Applicants who apply early often demonstrate greater attention to detail in their spelling and storytelling compared to students who submit their applications closer to the deadline.

While early submission does not affect the grading process directly, it does allow both the evaluators and applicants ample time for thoughtful review and preparation.

It takes only a few minutes, and it makes it clear that you took the extra time to read it through at least once.

Add a heading with your name and the date, please.

We have a saying in our organization, “No one got to where they are in their career alone.”

All of our volunteers have some pretty great success stories and personal growth stories about how they got to where they are today and the people they met along the way.

We want to hear about how you ended up in aviation and what you’ve done since.

Where’d you grow up? Do you have any family members in aviation? What career do you see yourself pursuing in aviation? Were you inspired by anyone to pursue aviation? Did you receive any advice from anyone that inspired you to pursue aviation?

Submit a letter of recommendation from a non-relative adult who knows you best.

You can get a letter from a pilot or a flight instructor to show your connection to aviation, but a letter of recommendation should come from someone who can speak to your character and knows you well.

This is the same advice for getting hired at an airline!

We like to support those who give back to their community.

We know not everyone has the time or opportunity to volunteer for an organization or work for a nonprofit while pursuing their dreams.

If you have a part-time job, take care of your grandma after school, are solo parenting your four kids, etc.

Please share with us how you spend your time when you’re not furthering your career.

While our website says we will award up to $10,000, you’ll have a better chance of receiving an award for $10,000 if you can show us you’ve done your homework and know where the money is going.

If you apply for a program that only costs $5,000 but request $10,000, tell us in your essay and show us in your attachments why you are requesting more.

Think of it like—if you ask your parents for $1000 to go to the movies, you’ll get a lot of questions.

We know flight training is expensive. We know college is expensive. But you’ll have better chances if you can show us a concrete thing we are giving back to.