My Core Principles for Winning Scholarships: How I Secured $140k in Offers to Fund My Master of Laws Degree in the U.S.

Introduction

I have 13+ years of successfully navigating the world of academic funding. Some of it I've talked about on this blog. I've secured multiple scholarships, negotiated financial aid, and explored less conventional pathways such as crowdfunding. I share my experiences here as I'd like to help more people access the education they need to improve their lives.

There's a debate as to what comes first – thoughts or actions – and whether it’s more important to think a certain way or to act. I believe it's not a linear cause-and-effect relationship; thoughts and actions feed into each other in a continuous loop. It’s circular rather than linear.

You can act despite your beliefs. However, the problem is that certain beliefs may prevent you from taking actions that could move you closer to your dreams. Over the years, I've noticed that addressing how I think can have an outsized impact on how I act. Many people who seek my advice feel stuck, not because they lack options but because their beliefs prevent them from taking action that'd lead them to the life they want. That’s why, in this post, I focus on both.

I've found that one of the most powerful ways to conquer limiting beliefs is to recognize their partial truth. In some scenarios, they are true. Their character as half-truths is what makes them so persuasive.

I talk about my strategies for funding in depth in my Ultimate Guide to Funding Your Master's Degree. Here, I'll discuss some of the principles I’ve found helpful in my funding search. These principles are applicable to large degree programs such as a master's or a PhD, as well as shorter study abroad opportunities.

1. Nothing is ever wasted

In the context of applications, each unsuccessful attempt brings you closer to one that will succeed. I often reuse parts of past applications for future ones, making each step valuable. Nothing is ever wasted. It's just a matter of reps it takes.

2. Failure is a stepping stone to success.

Alternatively: There is no failure, only feedback.

Most people dramatically underestimate the effort needed to succeed. It’s not their fault: We are surrounded by messages of ‘overnight success,' where the work that other people had to do to actually achieve something largely remains unseen. The truth, however, is that to become good at something you usually need to be bad at it. Applications are no exception, and crafting successful ones requires time and effort. I am very open talking about my failures, because I know that they made me as successful as I am now.

3. There are more scholarships than you probably have time to apply for

Your eligibility for opportunities will largely depend on the demographic parameters you didn’t choose. And there will always be people with more inherent eligibility advantage. However, if you focus on the opportunities that are available to you, you’ll notice that there is still a lot to apply for. This can help you adopt a more constructive frame of mind and take actions that'll bring closer to what you want.

4. Not applying is a 100%-guaranteed failure

If you don’t apply, for whatever reason, you're guaranteed not to get funding. However, if you do apply, you'll raise your chances for success.

5. Have a bias for inclusion

If you're unsure about your eligibility, assume inclusion and seek clarification. If the criteria are blurry, try to presume that you are included and reach out and clarify and negotiate. Nine out of 10 times it won’t work. However, once in a while it will - and maybe it' the only time you need it to work.

Here are some other principles I've found helpful in the context of applying for scholarships:

Principle No. 1: ‘There are more scholarships that i have time to apply for.’

A common attitude that I see is:

'There aren't enough scholarships for everyone, not for me for sure. Or: This scholarship is way too competitive, I'm not going to apply.'

The goal isn't to deny reality; scholarships are indeed limited. That’d just be denial. But if you fixate on the competition and perceive yourself as ‘limited’ by scholarships, you’ll feel deprived, and feeling deprived is not conducive to constructive thinking and acting. Instead, acknowledge the facts and focus on what you can control: the quality of your application. Ask yourself, What can I do to make my application the best it can be?

Possible reframe: ‘I understand that scholarships are limited, but with proper planning, I believe it's possible for me to earn one. I’ll do my best and see what happens.’

Principle No. 2: ‘I don't know who else is applying. I'll do my best and see what happens.’

Another attitude I see often is:

‘I’ve looked at the profiles of people who got this scholarship before. They are all geniuses. I don’t have anything like that on my profile. I have no chance of succeeding’.

