So you’ve chosen the college you want to go to and now have to find out how to fund your education. There are many philanthropic organizations that want to make it easy for deserving students to get the education they want. Your own government may offer scholarships to you as well.

Note that not every college grant may be the best for you. One grant may cover just the tuition while another may cover a part of the tuition. Yet others can cover all your travel, health and living expenses as well. You have to look for a scholarship based on your needs.

Also, there may be a grant you really want and need but don’t get because you messed up in the application process. There are many ways you could knowingly or unwittingly mess up your college grant application.

I’m here to help you avoid some of the common college grant application errors with some advice. There are also things you can do better to find the right grant for you.

1. Look in unusual places

You may not realize that your interests and hobbies – extracurricular activities that you’re good at – could help you pay for college. Many college opportunities are extended to students who are gamers, great at crafting, good at gardening, avid trekkers, and more.

I’ve known students who made it to college because they were interested in fencing, birdwatching, and even crosswords! While opportunities are usually merit-based, grants are need-based. So keep this in mind and search for hobby-based college grants near you.

2. Apply early and as often as you can

Many students aren’t sure at what stage during the college application process they can begin to apply for grants. The answer is, you can do so as early as a year before college begins. You don’t even have to wait until you’ve made up your mind about which college to finally apply to.

If you don’t start thinking about your college grants early enough, you could end up missing some deadlines. You don’t want to narrow down the choices available to you. If you’ve made up your mind to go to college, start looking into grants right now.

Also, don’t worry too much if you’ve missed some deadlines. There are many grants out there, all with various deadlines. Some deadlines are typically in January or February, into the Spring semester. Others may be in August or later, before the Fall semester.

3. Don’t ignore the smaller scholarships

When you’re paying for something as expensive as education, any little help you can get counts. Don’t ignore smaller scholarships that pay $500 or less. These could go towards your supplies and textbooks.

There’s no rule that says you have to make do with only one scholarship. You could be restricted to only one per scholarship administrator. But you can fund your education with a bouquet of smaller scholarships won from various administrators. Of course, you can apply for more than one grant too.

4. Be honest about yourself

Always present your qualifications, grades, and memberships exactly as they are, without any exaggeration. Grant admins are more likely to award you the funds you need if you apply for the ones that fit well with your skills and interests.

Also, be honest in your grant essay. Not all grant administrators require an essay, but many do. When you apply for your college grant, you’ll probably be asked to write a few hundred words about your college goals and why you think you deserve the grant. Be honest here too