academics/top-10-writing-tips-for-memorable-scholarship-essays/
6. A Guide to Writing a Scholarship Essay – myBay – Bay College, accessed August 9, 2025, https://mybay.baycollege.edu/ICS/Current_Students/Scholarships/A_Guide_to_Writing_a_Scholarship_Essay.jnz
7. 10 Ways to Stand Out When Applying for Scholarships | CollegeData, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.collegedata.com/resources/money-matters/10-ways-to-stand-out-when-applying-for-scholarships
8. www.collegeadvisor.com, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.collegeadvisor.com/resources/how-to-showcase-extracurricular-activities-in-your-college-applications/#:~:text=On%20your%20application%2C%20express%20why,see%20right%20through%20resume%20builders.
9. How to Showcase Extracurricular Activities In Your College …, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.collegeadvisor.com/resources/how-to-showcase-extracurricular-activities-in-your-college-applications/
10. What do you feel made you stand out as an applicant to the school you attend, or any scholarships you might have received? – Career Village, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.careervillage.org/questions/750141/what-do-you-feel-made-you-stand-out-as-an-applicant-to-the-school-you-attend-or-any-scholarships-you-might-have-received
11. Scholarship Finder | CareerOneStop, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-scholarships.aspx
12. Merit-Based – Federal Student Aid, accessed August 9, 2025, https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/merit-based
13. Merit Scholarships, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-type/academic-scholarships-and-merit-scholarships
14. Merit-Based Scholarships | Undergraduate Admissions – Baylor University, accessed August 9, 2025, https://admissions.web.baylor.edu/costs-aid/scholarships-aid/merit-based-scholarships
15. Finding and Applying for Scholarships | Federal Student Aid, accessed August 9, 2025, https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships
16. College Scholarships, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships
17. Scholarships – ASU tuition – Arizona State University, accessed August 9, 2025, https://tuition.asu.edu/financial-aid/scholarships
18. Top merit-based scholarships for you – Sallie, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.sallie.com/scholarships/types/merit-based
19. 7 Scholarship Strategies to Win the Most Money – Edvisors, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.edvisors.com/plan-for-college/scholarships/scholarship-process/winning-scholarship-strategies/
20. What Is a Need-Based Scholarship? Do I Qualify? – Tallo, accessed August 9, 2025, https://tallo.com/scholarships/opportunities/what-is-need-based-scholarship/
21. How to Conquer Common Challenges and Win a Scholarship, accessed August 9, 2025, https://bridgeseduscholarships.com/how-to-conquer-common-challenges-and-win-a-scholarship/
22. Need-Based Scholarships – Johns Hopkins University | Undergraduate Admissions, accessed August 9, 2025, https://apply.jhu.edu/tuition-aid/types-of-financial-aid/need-based-scholarships/
23. North Carolina College Scholarship & Grant Search – CFNC, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.cfnc.org/pay-for-college/scholarship-search/
24. Financial Need Required Scholarships, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/financial-need/financial-need-required
25. www.collegeave.com, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.collegeave.com/articles/breaking-down-types-of-scholarships/
26. What Types of Scholarships Are There? – SoFi, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/types-of-scholarships/
27. Minority Scholarships, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-type/minority-scholarships
28. Access Exclusive Scholarships by Demographics – Bold.org, accessed August 9, 2025, https://bold.org/scholarships/by-demographics/
29. Scholarships By Ethnicity, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/ethnicity
30. Tips for Winning a Scholarship | One Stop Student Financial Services | Baylor University, accessed August 9, 2025, https://onestop.web.baylor.edu/types-aid/scholarships/outsideprivate-scholarships/tips-winning-scholarship
31. Maximizing Your Chances to Win Scholarships | Edvisors, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.edvisors.com/plan-for-college/scholarships/scholarship-process/winning-a-scholarship/
32. 3 Scholarship Search Mistakes to Avoid | CollegeXpress, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/financial-aid/blog/3-scholarship-search-mistakes-students-should-avoid/
33. 22 Weird Scholarships for Unique Students in 2024 | Going Merry, accessed August 9, 2025, https://goingmerry.com/blog/weird-scholarships/
34. Unusual Scholarships, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-type/unusual-scholarships
35. Weird And Unusual Scholarships – Unigo.com, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/weird
36. Scholarships By Financial Need, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/financial-need
37. Bias Mitigation Ideas & Strategies for Scholarship Application Reviewers – Center for Experiential Learning and Diversity – University of Washington, accessed August 9, 2025, https://expd.uw.edu/scholarships/mitigating-bias-in-scholarship-review-processes/bias-mitigation-ideas-strategies-for-scholarship-application-reviewers-2/
38. Scholarship Essay Tips to Make Your Application Stand Out | Going Merry, accessed August 9, 2025, https://goingmerry.com/blog/scholarship-essay-tips/
39. Scholarship Application Essay Tips | Pierce College District, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/scholarships-essay-tips
40. How to Get a Glowing Letter of Recommendation for College Applications | BigFuture, accessed August 9, 2025, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/apply-to-college/application-process/how-to-get-a-great-letter-of-recommendation
41. 5 Tips for Obtaining a Good Letter of Recommendation for Online High School, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/6-tips-for-obtaining-a-good-letter-of-recommendation-in-online-high-school/
42. bigfuture.collegeboard.org, accessed August 9, 2025, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/apply-to-college/application-process/how-to-get-a-great-letter-of-recommendation#:~:text=Teachers%20who%20know%20you%20outside,about%20your%20skills%20and%20character.
43. Requesting a Letter of … – Financial Aid and Scholarships, accessed August 9, 2025, https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/tips/recommendations
44. Scholarship Recommendation Letter Guidelines – Wake Tech, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.waketech.edu/wake-tech-foundation/ways-give/scott-scholars/recommendation-letter-guidelines
45. Tips for writing strong letters of recommendation | Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards – Center for Experiential Learning and Diversity, accessed August 9, 2025, https://expd.uw.edu/scholarships/faculty-staff/letters-of-recommendation/tips-for-writing-strong-letters-of-recommendation/
46. What not to do on a scholarship application – ihmvcu, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.ihmvcu.org/moneysmarts/money-smarts-blog/2023/12/06/what-not-to-do-on-a-scholarship-application
47. 7 Scholarship Application Mistakes to Avoid: Fund Your Education in 2025, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.stjohns.edu/news-media/johnnies-blog/7-scholarship-application-mistakes-avoid-fund-your-education-2025
48. How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Scholarship, accessed August 9, 2025, https://www.cee.org/about-us/blog/how-increase-your-chances-winning-scholarship