This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated a tiny bit if you make a purchase after clicking on the links. The Savor Summer College Scholarship winners thank you! Get monthly scholarship lists and tips emailed to you at no cost by signing up here.
Parents, please join my private Facebook group, Scholarship Help and College Talk for Parents, found here.
The Best Video Scholarship Submission Tips and Tricks
The option of creating a video instead of writing an essay is becoming more and more popular.
As students become more proficient with their cellphones and cellphone video quality continues to improve, more organizations offering scholarships are giving students a choice in the essay portion. They can choose:
- The written essay
- The video essay
As with the tips in my How to Win College Scholarships ebooks, I personally discussed video scholarship best practices with those involved in prescreening and judging student-submitted videos.
Their video scholarship submission advice is spot-on and priceless!
“Rehearse what you are going to say. Try not to read from a screen. I watched 130 videos so far, and only 2 scored the highest. They both answered the questions and did so with passion and ease. Also the questions to be answered: they don’t need to be answered in order, as long as they are answered but the personal connection reason question is often not answered fully.”
What is the “A” in my SMART applying strategies? ANSWER THE QUESTION – COMPLETELY! Learn how students can apply SMART right here.
From a parent of a video scholarship winner:
“There is a teleprompter app for ipads and computers. We use this to record our videos. It makes it look like our daughter is looking directly at the camera and she can speak at her own pace because the teleprompter scroll is voice activated. There are tons of them! Look for ones for free trials!” Lynn, How to Win College Scholarships ebook reader
For the best video scholarship submissions, students need to follow these tips:
- Do not read from a screen or prewritten text
- Use a sheet with bullet points to stay on topic
- Make sure all parts of the questions are answered
- SMILE and show excitement for the topic covered
- Make a personal connection to the organization offering the scholarship (Be sure to read Love the Provider)
- Tell personal stories!
- Get creative with your words, props, and background
- Begin with a hook and use the essay tips found in the How to Win College Scholarships ebooks to stand out
- Be keenly aware of what is going on all around you
- Test to make sure the audio is clear
- Adhere to the time restrictions
- Practice, practice, practice, but don’t expect perfection
- Remember that the videos are student-submitted and do not need to be of professional quality
- Choose a quiet setting and eliminate all distractions (Cell phones, other people, pets, etc.)
- Make sure the lighting is bright and as natural as possible
- Submit the video essay using the required upload instructions (file size, format, etc.)
Ready to get started with a video scholarship?
Here is a list of scholarships that have a video essay option. Save this post and keep checking back. I will add more scholarships to this list as I find them. If a deadline has already passed, add the scholarship to your Scholarship Toolkit Organizer and save it for next year.
Remember to apply SMART!
Applying SMART is so important, and how so many students are winning scholarships and reducing student debt. Learn more HERE.
Project Yellow Light Scholarship
Survivors Speak: Moving Forward Through Hardship Scholarship
Transportation Development Foundation Student Video Contest
CJ Pony Parts Scholarship Video Contest
Moral Responsibility and the Application of Law Scholarship
Stonewater Roofing Scholarship
The Future of Remote Care Scholarship
The Christophers Video Contest for College Students
Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship
Headway’s Book Lovers Scholarship
BM Technologies Financial Empowerment Scholarship
Invest in Your Future Scholarship
Ethan Allen Scholarship Program
AGL Over the Rainbow Scholarship
Eye on the Future Teen Video Contest
Open to High School Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors! APPLY NOW HERE
PRINT IT Scholarship for Aspiring Content Creators
A Second Chance: How My Accident Changed My Goals for the Future” Scholarship
The Unwiring ReDesign Challenge (Not offered for 2025, but the company told me they may offer it for 2026.)
Stossel in the Classroom Video Contest
“Unboxing Your Life” Video Scholarship
Intoxalock Drunk Driving Prevention Scholarship
Optimize My Firm Hug-a-Lawyer Scholarship
“Fighting the Nursing Shortage” Scholarship
Boom & Bucket Scholarship Program
“Make-the-World-Better” Scholarship
Truth, Justice, and Fairness Scholarship
Parents, join our FREE Scholarship Help and College Talk for Parents Facebook Group RIGHT HERE!
The Trotter Project Scholarship
National Rice Month Scholarship
FleetNow Construct Your Future Scholarship
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Scholarship
Bertolino Impact In Government Scholarship
Jones & Swanson Community Service Scholarship
PIN IT FOR LATER!
Monica Matthews is the author of How to Win College Scholarships. She helped her own son win over $100,000 in college scholarships and now shares her expertise with other parents and their students. She truly has “been there, done that” in regard to helping parents and students navigate the scholarship process.
Her method of helping students in finding college scholarships, writing unique and compelling scholarship essays, creating amazing scholarship application packets, and more have taught desperate parents to help their own students win thousands of scholarship dollars. She teaches them how to apply S.M.A.R.T. with outstanding results.
Monica’s scholarship tips have been featured on many prominent websites, and she has been dubbed the “Go-To” expert on college scholarships.
