January 13 2022

Quick Guide: Preparing to Apply for Scholarships

Niccole Miller, Ph.D., MBA SSC Monthly Newsletter

The semester has started and you may be thinking . . . how can I pay for it? UCO offers many scholarships that you can access through the UCO Scholarship Portal starting Tuesday, Jan. 18. The application deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. Before the portal opens, we wanted to provide a “quick guide” of some helpful tips to get you on the right path when applying for scholarships.

QUICK GUIDE TIPS:

Obtain a Copy of Your Transcript
- You can get a copy of your unofficial transcript from UCONNECT (Academics Tab –> Registration Tools –> After Enrollment –> Unofficial Academic Transcripts)
- If you have a hold, the scholarship portal will guide you through an acceptable way to upload a transcript
Prepare Your Resume
- Many applications ask for a resume; however, even if you’re not asked to attach one, the process will help prepare you for other questions that will be asked
- Schedule an appointment to meet with our business career consultant, Jordan Scribner
- Resources for preparing your resume:
  - Resume and Cover Letter Guide
  - O*Net
Practice Writing (essays)
- Many scholarships ask you to provide a written response to a prompt. It’s helpful to begin writing a few sample responses.
- Essays types include:
  - Short answer (e.g., place of birth, number of hours you plan to enroll in, classification, major, when you plan to graduate)
  - Common essay prompts include:
    - Writing about your financial need (How will this scholarship help you?)
    - Why did you choose the degree you are pursuing, and how will it help you reach your goals?
    - What was your most memorable leadership experience and why?
    - Personal statement (academic interest, civic involvement and how they relate to your career goals)
    - Share information about your work history
    - Demonstrated excellence in a particular area (e.g., sales competitions, internship experience, leadership)
    - What are your career goals? What type(s) of career(s) are you pursuing?
    - Share information about involvement in other activities on/off campus (e.g., clubs/orgs, advisory board, student government, etc.)
Know the Scholarship Application Deadline
- Do your research. Keep track of your deadlines. Mark your calendars. Put reminders on your personal devices. Don’t wait until the last minute.
- Give yourself a few days before the closing date to have enough time to proofread your application.
- The scholarship portal opens at 8 a.m. January 18 and closes at 4 p.m. February 11.
Attachments (common)
- Resume
- Transcript
- STLR Snapshot
- Certificates (if applicable)
- Writing Samples
- Written Essay Responses
- Letter of recommendations
  - You may need one or two recommendations for any scholarships you qualify for
  - You could ask your employer, a former professor or another credible person (depending on what is required of the scholarship)
Other Important Tips
- DO APPLY! There are so many scholarships available.
- Explore scholarships. Read the scholarship application in detail. Make sure you qualify for all the requirements.
- Get a second pair of eyes. Ask a friend, professor or business scholarship coordinator to read through your application.
- Visit the Scholarship Portal for a how-to video on navigating the site.
- Don’t just apply to one scholarship. The more you apply for, the more chances you have.
- Fill out the qualifying scholarship application within the portal. Completing this application will help determine which scholarships you qualify for.
  - Once you’ve completed your application, go to your My Opportunities tab to see the list of scholarships.