Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria: Be an African-American college student enrolled at a UNCF member institution; have a minimum GPA of 2.5; be nominated by your school's financial-aid director; and have an "unmet financial need," to which your financial aid director will attest.
Contact your school's financial-aid director to get his or her nomination for the scholarship.
Fill out and send in a Financial Aid Form (FAF) or Family Financial Statement (FFS). List your school's financial-aid office as a destination for the report.
Get a scholarship application from UNCF.org.
Notify professors, teaching assistants and employers well ahead of time for any letters of recommendation you need from them.
Gather the required materials, which will include at least an official transcript, an essay, a recommendation letter and a photograph. Materials vary with the particular scholarship.
Send in the materials before the deadline. Deadlines vary depending on the particular program but usually fall between September and December. Apply well before the application deadline to avoid the risk of missing it.