From time to time, a scholar’s career is interrupted by completing applications for teaching awards, scholarships, research, and other grants. I refer to these as academic endeavors. My experience, engagement, and successful analysis or the processes involved in several of these efforts suggest that there are some common features and associated steps tied to these applications. To be successful, these must be met.

Step one: be sure to create an online account or personal web portal. Applying online for these efforts has now become standard. It is through these web portals or online accounts that you can check your current status and upload and respond to the sections and requirements for the venture for which you are applying.

Second step: Use the web portal to find and apply for the correct category of scholarship, grant, or award for which you wish to apply. Categories and descriptors are clearly highlighted and strategically placed on these portals or websites. The location ensures that a potential candidate, participant or applicant such as yourself can easily identify them.

Step three: Carefully read the sections and instructions provided for the effort you are applying for. In some cases, there may also be examples of entire sections for you to read and model your own application. If this does not exist on the portal or website, with a diligent search on the Internet, examples can be found. It is very important to be involved in this process of finding and obtaining examples. Doing so helps guide your thinking and helps you structure your response according to what is required, which will ultimately lead to success.

Step four– Pay close attention to things like word limits and other special requirements, such as the need to clearly demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of a particular discipline or clearly describe the impact your proposed research may or has had on others or show how Your education, training, employment, roles, and experience contributed to your professional development as a teacher, mentor, learning facilitator, and/or academic leader.

step five: be careful to complete all required sections of your application and correct them. An application that requires proofreading reflects poorly on you as a professional and makes the evaluator’s job less than an enjoyable experience.

step six: most academic applications require one or two references. The referees must be well chosen, that is, they can comment sensibly on your work and, by doing so, contribute to your success. You will either send them a summary of what is required or the web portal will automate this request and link your arbitrators to the appropriate section of your web portal. Send timely reminders to your referees.

step seven: Sometimes, depending on the nature and type of effort being requested, there is a cost involved. This will have to be paid for. The fees you pay may be based on your status, ie, independent scholar or scholar employed by an institution.

If you want to be successful in applying for your next academic endeavor, I recommend following these steps. Good luck!