Scholarships ask for evidence of achievement and/or need in three area: Academics, Financial, and Community Service. Following are examples of evidence for Academic Achievement:High GPA or class rank (for example, being in the top 10% of your class) as evidenced by transcriptsAdvanced or rigorous courses you completed, such as AP, IB, honors, A‑levels, or dual-enrollment college coursesStrong standardized test scores (when required), like SAT, ACT, or other entrance testsAcademic awards and honors, such as honor roll, Dean’s list, National Honor Society, subject prizes, or “Student of the Year” in a classSuccess in academic competitions: math or science Olympiads, debate, writing contests, robotics, science fairs, etc.Significant research projects or extended essays, especially if they were presented, published, or supervised by a teacher or professorScholarships or academic achievement awards you have already earned from your school or outside organizationsStrong performance in prerequisite or core courses related to the field you want to study (for example, high grades in biology and chemistry for a pre-med programsFollowing are examples of evidence of Financial Need:Common evidence of financial need for scholarship applications includes:FAFSA results / Student Aid Index (SAI)
Many U.S. scholarships use your FAFSA data to determine eligibility. A copy of your FAFSA submission confirmation or your official SAI/"EFC" from the school’s financial aid office is strong evidenceOther Tax documents like Federal and state income tax returns (IRS Form 1040), especially pages showing income and signaturesFirst Generation Status (You would be the first in your family to either attend or graduate with a technical or college degree)Mitigating Costs like “out of state” travel or other costs associated with attendanceProof of special circumstances (if applicable)Divorce or separation agreements affecting supportMedical bills or documentation of significant health expensesDocumentation of death of a parent/guardian, natural disaster losses, or other hardships. These explain why income alone doesn’t reflect your true financial situationFollowing are examples of evidence of Community Service:Official letters of recommendation or verificationSigned by a supervisor, coordinator, or staff member from the organizationInclude: your name, dates of service, number of hours, specific tasks, and a brief description of impactSome scholarships explicitly require two such letters.wdcOrganization intake or completion formsSome programs (e.g., youth service groups, volunteer centers) provide a form that confirms your participation and hours.These can be scanned and submitted as PDFs.Documentation of your serviceVolunteer log or service journalA simple table or spreadsheet with: date, organization, hours, activities, and brief notes on what you did and who you helpedMany students keep this in a notebook or digital document; make sure it’s consistent with letters from supervisorsAttendance or participation recordsSign-in sheets, registration lists, or event rosters that show you were present.Club or group meeting notes that mention your involvement.
