Applying for Low Competition Scholarships
It can be tempting to apply exclusively for scholarships that are worth a large amount of money,
but those are generally going to be VERY competitive and your odds of winning them are going
to be much smaller. Consider applying for some low competition scholarships, too!
Three Big Benefits of Applying for Smaller Scholarships
1. Large scholarships often attract thousands, possibly tens of thousands of applicants,
while smaller scholarships tend to have fewer applicants, increasing your chances of
winning.
2. Many smaller scholarships are designed for specific demographics, majors, interests, or
even hobbies. This can make you a stronger candidate for them!
3. Winning multiple smaller scholarships can equal or even surpass the value of one large
scholarship.
Scholarship Search Strategy
Apply for a mix of large and small scholarships to increase your overall chances. We’re not
saying you should not apply for the big ones, just that you might find the smaller ones more
accessible.
Focus on those scholarships that align with your unique background, interests, or intended field
of study. Read the description of each and determine how likely you are to win.
Keep track of deadlines and requirements to ensure you don’t miss out on any opportunities.
Be sure to mark each in your Scholarship Matches list as Favorite , Applied , Won ,
or Deleted so you will stay organized and can easily continue the search and apply process
when you return to Scholarships.com. View the screen-shot on the next page for an example.
Smaller scholarships allow you to personalize your application more, making it easier to stand
out. This may include an essay requirement. Unless the provider requires a unique essay, you
may be able to use one essay for more than one application. Regardless, while more time and
effort is required, this can be a great opportunity to stand out and win.
It’s important to find scholarships that are tailored to you and you can create a profile on
Scholarships.com in around five minutes. You will likely get matched to 100-200 scholarships,
many of which will be those smaller, less competitive scholarships that are a bit more accessible
and for which you stand a better chance of winning. You can sort by dollar amount, too! Check
out a few scholarships that are $1,000 - $3,000 and you might find them to be much less
competitive. Search early and often; we update our database constantly, with new scholarships
being added daily. As always, contact us with any questions you may have!