How to Stay Motivated in Your Scholarship Journey
As a student applying for scholarships, it's tempting to think of them as free money that will get you through college. But that's not how it works. Scholarships are not free money; they're investments in your future that require hard work and dedication on your part. When I switched to this mindset, it changed everything for me.
Sade’s Tips for Success:
1. Focus on your goal
Whether it's graduating debt free or getting a high-paying job in your field, remember why you are applying for scholarships & going to school
Set deadlines for yourself, and stick to them. This will help you avoid burnout by avoiding applications building up close to the deadline
Seek community that has the same goal as you whether that be through social media or a friend group (like Sade’s free scholarship advising Discord server)
2. Set realistic expectations
The name of the scholarship game is consistency, so you can't expect to win every scholarship you apply for. That is why it's important to be picky about the scholarships you apply to so you increase your chances of getting them based on relevance
Be realistic about the workload you can take on. It's easy to get overwhelmed by all of the scholarship opportunities out there and feel like you'll never be able to apply for them all. That's okay, not every scholarship is worth applying to
Don't get discouraged if you don't hear back right away from a specific school or organization offering a scholarship award; every organization has its own timeline
BONUS TIP: Don't compare yourself to others in this process. The best scholarship search strategy is to find scholarships that relate to your specific attributes so continue to explore what makes you unique and use it to your advantage.
