
← All workshop plans Scholarship search 101 45 minutes · Juniors and seniors, in a classroom or a lunch session. Works for 5 students or 100. Students learn to judge a scholarship by how much work it takes, leave with five they can act on this week, and know the signs of a scam. Goals Students can read an effort score and the requirements list on a scholarship page. Each student leaves with five scholarships written down, with deadlines. Students can name three signs of a scholarship scam. Before you start A projector or screen with internet, and the site open on the home page. One printed worksheet per student (below), or have them copy it into a notes app. Optional: open the scholarship finder in the counselor section and have a search ready for your school's state and your seniors' graduation year. Agenda (45 minutes) A question to start · 5 min Ask: would you rather spend three hours on a 500-word essay for $500, or ten minutes on a form for $1,000? Take a show of hands, then explain that most students pick the same way once they can see the work up front, and that is what the effort score is for. Show the site · 10 min Tap one of the quick picks (Quick to apply, No essay, No letters) and show the list narrowing. Open one scholarship page. Point out the effort score, the list of what the application asks for, the deadline and the Last verified date. Click the apply link and show that it goes to the sponsor's own page, never to a middleman. Students find their five · 15 min Each student finds five scholarships: three quick ones, one moderate and one bigger stretch. They fill in the worksheet: name, deadline, effort score and what to prepare. Walk the room and help students who don't know their GPA, their intended major or whether their family has financial need. Spotting scams · 8 min Put three red flags on the board: a fee to apply, a promise that you've already won, and a request for a bank account or Social Security number. Remind students that a real scholarship never makes you pay to receive the money. Make a plan · 7 min Students put the five deadlines in their phone calendar before they leave. Each picks one task for this week, such as asking a teacher for a letter or writing a first draft. Show how to save scholarships and sign up for a deadline reminder with just an email. Points to make A smaller award with far fewer applicants can be a better bet than a famous one everyone applies to. An effort score of 80 or more means a form or one short essay. A score under 40 is a major project, so plan for it. Always confirm the deadline and rules on the sponsor's page before submitting. Dates change from year to year. Starting with the quick ones builds momentum, and the essay you write for one can often be reused for another. After the session Check in two weeks later: how many have they started or finished? Post the handout from the counselor section in your office or on your school's page. Repeat the session each fall for the new senior class. Related How scholarship matching works Avoiding scholarship scams Printable handout Student worksheet: My first five scholarships Find five at Scholarship Tracker: three quick ones (80+), one moderate (60 to 79) and one stretch. Open the printable worksheet

Scholarship search 101

45 minutes · Juniors and seniors, in a classroom or a lunch session. Works for 5 students or 100.

Students learn to judge a scholarship by how much work it takes, leave with five they can act on this week, and know the signs of a scam.

Goals

Students can read an effort score and the requirements list on a scholarship page.
Each student leaves with five scholarships written down, with deadlines.
Students can name three signs of a scholarship scam.

Before you start

A projector or screen with internet, and the site open on the home page.
One printed worksheet per student (below), or have them copy it into a notes app.
Optional: open the scholarship finder in the counselor section and have a search ready for your school's state and your seniors' graduation year.

Agenda (45 minutes)

A question to start · 5 min
- Ask: would you rather spend three hours on a 500-word essay for $500, or ten minutes on a form for $1,000?
- Take a show of hands, then explain that most students pick the same way once they can see the work up front, and that is what the effort score is for.
Show the site · 10 min
- Tap one of the quick picks (Quick to apply, No essay, No letters) and show the list narrowing.
- Open one scholarship page. Point out the effort score, the list of what the application asks for, the deadline and the Last verified date.
- Click the apply link and show that it goes to the sponsor's own page, never to a middleman.
Students find their five · 15 min
- Each student finds five scholarships: three quick ones, one moderate and one bigger stretch.
- They fill in the worksheet: name, deadline, effort score and what to prepare.
- Walk the room and help students who don't know their GPA, their intended major or whether their family has financial need.
Spotting scams · 8 min
- Put three red flags on the board: a fee to apply, a promise that you've already won, and a request for a bank account or Social Security number.
- Remind students that a real scholarship never makes you pay to receive the money.
Make a plan · 7 min
- Students put the five deadlines in their phone calendar before they leave.
- Each picks one task for this week, such as asking a teacher for a letter or writing a first draft.
- Show how to save scholarships and sign up for a deadline reminder with just an email.

Points to make

A smaller award with far fewer applicants can be a better bet than a famous one everyone applies to.
An effort score of 80 or more means a form or one short essay. A score under 40 is a major project, so plan for it.
Always confirm the deadline and rules on the sponsor's page before submitting. Dates change from year to year.
Starting with the quick ones builds momentum, and the essay you write for one can often be reused for another.

After the session

Check in two weeks later: how many have they started or finished?
Post the handout from the counselor section in your office or on your school's page.
Repeat the session each fall for the new senior class.

Student worksheet: My first five scholarships

Find five at Scholarship Tracker: three quick ones (80+), one moderate (60 to 79) and one stretch.

Open the printable worksheet