Research Tools
Organize your scholarship research
Track deadlines, look up common terms, and download a document checklist.
Application organizer
Saved only in this browser. Nothing is sent to us.
Downloadable checklist
- Official or unofficial transcript
- Current resume or activities list
- Personal statement or essay drafts
- Two or three recommender contacts
- Financial aid documents if the award is need based
- Proof of enrollment or acceptance letter
- A list of deadlines and submission methods
- Copies of every submitted application
Scholarship terminology glossary
- Award amount
- The sum a sponsor offers. It may be paid once or spread across terms.
- Cost of attendance
- A school's estimate of tuition, fees, housing, and other education costs for a year.
- Deadline
- The final date a sponsor accepts applications. Some use postmark dates, others use receipt dates.
- Merit-based
- Awarded mainly on achievement, such as grades, talent, or leadership.
- Need-based
- Awarded mainly on financial circumstances.
- Renewable
- An award that may continue in later years if conditions are met.
- Stacking
- Receiving more than one award at once. Some schools adjust other aid when this happens.
- Transcript
- An official record of courses and grades from a school.