Each scholarship has its own selection criteria, which might include academic merit, financial need, field of study, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and other specialized qualifications. To apply for a scholarship, students usually need to complete an application. An application might require you to submit academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, personal statements, or other documents. Once you win a scholarship, the funds are typically paid directly to your school, but some scholarships go directly to the student so that they can use the money for living expenses like food, rent, or even a laptop.