Scholarship Savvy Lesson Plan Scholarship Savvy
Facilitation Guide • Tier 2 Small Group
12th Grade
45-60 Minutes
Lesson Objective
Students will gain the knowledge and confidence to navigate the scholarship application process effectively. By the end of this session, students will be able to identify different scholarship types, utilize effective search strategies, and understand how to tailor applications to specific criteria.
Required Materials
Scholarship Pre-Test & Post-Test
Scholarship Savvy Slide Deck
Scholarship Hunt Tracker (Student Handout)
Scholarship Savvy Answer Key
Highlighters and Pens
Instructional Sequence
1. Assessment: Pre-Test
15 Mins
Administer the Pre-Test before any instruction begins.
Distribute the Pre-Test to each student.
Explain that this is to gauge current knowledge and will not be graded for accuracy, but for effort.
Collect tests immediately after completion.
2. Direct Instruction: The Scholarship Landscape
20 Mins
Use the Scholarship Savvy Slide Deck to guide the discussion:
Types: Define Merit (grades/talent), Need (financial), Athletic, and Niche (specific backgrounds).Searching: Emphasize institutional portals first, then local community awards, then national search engines.Strategy: Discuss the importance of a "Digital Portfolio" (resume, generic essay draft, letters of rec).
3. Guided Practice: Tracker Setup
10 Mins
Distribute the Scholarship Hunt Tracker .
Have students identify one college they are interested in and look up their specific financial aid/scholarship page.
Demonstrate how to log a "Priority 1" scholarship.
4. Assessment: Post-Test
15 Mins
Administer the Post-Test.
Compare results to the Pre-Test using the Answer Key to measure group growth and individual understanding.
Facilitator Tips
Engagement: Share a personal story or a student success story of a "niche" scholarship win (e.g., a scholarship for tall people or left-handed people) to spark interest.
Common Pitfall: Students often wait until spring. Remind them that many major institutional scholarship deadlines are in November or December.
Scholarship Savvy Slides Tier 2 College Prep
Scholarship
Savvy
Funding Your Post-Secondary Journey
Why Scholarships?
Debt Reduction
Every dollar you win is a dollar you don't have to pay back with interest.
Freedom of Choice
Funding allows you to choose the school that fits you best, not just the cheapest one.
$1.6T+
Total U.S. Student Debt
"The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time is today."
The 4 Main Pillars
Merit-Based
Awarded for academic excellence, leadership, artistic talent, or community service.
Need-Based
Determined by financial circumstances (FAFSA/CSS Profile information).
Athletic
Recruitment-based awards for college-level sports participation.
Niche/Private
Unique criteria: heritage, major, hobbies, employer affiliations, or local community.
Where to Look?
01
The College Itself
Most money comes from the university's own financial aid office. Check their "Institutional Scholarships" page.
02
Your Community
Local businesses, Rotary clubs, and credit unions. Smaller pool of applicants = Better odds!
03
Search Engines
Big databases like Fastweb , BigFuture , and Scholarships.com to find national matches.
Crafting a Winner
1
Tailor Your Essay
Don't copy-paste. Reuse ideas, but address the specific prompt and the organization's values .
2
Deadlines are Final
Submit 2 days early. Technical glitches are not an excuse for a late application.
3
Proofread Everything
Spelling errors suggest you don't care. Have at least one other person read your work.
Your Turn: The Tracker
We are going to start logging your scholarships now. Open your Hunt Tracker and let's find your first match!
Identify
Pick one college or niche category.
Record
Write down the deadline and requirement.
Prioritize
Mark it as High, Medium, or Low interest.
Scholarship Pre-Test Scholarship Savvy
Pre-Assessment
Name:
Date:
This assessment helps us understand what you already know about scholarships. Answer to the best of your ability.
1. Which of the following is not a common type of scholarship?
Merit-based
Need-based
Athletic
Random lottery
2. Where is the BEST place to start looking for scholarships?
Social media
University financial aid websites
Friends' recommendations
Online scholarship search engines
3. Briefly explain why securing scholarships is important for your post-secondary education goals.
4. What is one challenge you anticipate when applying for scholarships?
5. On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you in your ability to find relevant scholarships?
Not confident at all
1
2
3
4
5
Very confident
6. On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you in your ability to write a strong scholarship essay?
Not confident at all
1
2
3
4
5
Very confident
Scholarship Post-Test Scholarship Savvy
Post-Assessment
Name:
Date:
Great work today! Please complete this post-assessment to show what you've learned.
1. Which of the following is an example of a merit-based scholarship?
Scholarship for students from low-income families
Scholarship for student-athletes
Scholarship based on academic achievement
Scholarship for students pursuing a specific major
2. What is a key strategy for making your scholarship application stand out?
Using generic statements
Submitting a late application
Tailoring your essay to the scholarship criteria
Only applying to a few highly competitive scholarships
3. Based on what you've learned, describe two different types of scholarships and provide an example for each.
4. What is one effective strategy for finding scholarships that are a good fit for you?
5. On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you NOW in your ability to find relevant scholarships?
Not confident at all
1
2
3
4
5
Very confident
6. On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you NOW in your ability to write a strong scholarship essay?
Not confident at all
1
2
3
4
5
Very confident
Scholarship Hunt Tracker Scholarship Hunt
My Priority Tracker
Name:
SEARCH
Check college portals & niche sites.
LOG
Write down every requirement.
PRIORITIZE
Focus on the best fits first.
Scholarship Name Deadline Key Requirements (Essay, Recs, GPA?) Priority / / H
M
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H
M
L |
| | / / | |
H
M
L |
| | / / | |
H
M
L |
| | / / | |
H
M
L |
Scholarship Toolkit Checklist
Up-to-Date Resume (PDF)
Generic Personal Statement (Drafted)
2-3 Letters of Recommendation
Unofficial High School Transcript
Scholarship Savvy Answer Key Answer Key
Scholarship Savvy Assessments
Teacher Resource
1
Pre-Test Answer Key
Random lottery
Most legitimate scholarships require specific criteria (merit, need, etc.).
Online scholarship search engines
Search engines provide the widest range of opportunities to filter.
Acceptable answers include: Reducing student loan debt, making college affordable, covering living expenses, or allowing focus on studies instead of work.
Acceptable answers include: Finding enough time, writing essays, meeting high GPA requirements, or navigating complex applications.
2
Post-Test Answer Key
Scholarship based on academic achievement
"Merit" refers to earning the award through performance or accomplishment.
Tailoring your essay to the scholarship criteria
Personalization shows commitment and alignment with the donor's mission.
Examples:
Merit: National Merit Scholarship (based on test scores).Need: Pell Grant (federal, based on financial hardship).Niche: Scholarship for students of Polish descent.Athletic: D1 Basketball scholarship.
Acceptable answers include: Checking the specific university's portal, using search engine filters, looking at local community organizations, or matching one's unique hobbies/background to niche awards.
Scholarship Savvy • Lesson Resources Page 1 of 1
