Tips for submitting successful scholarship applications

Education & Empowerment
Written By Carol Doane

You've done the hard work. You've learned what judges look for (Link to Post 2), how to separate your application from the pack (Link to Post 3), what happens during final selection (Link to Post 4), what red flags to avoid (Link to Post 5), what qualities make you memorable (Link to Post 6), and created your comprehensive action plan (Link to Post 7).

Now let's talk about the practical, tactical details of actually submitting your Woman of Wonder scholarship application without disqualifying yourself through technical mistakes or overlooked requirements.

This is where attention to detail separates applicants who've worked hard from applicants who actually get considered.

Start early (like, really early)

Woman of Wonder only accepts applications submitted through our online form. The application process opens on January 1.

The deadline to submit will vary, with the due date typically by end-of-day on the last Sunday of spring break for our local school district. For the exact date, check our scholarship page.

Why starting early matters:

  • Gives you time to gather required documents

  • Allows for multiple essay drafts and revisions

  • Protects you if recommenders are slow or forget

  • Prevents last-minute technical issues

  • Reduces stress and panic

Your timeline:

  • January 1: Applications open—start immediately

  • By mid-January: Have first draft complete

  • By late January: Get feedback and revise

  • By early February: Submit (well before actual deadline)

BONUS: to the 7-part series on winning scholarships

Classical painting of a woman with crying child realizing the scholarship application deadline is looming

You've got a lot of things going on, but don't miss the deadline. Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust. 

Include required documents (nothing more, nothing less)

What Woman of Wonder requires

Our scholarship requires exactly two things beyond your completed application:

1. Two letters of recommendation

  • Must be recent (not older than 3 years)

  • From people who can speak to your character, work ethic, and goals

  • Cannot be from family members or friends your age

  • Should come from teachers, employers, mentors, or community leaders

2. Page one of your FAFSA showing your Student Aid Index (SAI)

  • Must clearly show your SAI number

  • Should be a screenshot or PDF of page one

  • Must be legible (judges need to actually read it)

If you cannot provide a FAFSA, email us at scholarships@womanofwonder.org before assuming you can't apply. We may have alternatives for your situation. (Washington State also has a WAFSA).

Follow directions word-for-word

Read the application requirements closely and follow the instructions exactly as written. This isn't the place for creativity or interpretation.

Sobering reality: Over 50% of applications we received in the last five years did not include two recent letters of recommendation and/or page one of their FAFSA. (Dang! You’re disqualified.)

Without these required items, nothing else will get you over the hurdle to be considered. Your application will not be reviewed—period.

It doesn't matter:

  • How compelling your essay is

  • How impressive your GPA is

  • How much you need the scholarship

  • How qualified you are

If required documents are missing, your application stops at the first screening.

This is the easiest way to disqualify yourself. Don't let it happen to you.

Don't include non-required documents

Here's where many well-intentioned applicants actually hurt themselves: they submit materials we didn't ask for, thinking it will help.

It doesn't help. It just mucks up your application and judges hate wading through stuff that doesn’t matter.

What NOT to include

Transcripts We didn't ask for them. Don't send them—even if your grades are awesome.

Resumes Not requested, not needed, not helpful.

Additional personal essays If we wanted multiple essays, we would have asked for them.

Awards or certificates Not requested, keep them for other applications.

Extra letters of recommendation We asked for two. Don't send four thinking more is better. You pick the best two.

Any other materials you think might be important We've provided the information we consider important. Anything else is just fluff and doesn't help you.

Why extra materials hurt your application

It signals you can't follow directions The most basic requirement of any application is reading and following instructions. Submitting unrequested materials immediately tells judges you either:

  • Didn't read the requirements carefully

  • Thought rules didn't apply to you

  • Can't distinguish between what's required and what's optional (ouch)

It wastes judges' time Scholarship committees are volunteers reviewing hundreds of applications. Extra materials clutter your submission and create unnecessary work.

Nobody will read it anyway Judges evaluate based on requested materials only. That transcript you attached? They're not looking at it.

It makes you look desperate or overconfident Either you're trying too hard, or you think you know better than the committee what they should evaluate. Neither is a good look.

Humble brags are encouraged (seriously)

You are the best person to represent yourself. Don't be shy about your accomplishments, goals, and the challenges you've overcome.

This is not the time for false modesty.

Be thoughtful about your personal statement

Your personal statement is the best way to tell the scholarship committee what is driving you to complete your college degree or certificate.

What to include:

1. Your career goal (be specific) Example: "I want to be an elementary school teacher" or "I'm pursuing certification as a medical assistant"

Not: "I want to work with people" or "I'm interested in healthcare"

2. The degree or certificate you're pursuing Example: "BA in Education from Clark College" or "Medical Assistant Certificate from Lower Columbia College"

Not: "I'm taking classes" or "I'm in the nursing program" (unless you're actually in nursing—be accurate)

3. A pivotal moment that changed your life's direction Example: "The day my daughter asked why we didn't have food in the house, I realized I needed to change our future. That's when I enrolled at WSU Vancouver, determined to create the stable life we deserved."

Not: "I've always known education was important" or "I decided to go back to school"

Keep it succinct

Woman of Wonder has word limits for good reason. Respect them.

Succinct doesn't mean boring. Succinct means every word counts. Every sentence moves your story forward. No fluff, no filler, no rambling.

How to be succinct:

  • Start with the most important information

  • Use specific examples, not general statements

  • Remove unnecessary adjectives and adverbs

  • Cut any sentence that doesn't add value

  • Read aloud and eliminate awkward phrasing

Keep it simple and direct

Tell us how you qualify

Don't make judges guess whether you meet our eligibility requirements. State clearly and directly how you qualify for Woman of Wonder scholarships.

