Researching scholarships is only one part of the process you'll follow when applying for scholarship aid. Another part of the process is preparing all the supporting pieces of information that are often asked for by most scholarship applications. A little planning and organization will help make this task easier and save you from having to repeatedly submit new information for each application. While it's important to present your best face for each scholarship, having a few "ready" answers will be a big help.

Consider making a files for each of the following to have on hand while you're applying for various scholarships and remember that some of these things may take some time to prepare and gather, so plan your time accordingly!

• Transcript/test scores - Scholarship committees and colleges both will be looking to see what courses you've taken, especially if you can show that you worked hard to take more than just required courses.  Many scholarship committees also look at scores you receive on your SAT test.  If you're grades and test scores aren't as great as you'd like them to be, are there other areas in your life where you can show off your talents or demonstrate how hard you've worked?  Be prepared with those ideas to help balance out your academic experience.

 
• Letters of Recommendation - Talk to your favorite teachers, family friends, past or current employers well in advance and let them know you'd like to have them provide a letter on your behalf.  They'll be honored that you asked them and if you can provide them with a little information on what attributes you most want them to write about, you'll end up with letters you can use for scholarships, internships or jobs.

 
• Resume - A resume should list your work history, any volunteer activities, and your schooling.  You may not have a lot to list right now, but it's good practice to help you organize your thoughts and prepare a professional document that future employers will be looking at.  It can also serve as a guide to help you determine what other things you might want to get involved in to help "beef" up different areas of your resume.

 
• Career goal statement - No one expects you to know what you're going to do for the rest of your life when you're fresh out of high school, but having a few ideas about what you might want to do with your education and maybe five years out after college is always helpful.  It show that you can set goals and are thinking seriously about your future.

And remember, there is something about each of us that sets us apart from one another.  These are the things scholarship committees look for.  If you need some help figuring out what makes you stand out, talk to a friend or think about what things you really enjoy doing or being a part of.  Scholarship committees want to know that their money has made a difference in a student's life.  How will this scholarship truly impact you and your future?