So you have decided that college is in the cards for you. Congrats! After the excitement of choosing and being accepted to a college sets in, you will be faced with another big decision- how to pay for it. While there are always costly student loans, they are not the only option in the mix. Some savvy and thoughtful students choose to go after scholarships as a way to help pay for school. While the scholarship arena can be competitive (although not always depending on where you are applying for scholarships), knowing how to write a killer essay when required can catapult you ahead of the pack. There are, however, a few things to know when it comes to writing that award-winning essay that will help secure your education and financial future.

1. Follow instructions. First and foremost, make sure you expressly follow the instructions and rules for submission criteria. If the scholarship asks for a limited range of words for the essay, stick to it. If they prompt you to answer a specific question, answer it. If there is a deadline or other key information asked for, be on time and provide it. When thousands of submissions are received, it is very easy to sort and throw out the ones that don’t follow the guidelines set forth. You are not helping yourself by ignoring instructions and doing what you want or being careless.

2. Stay away from generic wording and writing. You will need to find a way to stand out from the crowd. Whether it be your writing style or your original story, judges want to read content that is compelling, appeals to their emotion and keeps them connected to you. After all, you are essentially selling them on YOU. They want to like you and feel like awarding you the scholarship will make a difference in your life and for the greater good.

3. Write an outline before beginning. If your thoughts are scattered, your writing will reflect it. Before writing, create a well thought out and organized outline so you are sure to get your point across in a way that is thoughtful and concise.

4. Make sure your grammar and spelling are on-point. In fact, you should have someone proofread and help you edit your work to get a different perspective on your writing. Don’t have anyone to help? Ask a teacher, coach, or even hire freelance to see if you can get some professional guidance on making your work stand out from the rest.

5. Apply to as many scholarships as you possibly can. It is a competitive environment out there, but the more you apply for, the more likely it is that you will get some bites. Don’t sink all of your hope into one scholarship and give up if you don’t get it. If you treat applying for scholarships like it is a job, you can potentially make more money for the school with scholarships that you would at a part-time job to save for college. Or combine the two and get yourself a solid headstart on life when you have college paid for before you even begin.

In addition to the tips above, be sure to start the application process early and don’t leave it until the last minute. Many students leave scholarship hunting until senior year, but students can start applying for scholarships much earlier. By starting by at least Freshman year of high school, you give yourself a better shot at securing more scholarships and learning more about crafting winning submissions the sell you in your best light. Applying for scholarships is a learned skill like anything else, and the more you practice, the better your chances at succeeding.