Community Foundation of Howard County Scholarships

You'll typically need to create an account to apply for a scholarship, and submit your application through their website—this is called a scholarship application portal. Not all scholarship providers use portals—some will just require that the application materials be sent via email. Tip: it's a good idea to write down your usernames and passwords to keep track of all your applications!

Yes! Colleges provide over $60 billion in financial aid to students each year, nearly 10 times what traditional scholarships offer. That means you’re 10 times as likely to get that scholarship.

Yes! But make sure to read each scholarship application's essay guidelines and requirements, and personalize your essay to each scholarship you apply to. Using the same essay for multiple applications can be a time-saver, but changing just a sentence or two can make a difference!

A letter of recommendation (letter of rec) is a letter written by someone in your life who can speak to your achievements, positive traits, and potential. It's basically a summary of why you're great and deserve the scholarship or funding you're applying for! Typically, students ask teachers, mentors, coaches, or employers (never family or friends). FYI: You have to ask someone to write a letter of rec for you.