<p>(cross-posted from “scholarships and financial aid”, where it wasn’t getting any response)</p>
<p>The Linda Lael Miller scholarship (<a href=“http://www.lindalaelmiller.com)%5B/url%5D”>www.lindalaelmiller.com)</a>, for example, gives away “$10,000 per year”, but asks you to:</p>
<h1>Apply by submitting an official application form, along with a 500-word maximum typewritten essay conveying:</h1>
<ul>
<li>Why you are applying for a Linda Lael Miller Scholarship;</li>
<li>The specific purpose for which you would use the funds;</li>
<li>How achieving your educational goal(s) will enhance your future;</li>
<li>The dollar amount you are seeking in a Linda Lael Miller scholarship;</li>
</ul>
<p>Last year, she had 6 winners. Does this mean I should apply for $2000 or so? Should I go high or low? (Any parents out there with experience in this sort of thing?)</p>
<p>not sure if this is an exact analogy, but it sounds to me a lot like writing a grant proposal (I do a LOT of those!) </p>
<p>In the case of grants, whatever the project is that you are requesting funding for needs to be explained in a compelling way, and the expenses that you wish the funds to cover must be clearly connected to the project. So, IMO the hint here is “the specific purpose for which you would use the funds.” If you can isolate something specific (and compelling: that’s what the other questions are asking) and you have a clear sense of its cost, that might help you decide on how much $$ to request. </p>
<p>A request of $2,000 might be a good starting point, given what you know about the past giving history of this particular scholarship. But it COULD go either way. On the one hand, there might be a smaller, more targeted, request that will really make a difference for you (and a more modest request, well-crafted, could really make that case). On the other hand, you might have a big, bold vision that would result in a much larger request. And remember, the donor might choose to fund you at a lower level than your request but is most unlikely to give you more.</p>
<p>And if you can get hold of any other information about this scholarship – its history, the donor’s interests particular interests, etc that might very well give you additional insight into how to frame your application.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for the information!</p>
<p>The goal is to put together about $20,000 in schlolarships (if not more) by June 2008, starting today. I’ve isolated about 15 so far that I’m going to fill out over the year, and have just started looking. </p>
<p>I’m a nontraditional college junior, trying to fund a senior year, so my options are a bit limited (ie, I can’t do any high school scholarships, etc.) So, I guess my “vision” could be that this scholarship would pay for 10% of my expenses? Or that it would pay for 1/3 of one quarter? Or for textbooks only? Room only? Board only? </p>
<p>Any ideas?</p>
<p>Why don’t you start with your $20,000 budget and look at the items that it covers? Here’s where it becomes even more useful to think about the donor’s interests (if you can dig that out) or the history of the scholarship. Is it related to your major or the field you plan to work in? Are there unusual expenses related to your study? labs or equipment, or other specialized gear? Can this scholarship help you match funds you’ve already secured, in other words, ensure that at least one piece of your puzzle is completed. </p>
<p>Again using the grant analogy, many donors like to see evidence of other funding sources and also look closely at issues related to sustainability and capacity-building. Obviously, if you are able to secure the scholarships you need, you are building your capacity for the future (completed education=greater employment opportunity, etc). The sustainability question is a little trickier, and in this context relates more to whether you’ll be able to raise the funds you need to get you where you want to go. So if you can demonstrate other sources of funds (either committed, or indicate “requests pending”), that will help your case. </p>
<p>I would definitely try to pick a number $$ that equals something specific rather than a percentage of the total expenses. For example, what is room/board for one term? or books for the whole year? or XX number of courses at $$ XX per credit hour?) This makes it much more tangible for the donor, when they can actually visualize more concretely exactly how their money will be spent and what its impact will be. </p>
<p>By the way, I don’t know what your career goals or post-grad plans are, but if your research and applications are successful in attracting the level and number of scholarships you’re looking for, you will be learning many of the skills required for grantwriting, and that can be a very lucrative skill – in whatever field of interest you’re employed in the future.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate it. :)</p>
<p>Yeah, I think I’ll pose it as paying for books and supplies for the entire year—I think another student did that in her application and succeeded. Thanks so much for yourh help!</p>
<p>Can I PM you when I get some good “sample” statement-of-purpose type essays for a critique?</p>