About 90% of the scholarships we see require applicants to submit a front sheet that includes basic biographical information, and sometimes responses to short-answer questions. Filling out these forms is pretty self-explanatory. Just remember to follow the instructions given on the sheet (i.e. do not write in green ink if black ink is requested.) Some students do have problems, however, when they are required to submit a typed application.
Typewriters are increasingly rare, but foundations know this and have made filling out their forms significantly easier. Even if you receive the application in paper form, see if there is a web site (we provide web links in our database if one is available) where you can download a digital copy of the same forms. Often, these are in either a Microsoft Word format (.doc) or in portable document format (.pdf.) Microsoft Word documents can be typed using any computer that supports the program and has it installed (the UC Berkeley Microcomputer labs all support Microsoft Word.) PDF documents can be a little more complicated. Some applications, when used on newer versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader, will allow you to modify PDF files; others do not and have to be printed and then typed upon.
If you have illegible or messy handwriting (and even if you don't) you may want to consider typing the application sheets even if they allow you to use pen. Remember that the cover sheet is often the first thing that a scholarship evaluator will see of your application.