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Scholarship Secrets

Tips to consider when applying for college funding

Scholarship Secrets


November 2008

If you’re like most high school students, just thinking about the cost of college is overwhelming. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the amount you’ll have to pay for your education.

One of the best things you can do while still in high school is apply for scholarships, which translates to free money for college. As an FFA member, you have the opportunity to apply for scholarships that are only available to FFA members.

Here’s the really exciting part: Every year, the National FFA Organization awards about $2 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 students. In 2008, FFA doled out more than $2.2 million to some 1,600 college-bound members.

How can you tap into that money, you ask? For starters, strive to make good grades. But keep in mind, grades aren’t the only factor judges consider. Your community service, FFA involvement, leadership skills and supervised agricultural experience program (SAE) are all important, too.

To learn more about the 2009 FFA scholarship program, visit http://www.ffa.org after Nov. 15, 2008, where you can apply online. The deadline to apply is Feb. 17, 2009.

“Scholarships are available to high school seniors and students already in college,” says Teri Buchholtz, a program manager of the National FFA Organization’s Awards and Recognition Team. “Students are eligible to receive one scholarship while a high school senior and a second while they are in college.”

To give the application process your best shot, Buchholtz offers these tips:

1. Start early.
“Allow plenty of time in case you need to contact our office due to problems with the application or questions not answered on the website,” Buchholtz says.

2. Read the instructions.
You’ll save yourself a headache later on if you read the instructions and Frequently Asked Questions before you start. “The FAQs address things like who can apply, how you’ll be notified and more,” Buchholtz says. “The Important Notes section answers questions about the application itself – how to navigate the form, what information is optional versus required, as well as steps needed to complete the application.”

3. Don’t ramble.
Be thorough, but also be brief. Keep in mind that text fields have a limited number of characters available for answers.

4. Proofread.
“Grammar and spelling checks are not available on the application,” Buchholtz says. “Consider typing essay-style answers on a separate document where they can be proofed. Then copy and paste them into the form.”

5. NOTIFY YOUR ADVISOR.
“FFA applications need advisor approval,” Buchholtz says. “Allow time for your advisor to review your application in case changes are needed.”



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The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit ffa.org