#161 Boost Your Teen’s Personal Narrative Before Applications with Dave Peterson

Flourish Coaching

Feb 11, 2025

In this episode, Lisa and Dave Peterson discuss:

The role of personal narratives in college applications and scholarships
Winning strategies beyond academics and extracurriculars
The importance of future-oriented thinking for scholarship and college admission success
Fixing common mistakes students make and misconceptions about what matters most

Key Takeaways:

Organizations offering scholarships, including colleges, expect a return on investment (ROI), whether through goodwill, marketing, or future impact stories. Applicants should align their personal narrative with the scholarship provider’s mission.
Up to 90% of scholarship applications are disqualified simply because students fail to follow directions, such as formatting requirements or subject line instructions in emails.
While past academics and activities matter, they serve only as indicators of future success. Winning essays focus on how the student will make an impact, not just what they’ve done.
Many families mistakenly believe scholarships are only for high school seniors, but students can apply as early as grade school and continue throughout college.

“Basically, when you’re applying for a scholarship, you’re applying for kind of a job… you have to approach it as if you are applying for a job.” – Dave Peterson

About Dave Peterson:

Dave is a father who wanted to ensure his son would not be burdened by student loan debt. However, he realized he had not saved enough money for his son’s college education. So, he devised a plan for his son to earn scholarships. As a result, Dave’s son graduated from college without any debt, having earned approximately $100,000 in scholarships. They paid only $1,500 for his son’s entire college experience, including tuition, room, board, books, and fees. Dave now shares his knowledge about how to earn scholarships through his business, Scholarship GPS.

Get Lisa’s Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career…(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).

flourishcoachingco.com/video