Congratulations on the submission of your college applications, high school seniors! Now that these are out of the way for most of you, there is another process that might be particularly helpful to you: the scholarship search. There are hundreds of scholarships out there; there are websites and even entire reference books dedicated to the subject. Qualifications for scholarships range from specific to general, and application requirements can be as simple as a quick form or as complex as a combination of essays and projects.
In addition, the Common Application offers information about financial aid on its website. If you do not have an account, you should go to The Common App and click “Plan Ahead.” You will see “How to Pay for College.” If you click on that, you will find a great deal of advice. If you already have a Common App account, log in first and click on “Financial Aid Resources.”You will get lots of valuable information including resources offered by the schools to which you’ve applied!
Here is a sample selection of scholarships with upcoming February deadlines:
Optimist International Essay Contest: “Can society function without respect?” Submit an essay that responds to this topic to compete for a $2,500 scholarship. Deadline: early February (View the linked website for instructions on how to find out the deadline for your area)
Harriet Fitzgerald Scholarship: Sponsored by The Sunflower Initiative, this $10,000 scholarship is intended for a woman who plans to attend a women’s college. Deadline: February 1.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship: The Jackie Robinson Foundation awards up to $30,000 over four years to minority students who show leadership potential. Deadline: February 1.
Courageous Persuaders Competition: $250-$3,000 will go to applicants who create a TV commercial targeted to middle school students to warn them about the dangers of underage drinking or the dangers of texting while driving. Deadline: February 9.
Davidson Fellows Scholarship: Students who’ve completed “a significant piece of work” are eligible to receive a scholarship of $50,000, $25,000, or $10,000. Deadline: February 14.