No! Most scholarships actually receive many applications each year.

The myth you’ve heard usually refers to unused employee tuition benefits—special programs offered by companies to their employees. These are not open scholarships for the general public, but benefits that go unclaimed simply because employees at those companies did not use them.

So while scholarships are competitive, the good news is: with preparation, persistence, and the right match, you can greatly improve your chances of success.

You are hearing from scholarship search services, and there are probably thousands of these companies around these days. Be aware that the company itself does not and cannot offer you a scholarship. They merely take basic information about yourself (and a fee) and promise to provide you with names and addresses of organizations that sponsor scholarships for which you are eligible. It’s then up to you to write for an application and complete and send the application on time. Then you wait to hear the results of the competition.

Most of these services are reputable, but fraudulent scholarship search companies do exist.  The difference is that legitimate companies  can never guarantee or promise you scholarships.  Please access the websites listed here, or check out scholarship directories: they are free!

Think of this essay as your opportunity to sell yourself. Since most scholarship competitions don’t include personal interviews, your written words are often the only way a committee gets to know you.

What committees DO like to hear about:

• Your enthusiasm for your major and career goals

• Any special challenges or obstacles you’ve overcome to reach college

• Events, mentors, or role models that shaped your goals

• Your community service and dedication to helping others

• The positive influence of family or culture on your ambitions

What committees DON’T want to hear:

• Generic statements about how poor you are (they want to see resilience, not pity)

• Overused clichés about the importance of education (e.g., “A mind is a terrible thing to waste”)

• Vague or general comments — be specific and personal!

Tip: Be authentic, be detailed, and let your passion come through. This is your chance to portray yourself at your best—on paper.

A strong letter of recommendation should come from someone who knows your academic abilities and character in a meaningful way. At UWC, recommendations are expected from:

Preferred recommenders:

• A UWC professor, instructor, or academic advisor who can evaluate your:

  • Academic performance

  • Motivation and work ethic

  • Personal strengths

  • Career or educational goals

If you are new to UWC:

• A teacher, counselor, or faculty member from your previous institution (high school, community college, or another university) is acceptable.

Not accepted:

• Family members

• Employers

• Close friends

These are discouraged because they do not provide an academic or professional evaluation of your qualifications.

A comfortable length is one to two typed pages. However, there is no strict limit:

• If you have a compelling and engaging story, we will gladly read 4–5 pages.

• Please do not exceed 5 pages.

• Do not restrict your essay to the small space on the back of the application — that is far too short to adequately express yourself.

Focus on clarity, personal insight, and authenticity rather than word count.

UWC does not offer athletic scholarships. Instead, we provide Athletic Grants-in-Aid (GIA).

• These are awarded directly by the coach of each particular sport.

• If you wish to be considered for an athletic GIA, you should:

  1. Contact the coach of your sport, or

  2. Visit the Athletics Office (PE 102) for more information.

It depends on the instructions:

• Typewritten required: Some applications specify that they must be typed — in this case, handwriting will not be accepted.

• Handwriting allowed: If permitted, make sure to:

  • Write neatly in black ink.

  • Ensure your application can be copied clearly and legibly.

Important:

• Applications that are messy, hard to read, or contain spelling/typo errors may go unreviewed.

• Always have someone proofread your application before submitting.