Examples of clear qualification statements:

"As a single mom raising two kids while attending Clark College full-time, I represent exactly the woman Woman of Wonder was created to support."

"I was raised by a single mother who worked three jobs to keep us fed and housed. Now I'm fighting to build the financial stability she never had through education at Lower Columbia College."

"I'm on my own, working full-time at Target while taking classes at WSU Vancouver. I have no family financial support—every dollar of tuition comes from my paychecks and whatever financial aid I can secure."

Why this matters: Judges shouldn't have to hunt through your essay looking for evidence you meet eligibility criteria. Make it obvious and impossible to miss.

Don't waste time searching for additional materials

Everything we need to evaluate your application is listed in our requirements. Don't overthink it.

Instead of searching for extra materials, invest that time in:

  • Writing a compelling personal statement

  • Revising and polishing your essay

  • Ensuring your required documents are perfect

  • Proofreading multiple times

  • Getting feedback from trusted reviewers

Quality over quantity always wins.

Don't wait until the last minute to start

Incomplete or late applications are not considered. They are immediately put in the "No" pile and don't get past the first screening process.

No exceptions. No second chances.

Why you need to start early

To be competitive, you need time to:

Chase down letters of recommendation People get busy, forget, or take longer than expected. Starting early gives you time to follow up politely—or find backup recommenders if someone drops the ball.

Complete and upload your FAFSA If you haven't done your FAFSA yet, start immediately. Processing takes time, and you need that screenshot showing your SAI for your scholarship application.

Write about your career goals thoughtfully. Your personal statement deserves careful thought, multiple drafts, and revision. You can't do this the night before the deadline.

Get feedback and revise. First drafts are never your best work. You need time to write, get feedback, revise, and polish.

Handle unexpected problems. Technology fails. People get sick. Life happens. Starting early gives you buffer time for the inevitable surprises.

The cost of procrastination

Real consequences we see every year:

  • Recommender agrees but doesn't follow through in time

  • FAFSA processing delays prevent timely screenshot

  • Technical issues during submission (server crashes, internet problems)

  • Realizing too late that essay needs major revision

  • Missing the deadline by minutes because of last-minute scrambling

All of these are preventable by starting early.

Meet the deadline (it's non-negotiable)

To be considered, your completed application must be submitted on or before the deadline.

"Completed" means:

  • All questions answered

  • Personal statement written and proofread

  • Two letters of recommendation uploaded

  • FAFSA page one screenshot included

  • Student ID and major/minor provided

  • Submitted through the Google Form (our only accepted method)

"On or before" means: Not one minute after. Not "I hit submit, but the internet was slow." Not "Can I email it to you instead?"

The deadline is the deadline.

What happens if you miss it

You've learned a life lesson about deadlines and consequences. Using that lesson, get a head start on next year.

Seriously—we can't make exceptions without being unfair to everyone who met the deadline. Mark your calendar now for January 1 every year until you graduate, and start earlier next time.

If you have questions, contact us

Don't guess. Don't assume. Don't submit something you're unsure about.

We've provided multiple ways to reach us on our Contact page:

Questions we're happy to answer:

  • Can you clarify this requirement?

  • I can't provide a FAFSA—what are my options?

  • Is [specific document] acceptable for [requirement]?

  • Do I qualify if [specific situation]?

  • When is the exact deadline for 2026, 2027, etc?

Questions we can't answer:

  • Will I win if I apply?

  • Can you review my essay before I submit?

  • Can you make an exception to [requirement]?

  • Can I submit after the deadline?

When to contact us: As soon as you have a question. Don't wait until the day before the deadline.

Your final submission checklist

Print this checklist and use it before clicking submit:

Woman of Wonder Submission Checklist

☐ Application Method

  • Submitted through Online Form (only accepted method)

☐ Eligibility Clearly Stated

  • Explained that I'm a single mom, OR

  • Explained that I was raised by a single parent, OR

  • Explained that I'm on my own paying for college

☐ Personal Statement Includes

  • My specific career goal (what I want to be)

  • The degree/certificate I'm pursuing

  • A pivotal moment that changed my direction

  • Succinct writing (respects word count limits)

☐ Required Documents Attached

  • Two recent letters of recommendation (not older than 3 years)

  • Page one of FAFSA showing my SAI number clearly

☐ Required Information Provided

  • Student ID number (if I have one)

  • Intended major (and minor if applicable)

  • Accurate contact information

  • Professional email address

☐ Quality Control

  • Proofread multiple times

  • Had two people review it

  • Waited 24 hours and reviewed with fresh eyes

  • Read aloud to catch errors

  • All uploads are clear and legible

☐ No Extra Materials

  • Did NOT include transcripts

  • Did NOT include resume

  • Did NOT include extra essays

  • Did NOT include materials not requested

☐ Timeline

  • Submitting at least 5-7 days before deadline

  • All recommenders have submitted their letters

  • FAFSA screenshot is ready and the SAI number is readable

Go through this checklist three times

  1. When you think you're finished

  2. After your 24-hour waiting period

  3. Right before clicking submit

You're ready

You've completed our entire 8-week scholarship series. You understand what judges look for, what they don't want to see, what qualities make you memorable, and exactly how to submit your application successfully.

Now it's time to take everything you've learned and create an application that truly represents who you are and why you deserve this opportunity.

We believe in you. We can't wait to read your story.

Remember: Woman of Wonder scholarships exist to support women exactly like you—single moms, women raised by single parents, and women funding college on their own with grit and determination. You belong here. You deserve this chance.

Applications open January 1. Mark your calendar. Start preparing now.

Carol Doane
Next

Your action plan: winning the judges over