Step-by-Step Parent Guide: Supporting Your Student’s Scholarship Application

Scholarship applications have changed rapidly over the past decade. While paper applications still exist, the majority of applications are online. Additionally, there are more opportunities than ever before to get your education funded. However, this comes with an influx of applicants as well.

So, what role does a parent play in the scholarship application process and how can they best support their student?

1)    Use your network to boost your student’s network: Outside of school, a majority of the opportunities a student will have is from a family or friend connection. Find a balance between advocating on your student’s behalf and encouraging them to take the lead in networking! Consider giving your student contact information for different opportunities you know of while allowing them to be the one to reach out.

2)    Recognize their wins, not just their tasks: Scholarship applications can be difficult to complete and can often take multiple hours to complete. Students are balancing these applications along with all of their other responsibilities, which can lead to them feeling overwhelmed. As a parent, it is natural to want to remind them of their deadlines and tasks to complete, but do not forget to praise them for the small wins along the way. It is unlikely that they will receive every scholarship they apply for, so cheer them on through the submittal process. They wrote a new scholarship essay? Win! They submitted an application today? Win! They found 2 new scholarships to apply for? Win!

3)    Familiarize yourself with the scholarship process: The more you understand the requirements of scholarship applications and different types of scholarships, the more equipped you are to give your student advice and help them along the way. Most scholarship applications are accessible without actually submitting it, so feel free to click through the application so you know exactly what your student needs to be successful.

Above everything else, be patient with your student! If you feel overwhelmed by the process, imagine how stressed your student may feel. Scholarship season is best tackled as a partnership, so keep this mindset as you talk to your student.