HOW TO FIND AND APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships are a fantastic way to fund your education without incurring debt.¹⁰ Follow these steps to streamline the process and maximize your chances of being awarded a scholarship: 

Step 1: Search for Scholarships That Fit You

1. Identify scholarships based on your qualifications, including:
   • Grade point average.
   • Life experience (i.e. being first born, raised by single parent, being a parent yourself, etc.).
   • Field of study.
   • Demographic criteria (e.g., age, ethnicity, gender, location).
   • Career interests.
   • Military or veteran status.
2. Use scholarship search websites:
   • Scholarships.com
   • TechForce Foundation
   • FastWeb
   • GoingMerry
   • BigFuture
   • Scholarship Universe
3. Discover scholarships and grants offered by UTI
   • Scroll to the bottom of the page to see what’s available

Tip: Apply for smaller scholarships as they often have fewer applicants, increasing your chances of success.

Step 2: Build Strong Connections with Mentors

1. Ask mentors (e.g., teachers, managers, coaches or other professionals) for letters of recommendation.
2. Provide helpful materials to your mentors, such as:
   • Your resume.
   • Key achievements and personal strengths.
   • Educational and career goals.

Tip: Request letters well in advance to give mentors sufficient time.

Step 3: Stay Organized

1. Create a simple spreadsheet to track:
   • Scholarship names.
   • Deadlines.
   • Requirements (e.g., essays, letters of recommendation, transcripts).
2. Update your spreadsheet regularly to stay on top of deadlines and required submissions.

 Step 4: Get Personal with Your Essays

1. Read essay prompts carefully and write unique responses for each scholarship you apply for.
2. Plan your essay:
   • Brainstorm ideas.
   • Create an outline.
   • Write a draft and revise.
3. Proofread for spelling and grammar errors using tools like Grammarly or ask a trusted person to review. 

Tip: Personalize essays to reflect your character and goals—generic essays may not stand out.

Step 5: Maintain a Positive Online Presence

1. Clean up your social media profiles. Although your online presence does not relate to the actual scholarship application, it may play a role in whether you’re selected for a scholarship.
   • Remove or privatize content that could appear unprofessional.
   • Avoid posts that may harm your image.
2. Set up Google Alerts for your name to monitor your online reputation.

 Step 6: Seek Professional Help

1. If you’re struggling, reach out to your school’s financial aid office or a dedicated scholarship advisor.
2. At Universal Technical Institute (UTI), the Financial Aid Department can help with:
   • Identifying scholarships.
   • Navigating applications.
   • Answering questions.

For UTI students who need further assistance, contact us at (800) 859-7249 or email scholarships@uti.edu.