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February 2018 Scholarship Deadlines

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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.

Are you eligible for the New York State Excelsior Scholarship?

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New York State launched the Excelsior Scholarship earlier this year.  This new program is designed to make college education more affordable for New York State residents who wish to attend SUNY or CUNY schools.  For students who meet the eligibility requirements, this program will award up to $5,500 and is intended to supplement other grants and scholarships to make tuition free at in-state public universities.  The eligibility requirements should be reviewed thoroughly.  Here are a few key ones:

An eligible student must:

– be a resident of New York State
– attend a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year degree program
– take 30 credits per calendar year
– maintain good academic standing
– plan to live in New York following graduation for a length of time equivalent to the number of years in which he or she participates in the scholarship program

In addition, the student or parents must:

– earn under a particular income cap (between $100,000 and $125,000 depending on the year of their application)

While the application for the 2018-19 school year isn’t yet open, you can prepare now by completing the FAFSA, applying for New York State’s Tuition Assistance Program (which you can do through the FAFSA’s confirmation page), and keeping your eye on the Excelsior Scholarship website.