Skip to main content

Scholarship Tips

Scholarship Application Tips

Scholarships are, undoubtedly, the best form of financial aid. They’re free money to pay for college! Follow the tips below to increase your chances of earning a scholarship through our ScholarshipUniverse system at Wichita State.

ScholarshipUniverse FAQs

I've never logged into ScholarshipUniverse. Where do I start?

Login Process

Newly-admitted and continuing WSU students are eligible to apply for scholarships through ScholarshipUniverse. Students must have been admitted to WSU and have an active myWSU account to be able to log into the system and submit applications. (For more instructions on how to set up your myWSU account, click here.)

Login: Use your myWSU ID and password to log into ScholarshipUniverse. If this is your first time logging in, review the privacy policy and update your contact details in the platform.

Start Matching by Answering Questions

Answer Questions: Click on the "Questions" icon on the menu to answer questions about yourself. These profile-based questions help the system know what scholarship opportunities you may be eligible to apply for.

  • If you are new to the system, you may be prompted to add profile information when you visit the "Questions" section. 
    • Fill out introductory information and choose to "Skip" or "Continue" to answer available questions. 
    • You may choose to not answer individual questions by selecting "N/A."
    • IMPORTANT: Some questions may have pre-populated answers for you. Any pre-populated answers are directly linked to university records and cannot be edited within the ScholarshipUniverse system. If you click the pencil icon on a desktop or the edit button on a mobile device for any pre-populated answers, you will be presented a blank page. 

  • If you are returning to the system, you can update your existing answers or add new information as long as they are not answers that come directly from your OSU student record.

    • Click the “Answer More Questions” tile and answer any presented questions to the best of your ability.
    • You may use the SKIP button and come back to the questions at a later time.
    • You may edit any of your answers by choosing the pencil icon on a desktop or selecting the "Edit" button on mobile devices.
  • After each question, the “Matches” and “Opportunity” boxes in the top right corner will be updated with the new scholarship opportunities you’ve been matched with based on the answers you have provided. At any time, you can view your matched scholarships by clicking on the “Matches” box.

View Your Matches

Use the Scholarships tab on the left side of the screen to view your matched scholarships.

The Scholarships section has several tabs to review:

  • Matches - List of scholarships where you met all matching requirements.
  • Pinned - List of scholarships you pinned to your account using the button on an individual scholarship listing.
  • Partial Matches - List of scholarships where you met at least one, but not all, matching requirements.
  • Application Submitted - List of internal scholarship applications you have submitted.
  • Awarded - List of internal scholarships you have been awarded.
  • Non-Matches - List of scholarships where you did not meeting the matching requirements.
  • Not Interested - List of scholarships you marked that you were not interested in by selecting the NO symbol on an individual scholarship.

Apply for Scholarships

Here are few tips we have about applying for scholarships.

  • Essays & Activities Charts: Some applications require essays and/or activities charts. You can upload these documents as PDFs (if needed) in ScholarshipUniverse and attach them to specific scholarship applications.
  • Deadlines: Wichita State Scholarships within ScholarshipUniverse have various deadlines. Complete your applications before the deadlines for consideration. We recommend that you take note of individual scholarship deadlines that you have been matched to via your ScholarshipUniverse dashboard.
    • Competition-based scholarships for incoming students (such as the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational) have a November 1st deadline. 
    • Most scholarships for current students have deadlines on or after February 1st, but specific deadlines may vary.  
  • Submitting Your Application: Once you submit your application, you cannot go back in and make edits. Before submitting, be sure to review that you answered all questions correctly and thoroughly and check for misspelled words, proper grammar, and complete sentences.

Do I really need to answer all those questions?

You don't HAVE to, but the more questions you answer, the better we can match you to the scholarships that align with your interests and other eligibility criteria. More answered questions can improve your odds! 

How we try to help: We do our best to pull most qualifying information directly from Wichita State's database, but some scholarships look for information we don't have in our system like, "Are you currently involved in any extracurricular activities?" or "Are any of your family members currently employed by any of the following companies?" Since some scholarships may be looking for students who match to certain answers on those questions, that's where your answers come in!

Why are there so many questions? There are a lot; we know! Many of these questions apply to outside-source scholarships, not just to our internal Wichita State scholarships. We want to connect you to as many scholarship resources as possible. Plus, we wouldn't do so if we didn't know that students actually win outside-source scholarships. Did you know, in 2021-2022, students brought more than $3 million in outside-source scholarships to Wichita State through a combination of local and national scholarships?! Shockers win!

Pro Tip: Break the questions up into groups of 10-20 at time, but make a goal to answer them all.

Can I store documents (like an essay, resume, or activities chart) in ScholarshipUniverse?

Yes! You can store your application documents in ScholarshipUniverse on the My Docs tab for easy access! You can use and reuse them! Be sure to update them regularly as your experience and activities change.

