This article will explore the exciting journey of mastering time management for
scholarship applications! Effective time management is essential in empowering
busy parents and their college-bound students to navigate the scholarship
process easily and successfully. Let’s dive in!

1. Set Specific Goals: Break down the scholarship application process into manageable
   steps, such as researching scholarships, gathering materials (transcripts,
   recommendation letters), and writing the essay. Set deadlines for each step to keep
   yourself on track. Here is an easy-to-follow Weekly Scholarship Time Management
   Schedule.

Sunday – Planning & Organization

1–2 Hours: Plan & Organize the Week

• Review the scholarship opportunities you’re applying for, including deadlines and
• requirements.
• Set weekly goals (e.g., complete an essay, request a recommendation letter,
• submit one application).
• Update your scholarship tracking sheet/spreadsheet with deadlines, materialsneeded, and status of your applications.
• Break down larger tasks into smaller steps (e.g., “Draft intro paragraph for essay” or “Finalize recommendation letter request”).

Monday – Scholarship Research & Essay Writing

1 Hour: Research New Scholarships

• Dedicate time to finding new scholarships for the week. Use scholarship search engines, and check for any local opportunities from businesses or community organizations.

1–2 Hours: Work on Scholarship Essays

• Write or revise scholarship essays. Aim to finish a draft for one essay by the end of the session.
• Focus on one essay per session. Break it into smaller tasks (e.g., brainstorming, outlining, writing, revising).

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Tuesday – Essay Writing & Application Preparation

1 Hour: Essay Review & Revision

• Review and revise the scholarship essay you worked on Monday. Consider asking a teacher or family member to give feedback.

1 Hour: Prepare Application Materials

• Gather and review any application materials you need (e.g., resume, transcript, recommendation letters). Ensure everything is up-to-date.

Wednesday – Recommendation Letters & Networking

1 Hour: Request Recommendation Letters

• Reach out to teachers, mentors, or community leaders for recommendation letters. Be polite and give them ample time (at least 2–3 weeks).
• Provide them with your resume and any scholarship-specific information to help them write a strong letter.

1 Hour: Work on Additional Essays

• Continue working on scholarship essays. You could also start drafting personal statements if they’re needed for multiple applications.

Thursday – Application & Scholarship Submission

1 Hour: Submit Scholarships

• If you have any scholarships due soon, aim to submit them today. Double-check that all materials (essays, recommendation letters, transcript) are uploaded.

1 Hour: Work on Scholarship Essay #2

• Keep working through scholarship essays. Aim to finish one more by the end of the session.

Friday – Follow-up & Reflection

1 Hour: Follow-up on Applications

• Check the status of applications you’ve submitted (confirm they’ve been received, follow up on recommendations if needed).

1 Hour: Reflect and Plan

• Reflect on what you’ve accomplished during the week. Make adjustments to your plan if certain tasks need more time or attention.
• Set your goals for the upcoming week.

Saturday – Free Time/Buffer Time

• Use this day as a buffer for catching up on any scholarship work you didn’t complete during the week.
• 1–2 Hours (Optional): Relax and Recharge
• Use the weekend to relax, recharge, and spend time with friends or family.
• Balance is important to avoid burnout.

Dedicate Focused Time Blocks: Set aside specific blocks of time for
scholarship work. Limit distractions during these periods and focus solely on
completing applications. Even 30-to 60-minute intervals of deep focus can
make a big difference.

Prioritize Scholarships: Start with scholarships with the earliest deadlines or
higher value. Prioritize those with fewer requirements and shorter essays to get
them out of the way first.

Batch Similar Tasks: If you must write multiple essays or gather the same
materials for different scholarships, do them all simultaneously. This approach
saves time and energy by minimizing switching between tasks.

Use Templates: Create a template for recurring components like personal
statements or essays that you can tweak for each scholarship. This way, you
don’t have to start from scratch every time. The length of a personal statement
for a scholarship application can vary depending on the specific scholarship
requirements. However, most scholarship personal statements are typically
around 500 to 1,000 words. For assistance with personal statements, Many
teachers, especially English and writing teachers, are happy to help students
with scholarship essays. They can provide feedback on structure, grammar,
and clarity.

Discover a wealth of inspiration by visiting Scholarships.com! Head over to the
student resource tab, where you’ll find an array of sample personal statements
designed to spark your creativity and help you craft a standout application.
Don’t miss out!

