I gave this a shot today and was wondering if anyone else has done it. Did it help? Let me know!
Yeah, I did. One person was kind enough to check my resume and essay, gave me some advice, and now we’re in the same program! He’s my senior now.
Holt said:
Yeah, I did. One person was kind enough to check my resume and essay, gave me some advice, and now we’re in the same program! He’s my senior now.
That’s really cool!
What’s the main benefit of doing this? Not trying to be rude, just wondering. I always thought LinkedIn was more for job connections. Maybe I’m missing something?
Skyler said:
What’s the main benefit of doing this? Not trying to be rude, just wondering. I always thought LinkedIn was more for job connections. Maybe I’m missing something?
People who won the scholarship know what works, so they can give solid advice. If it’s a scholarship tied to a specific field, they can also share insights about the industry you’re getting into.
@Kim
That makes sense. I looked it up, and I don’t think there’s a dedicated platform for this. It’s a smart idea, though.One thing I’ve noticed in forums and Facebook groups is that the same questions get asked a lot. When people find out my son did well with scholarships, they want a shortcut—like a list of all the ones he applied for or a copy of his essay. I get it, it’s overwhelming, and I do want to help. But honestly, it’s a lot of work.I guess the challenge is filtering out people looking for an easy way versus those genuinely willing to put in the effort. That could be tough for scholarship winners who might get overwhelmed with messages. My son is juggling school and work, so he wouldn’t have time to answer tons of questions.
@Skyler
I’ve reached out to a few winners, and they were happy to help! Most people don’t think to ask, so when someone does, they usually take the time to give advice. Some even offered to hop on a call!
@Kim
Yeah, my son would probably do the same for someone who reached out. I’m actually helping a girl right now who’s completely on her own trying to figure out college, so I get wanting to help those who really need it.What gets frustrating is when people just want a shortcut instead of putting in the effort. My son and I spent hours working on his applications, and some folks just want a quick copy-paste answer.That said, I respect those who are putting in the work but just need guidance. If you have any specific questions, feel free to message me—I’d be happy to help!
@Skyler
Yeah, I totally get that. Same thing happens with college admissions—people hear someone got into a top school and immediately ask for their essays instead of working on their own.No offense to them, but they’re usually the ones who don’t end up getting in. Relying too much on others without doing the work yourself doesn’t get you very far.Thanks for the thoughtful response! Really appreciate it. <3