Do I have to complete an application for every scholarship?

Not usually - most of our Wichita State scholarships are linked to the SAME application - the New/Current Students Application. No need to apply for multiple scholarships you match to; complete one app and you're done!

Pro Tip: Skip to the Applications section in ScholarshipUniverse and go directly into the New/Current Students Application. It will pre-select all of the scholarships you match to for that application cycle. It is available from November 1 to February 1 every year!

What is "financial need?"

"Financial need" does not necessarily mean you have to be eligible for the Pell grant. Financial need actually comes in a variety of shapes and sizes! In fact, many of our students who come from middle-income families might be considered to have financial need. The official definition of financial need for federal and state financial aid is based initially on the FAFSA results. It looks at your overall college budget (cost of attendance) and subtracts the results of your FAFSA (the expected family contribution - EFC) and any other gift aid you receive (such as other scholarships and grants). If anything remains afterward, you may have "financial need." 

What if I'm not eligible to complete a FAFSA to determine if I have financial need? If you are unable to complete a FAFSA because you are an international or undocumented student and believe you have financial need, you should put together a typed essay that explains you and your family's financial circumstances.

What if my family's financial situation has changed since we completed the FAFSA and now I might have financial need? Changes in finances due to a reduction in income, a change in marital status, death of a parent/spouse, or other special circumstances may greatly impact a family's ability to pay for college. The Department of Education allows financial aid administrators to use Professional Judgment on a case-by-case basis to make adjustments to the data used in calculating the estimated family contribution (EFC) to reflect these special circumstances. If your family is experiencing financial issues (such as the loss of a job, reduction of income, or other extenuating circumstance) and would like to discuss financial aid options and information about the process of a Professional Judgment for the next academic year, schedule an appointment to meet with a financial aid advisor at wichita.edu/finaidappt.

Can ScholarshipUniverse remind me when an application is due and if I match to more scholarships?

Yes! You will receive weekly emails from ScholarshipUniverse to keep you up-to-date with deadlines and new opportunities.

Resumes, Essays, and Activities Charts

Scholarships are all about you! We know - your family probably told you not to brag about yourself and your achievements. But, this is the one time that it's okay to shine your own light!

Build a resume that includes:

  • Education and scholastic (academic or school) achievements
  • Life experience, training, and employment
  • Honors, awards, and memberships
  • Leadership and community service
  • Career ambitions - statement of goals
  • References and/or reference letters

Essays:

A scholarship essay is your way to connect with the scholarship committee and describe yourself outside the classroom.

  • Pro Tip: Great essays incorporate 3 things: passion, personality, and purpose. 
  • Self-evaluation: what makes you who you are
  • Discuss an issue of importance to you
  • Career goals: what, why, and how

Activities Charts:

An activities chart details your involvement in school, work, and community. It helps describe your activities beyond your major and GPA.

  • Pro Tip: Highlight long-term commitments and leadership roles
  • Divide and conquer:
    • School activities and organizations
    • Community service
    • Work experience and time commitments

In 2021-2022, students brought more than $3 million in outside-source scholarships to Wichita State through a combination of local and national scholarships.

Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, Wichita State University

Outside (External) Scholarship Tips

Scholarships can come from a variety of sources, not just Wichita State. Follow these expert tips for how to search, apply for, and win outside scholarships!

Outside scholarships and where to find them

  • ScholarshipUniverse: ScholarshipUniverse links you to outside-source scholarships, in addition to internal Wichita State scholarships. They are already screened to reduce your risks.
  • Kansas Board of Regents: The State of Kansas offers a variety of state-funded grants and scholarships through the Kansas Board of Regents.  For more information on State of Kansas Student Financial Aid Programs, contact the Kansas Board of Regents.
  • Local community organizations: Your home community is a great resource for scholarships funded through local and national chapters of reputable organizations.
    • Central Kansas Community Foundation Scholarships
      On this page you'll find unique scholarship opportunities for students from a range of Kansas communities, such as Newton, Augusta, Andover, El Dorado, Remington (Whitewater/Potwin/Elbing), among many others.
  • Employers - yours and your parents' employers: Many companies offer scholarships or tuition reimbursement for employees and/or their dependents. Visit with your or your parents' Human Resources office for details.
  • High school counselors: If you're still in high school, contact your high school counselor or your college and career center advisor for a list of local, state, and national scholarship opportunities. They have a wealth of information!

This scholarship seems scammy... how do I know if it's safe to apply?

  • Read everything before you apply
  • Search the organization with the Better Business Bureau and read the reviews
  • Check for additional requirements
    • Likes, links, & popularity (they might just want your information)
    • Protect your intellectual property! (don't sign over your ideas or inventions)
    • Fees, "guaranteed" scholarships or "free" seminars (never pay to apply)
  • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
©