Stay Organized: Keep all scholarship materials organized in one place (digital
or physical). This will help you quickly access everything you need, saving you
time in the long run. See samples below.

Create a Scholarship Tracking Spreadsheet

What to Include:

• Scholarship name
• Deadline date
• Eligibility criteria (GPA, activities, etc.)
• Materials required (essay, transcript, recommendation letters, etc.)
• Status (In progress, submitted, awarded)
• Notes or special instructions

How to Use It:

• Update the spreadsheet every time you find a new scholarship.
• Mark deadlines in bold to highlight the most urgent ones.
• Use color-coding for quick reference (e.g., green for completed, yellow for in progress, red for approaching deadlines).

Create Separate Folders for Each Scholarship

Digital Folders:

• Create a folder on your computer or cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) with the scholarship name.
• Within each folder, save:
• Application forms
• Essay drafts and final versions
• Recommendation letters
• Proof of eligibility (e.g., transcripts, test scores)
• Any communication (emails with scholarship providers, submission confirmation, etc.)
• Keep these folders organized in a way that makes sense to you—whether by category, date, or scholarship name.

Physical Folders:

• If you prefer paper copies, create a binder or folder with tabs for each scholarship.
• Keep printed materials (applications, essays, recommendation letters) neatly organized by scholarship.

Set Up a Deadline Calendar or Planner

Digital Calendar:

• Use Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or any planner app to mark important scholarship deadlines.
• Set up reminders several days or a week in advance so you can prepare all materials beforehand.

Physical Planner:

• If you prefer a paper planner, dedicate a section to scholarship deadlines.
• Use sticky notes or highlighters to make important dates stand out.

Use a “To-Do” List System

Daily/Weekly Lists:

• Make a list of scholarship tasks to complete each day or week, such as drafting essays, reviewing recommendation letters, or submitting applications.
• Keep the list in your planner, notebook, or as a digital checklist (e.g., Google Keep, Todoist, or Trello).

Break Down Tasks:

• For large tasks (like writing an essay), break them down into smaller, manageable steps (e.g., brainstorming, outlining, first draft, revisions).

Track Application Progress

Application Submission Status:

• Create a simple table or section in your tracking spreadsheet to mark the status of each scholarship (e.g., “Not Started,” “In progress,” “Submitted”).

Follow-Up Dates:

• If a scholarship requires additional follow-up (e.g., confirmation of submission, interview), include these follow-up dates and notes in your tracking system.

Keep a Digital Backup

Scan Physical Materials:

• If you keep physical documents (e.g., printed essays, hard-copy transcripts), make sure to scan or take pictures of them so you have a backup in case anything is lost.

Create Templates:

• For repetitive materials like personal statements or resumes, keep a master template that you can quickly adapt for different scholarships.

Organize Recommendation Letters

Ask Early:

• Request recommendation letters well in advance (at least 2-3 weeks). Keep a list of which teachers or mentors you’ve asked, and when they confirm, they’ll write them.

Share Necessary Information:

• Provide your recommenders with a detailed list of scholarships you’re applying for, as well as any specific requirements for the letter.

Track Submitted Letters:

• Confirm when your recommenders submit the letters, and keep a record of submission status (e.g., “Letter submitted to Scholarship X”).

Create a “Scholarship Checklist”

For Each Scholarship:

• Make a checklist of all required materials (essay, resume, recommendation letter, transcript, etc.).
• Check off items as you complete them.
• Review the checklist before submission to ensure you haven’t missed anything.

Use Your Network

Reach out to family through texts or emails about any available scholarships
Connecting with college advisors and teachers is a great idea too. Many fast
food and retail jobs offer scholarships, so don’t hesitate to ask at your
workplace. Also, chat with friends in college about the scholarships they’ve
applied for!

Follow up

It’s a great idea to send friendly follow-up calls and emails to confirm that
your scholarship application has been received. Many applicants miss this
crucial step, and a simple follow-up can make a real difference. Don’t forget,
check your spam folder too! Your effort could pay off!

By following these strategies, you’ll stay organized, reduce stress, and increase your
chances of completing multiple scholarships efficiently!

Omoyele Mcintosh is the founder of Fan Family Inc., a New York City-based service that
focuses on college preparedness. She’s worked with countless parents and students,
aiding them through the college process. She specifically exposes middle and high
school students to both Ivy League and HBCU colleges through annual college campus
tours. She serves as a resource by providing scholarship information and assistance
with the FAFSA.

Contact:
Follow Fan Family Inc. on Instagram @FanFamilyInc