Hi! I’ve been thinking about applying to this scholarship for a while but looking at it now that I can finally apply (I’m a junior), I feel like my chances are non-existent. But I have a few questions:
Be honest: do you need to have started a non-profit or interned at a huge organization to win? Reading the applicant profiles, it seems like it. Is it possible to at least become a finalist if I haven’t done any of these things? I’ve had an impact on my local community I think.
What is the role of GPA in this process? I have a pretty high GPA that meets the cut-off but how far will that take me? My school also doesn’t offer a ton of AP classes so I’m thinking of attaching my school’s profile to the transcript so they see that. Do you think they’ll consider that?
What role do essays play in the process? Usually, scholarship essays are supposed to show your writing experiences and your personal story. This is the first merit and not need-based scholarship I’ve ever applied to. Is it more important to talk about my accomplishments in every essay or to talk about who I am/personal struggles? I hope that question makes sense.
I’d really appreciate a response to at least one of these long, convoluted questions.