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Seven tips as you search for private scholarships

July 06, 2026 - Ashlee Giles

You may have applied to college, made a visit to campus and thought about what you want to study, but now reality is setting in — you need to figure out how to pay for it. At Ouachita, once you are accepted and have submitted your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will receive a financial aid offer that shows scholarships, grants and loan options to help you cover the costs of college.

But what if you want to close the gap between financial aid and what you will pay? Or maybe you want to minimize loans, but you don’t know where to come up with the money. What if you need money to cover books? There is another financial aid source that you don’t want to pass up: private scholarships.

Private scholarships provide funds you may be eligible for, but you must look and apply for them on your own. Basically, they aren’t scholarships you would receive from Ouachita or the government, but they are scholarships you could use toward your Ouachita education costs, usually without any repayment.

Ouachita has a list of scholarship sites that you can look into on our Financial Services Private Aid Sources page. There are scholarships available for Arkansas residents, out-of-state residents and many more categories. Most private scholarships open up for application during the fall of a student's senior year.

Before you begin your search and start applying for private scholarships, consider a few of these tips:

Get organized. Create a Google Doc or spreadsheet and organize by months and due dates. Every scholarship has a deadline, so if you organize by month based on the deadline of each scholarship, it helps avoid that overwhelmed feeling. Take it one bite at a time!
Make note of the scholarships that require a recommendation letter. If you ask someone for a recommendation letter several weeks in advance, they will be much happier to help you than if you only give short notice. Honor their time! Two weeks’ notice for a recommendation letter is especially polite. Most scholarships use digital submissions, so make sure your reference has your email address and an outline of what the scholarship is looking for so they can customize their letter.
Create a separate email. Creating a separate email account that you only utilize for scholarship searches and applications helps keep things simple. You don’t want to skip over an email about scholarship details when you’re skimming for a shopping coupon!
Make the most of your school resources. Make a friend in the person at your high school who helps distribute scholarship information. Bring them a Sonic gift card and a plea to help you connect with as many organizations — like FBLA and FFA — and local scholarships as you can.
Utilize your community resources. Try a simple Google search for your county or state to see what local or state-related scholarships are available. Keep in mind that you should never have to pay for a private scholarship search. If you reach a website asking you to pay, look elsewhere. Check with local businesses or even the Chamber of Commerce. You might also find that your church provides scholarships or knows about other resources.
Go for the essays. Don’t ONLY apply for the “drop your name in a hat” scholarships (though definitely do those) and then skip over the ones that require a little bit more of your time. The odds of you getting an essay-based scholarship are actually greater, as most students either think they are not good writers or don’t want to put in the time that it takes for an essay. You don’t have to be the best writer, and you would be surprised at how quickly you could crank out 1,000 words just by writing your opinion! Also, YOU need to write your essays. AI can be a helpful search tool or keep you organized, but most scholarship organizations can spot bad AI-written material.
Just get started. Commit to searching and applying for scholarships today. Set aside a few hours a week that you can dedicate to the scholarship process. Even if you only get one $1,000 scholarship, it will still be time well spent.

Ready to begin your search? Visit Ouachita’s Private Aid Sources page or contact Ouachita’s Student Financial Services at [email protected] or 870-245-5570 with any questions about paying for college.

What is a private scholarship?

A private scholarship is money for college that you find and apply for on your own, rather than receiving it directly from Ouachita or the government. You can still use it toward your Ouachita education costs, and it can help close the gap between your financial aid offer and what you'll actually pay.

Where can I find private scholarships?

Start with this private aid page, which lists some good options. You can also ask your high school counselor, search Google for county or state scholarships, check with local businesses or your Chamber of Commerce, and ask your church.

Should I avoid scholarships that require an essay?

No — essay-based scholarships are often easier to win than “drop your name in a hat” scholarships because fewer students apply for them. Most students skip essay scholarships because they think they're not good writers or don't want to spend the time. You don't have to be a great writer to apply.

How do I stay organized when applying for multiple scholarships?

Keep a notebook or Google Doc organized around each scholarship's deadline, so you can tackle applications one at a time. If a scholarship requires a recommendation letter, ask your mentor at least two weeks in advance.

Do I need a separate email for scholarship applications?

It helps. A dedicated email account just for scholarship searches and applications makes it easier to track deadlines and details without important messages getting lost among everyday email.