Scholarship Requirements

Receiving a scholarship is an honor. It means being recognized by a company, high school, or community organization for your achievements.

You may have received a scholarship based on your cultural background or academic ability. Your scholarships might be a reward for a good essay or for community service. Once you receive a scholarship, you'll certainly want to keep it. Use the following tips to be sure your achievement continues to benefit you throughout your educational program.

Mind the Details
Some scholarships are awarded only once, and others are renewable every year you're in school. If you collected transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other information when you first applied for your scholarship, keep the information in case you need it again the following year. Be sure you know your scholarship's terms and conditions, and stay in touch with the donor.

Keep It Up
Merit-based scholarships, offered based on your performance in any number of fields and regardless of your financial circumstances, might have specific requirements for keeping the scholarship. You donor may ask that you complete community service hours, maintain a minimum GPA, or take certain classes within your major. Contact your donor for specific information on your merit-based scholarship's requirements.

Know Your Options
Unlike some grants and loans, you're allowed to receive many different scholarships at once, and sometimes for amounts larger than your educational expenses. If you decide to apply for multiple scholarships, be sure to stay organized. Each individual scholarship may have slightly different deadlines and requirements. You'll want to keep deadlines, forms, requirements, and all other paperwork in one place. Using a desk calendar or software program with automatic date and deadline reminders can make life easier.

Be proud of your scholarships and include them on your resume. Take the time to learn about your scholarships, and they can benefit you even when the monetary benefits cease.