Tips for a Strong Scholarship Application

Each year, the AABC Foundation awards multiple scholarships, but we always receive more applicants than we have scholarships.  If you want your application to stand out, follow our tips below.

• The narrative questions on the application have a suggested word count of 150 words. We recommend you be as descriptive as possible within this word count. We won't be impressed by an answer that is only 50 words long. Your computer's word processor will typically have a Word Count button to make sure you don't exceed or fall far short of the word limit.

• Start working on your answers a day or two in advance (either in a text document or old-fashioned pen and paper) so that you can sleep on it, mull over the question, and compose your best response, along with editing and proofreading, before you submit your final application.

• Reviewers want to see in your answers that you have reviewed the curriculum and/or conference agenda.

• Lastly, the more you can comfortably share with us, the more informed we will be in deciding which applications are the most compelling. The more details the better! For example,

  • Amy Polk Scholarship Applicants - If you're an entrepreneur, explain why you’re seeking financial support at this time.  If you're a student midwife, let us know how getting the Amy Polk Scholarship and attending a workshop fits into your 5-year plan to open a birth center. 

  • Lisa Ross Scholarship Applicants - If you're a birth center midwife or administrator, explain why the birth center can't provide financial support at this time. If you're a student midwife, let us know how getting the Lisa Ross Scholarship and attending this Birth Institute falls into your 5-year plan to open a birth center.