A scholarship application page applicants can understand at once
A scholarship page has to do three things for applicants: tell them in seconds whether they're eligible, explain exactly what you judge, and make applying straightforward. Anticode builds the page and an application form whose answers go to Airtable for review. Applicants can't upload files through it, so plan how you'll collect transcripts or references if you need them.
Eligibility first, in a list
The most considerate thing a scholarship page can do is let ineligible people stop reading quickly. Put eligibility right under the title, as a short list of conditions that are all required:
- Who can apply: level of study, subject, year, residency or school.
- Any limits based on circumstances, worded precisely and checked against the rules that apply to you.
- Whether previous recipients can reapply.
- Whether applicants need to be enrolled already or can apply with an offer.
Then the key facts in one block: what the award is, how many there are, the deadline with time and time zone, and when applicants will hear.
Criteria and how you judge
Applicants write better answers when they know what you weigh. Publish the criteria, roughly how much each counts, and who reviews. It also makes your decisions easier to defend.
| Criterion | Weight | What reviewers look for |
|---|---|---|
| Commitment to the subject | Highest | Specific experiences, not general enthusiasm |
| Financial need | High | As stated by the applicant; say if you'll ask for evidence later |
| Plans for the award | Medium | A concrete use, such as fees, equipment or a placement |
| Academic record | Lower | Stated grades or predicted grades |
The application form
Keep the form to what reviewers will read. Use text questions with a suggested length, because a blank box invites either one line or two thousand words.
- Name, email, school or university, course and year.
- Eligibility confirmations, one per condition.
- "Tell us about your interest in the subject" (around 250 words).
- "How would you use the award?" (around 150 words).
- "Is there anything about your circumstances you'd like us to know?" (optional).
- Name and email of one referee, whom you'll contact directly.
Asking for a referee's contact rather than an uploaded letter is fairer anyway: it doesn't depend on the applicant's ability to chase a document.
Review fairly by agreeing the scoring before the deadline, not after reading the first strong application. Have at least two people score each one independently, compare scores where they differ widely, and write down a sentence on why each shortlisted applicant was chosen. If a reviewer knows an applicant, they should step aside for that one.
Building it with Anticode
Describe it: "a scholarship application page for our family foundation's music award, with eligibility, criteria, the deadline and an application form". The built-in contact form only has a name, email and message, so the application is a custom form tied to a site function, with up to 30 plain-text fields. A formula can refuse the form with its own message, for example when a numeric year of study is outside the range you fund, and the thank-you page shows the function's heading and message, such as when applicants will hear. Check the preview to confirm every question is there.
Applications are saved in your dashboard, sealed at rest, and can be emailed to you. A site that collects data can't be published until the account owner and the person publishing have two-factor sign-in on, which matters for personal information like this. Add the Airtable connector and each application arrives as a row; add reviewer score columns and a status, and hide names in a view for blind scoring. Each submission is sent once, without retries, so check the count against the dashboard at the deadline. The site gets a Privacy Policy written from what the form collects; read it and adjust it, as it's a starting point, not legal advice. The store form data safely guide covers the rest.
Limits
- No file uploads. Applicants can't attach transcripts, essays or references. Ask for text answers and a referee's contact, and request documents by email from your shortlist.
- No applicant accounts to save a draft and come back. Suggest applicants write long answers elsewhere first.
- No automatic deadline. Remove the form by hand when applications close.
- Free plan allowance: submissions past the month's allowance are held until you upgrade; check this against the numbers you expect.
Questions people ask
How long should a scholarship stay open?
Usually four to eight weeks, timed around the academic calendar. Avoid closing during exams.
Should we tell unsuccessful applicants?
Yes, by a date you state on the page. A short, kind email is enough.
Can applicants see the status of their application?
Not on the site. Email them at each stage.