Many believe there is no point in applying because their profiles don't measure up, convinced that there will always be someone more qualified. There's a grain of truth here: scholarships are highly competitive, and most applicants won’t succeed. However, what is also true is that judging your own profile is difficult. And you can never be an adequate judge in your own case.

Think about this way: If you don’t apply, you're guaranteed not to get the scholarship. 100%. If you do apply, you at least get a shot at success. If nothing else, you’ll get valuable experience you’ll be able to use in your other applications. You’ll also know that you’d done everything you could to secure funding.

Many scholarship winners are not 'geniuses'; they're regular people who planned and worked hard on their applications.

Finally, you'll never know who you are competing against. You'll NEVER know, really. Scholarship decisions are relative, not absolute. This means that your application, although assessed holistically and on the merits, never stands on its own. Rather, it’s evaluated relative to other applications in the pool. You’ll never know the quality of other applications, and the only thing you can do is just to do your best.

Reframe: ‘I'm my own harshest critic and undervalue my experiences. Since I don't know who else is applying, I’ll apply too. If nothing else, I’ll get the experience and will use it in my later applications.’

Principle No. 3: ‘I’ll prioritize full scholarships and diversify my chances by considering other options too’.

'I'll only apply for scholarships that are full coverage.' Or: I'm not accepting a scholarship unless it's full coverage.'

When funding your degree, it's wise to diversify and combine. This does NOT mean ignoring full scholarships. Definitely apply for all full scholarships that you find.

However, some programs may not offer full scholarships, or offer too few, so it can be beneficial to keep an eye on alternatives. As you research your funding options, you’ll usually be better off if you explore and secure as many funding options as possible to maximize your chances for success. If you get funding from too many competing sources, you can always refuse. But sometimes several partial scholarships can add up to a full one.

For clarity: I am NOT saying to apply for scholarships that are not attractive to you, and I’m NOT saying to neglect full scholarships. But don’t discard other types funding – look for additional opportunities to cover the rest and apply for all you can find. You’ll have a higher chance of going to your desired university if you secure all options available rather than if you rely on a single source of funding.

One can argue that partial scholarships are ‘a waste time and effort,’ as they don’t cover everything - like a $30,000 scholarship for a $60,000 program. But if you secure two $30,000 scholarships, you're covered. But if you refuse two $30,000 scholarships and keep looking for one $60,000, which might not exist, you'll reduce your chances of success.

Remember, you can always decline a scholarship later. If you only get one scholarship that covers half of your studies and doesn't cover the rest, you can always reapply. You are a free person (I assume). There is nothing in the laws of nature to obligate you to accept a partial scholarship and then struggle to pay the rest. But it’s not all or nothing, and you’ll usually have more options that you think you do.

For example, when funding my master’s, I applied (among others) for two scholarships worth $10,000 and $18,000, which alone wouldn't have covered Harvard's $92,000 program cost. However, if I had gotten them both and combined with other scholarships, I wouldn't have needed to crowdfund. That’s the power of alternatives. And of course I applied for full scholarships where I saw them, I just did not stop there. Nor I suggest do you.

Reframe: ‘I’ll prioritize full scholarships but also diversify my chances by considering a variety of sources that I can combine so that I can study where I want’.

Or: ‘I’ll provisionally accept a partial scholarship and keep searching for additional funds or a full scholarship. If I find better options, I can always decline; if not, I can reapply until fully funded.’

Conclusion

It's important to acknowledge that the world isn't fair. Your beliefs can't change that. But they can change how you approach looking for resources and opportunities. Even in an unfair system, you have control over some aspects - these can help you secure the funding you need to access the education that will improve your life.

If you'd like to learn more, I talk about my strategies for funding in more depth in my Ultimate Guide to Funding Your Master's Degree. Part of it, the Guide to Negotiating Financial Aid, is available as a preview for free.

I wish you best of luck! ☺️