You should begin planning to apply for scholarships during your first two semesters of college. Make an appointment with OPS&F during the first half of fall semester to start charting your course. There are scholarships you’re eligible for in your First Year at Hunter and they only increase as you progress toward graduation. Begin drafting your essays for the scholarships you intend to apply for about 10 weeks before the application due date.
Readers have to read many, many, many applications. Make it easy for them to remember you and your proposal. You will benefit from having a simple, yet effective, structure. While these insights may seem formulaic, they are the basis of a highly effective and individual, successful essay.
Advice about asking for a letter of recommendation – Whenever possible, make an appointment with your professor/recommender so that you can ask for the recommendation in person. This is not always possible in the summer, but see if they can meet to discuss this.
Also learn about how to ask for – and get – strong letters of reference.
The National Association of Fellowships Advisors suggests that you and your advisors should value the process above the result, in order to minimize misunderstandings and conflicts, and make the experience of applying for scholarships more valuable for your development. They provide clear guidelines for all parties involved in the application process, including this section for applicants on page linked below.