A scholarship can be used to assist with college expenses as well as to recognize and reward exceptional abilities, hard work, and academic achievement. This year, there are a few scholarships that stand out because they offer big prizes, are easy to get, and consider a lot of different factors. Knowing about these scholarships and how to apply improves your chances of winning.
Types of Scholarships to Consider
To effectively find and apply for scholarships, it is important to know the different kinds available:
Merit-based scholarship means that you did well in school, on tests, or in some other way. Usually, colleges, universities, and private groups deliver them. The National Merit Scholarship and various scholarships offered by colleges and universities are two examples. ed-based Schol-rships: There are scholarships for students who need them, but they have to show proof that they are having a hard time paying their bills. One well-known example is the Federal Pell Grant. There are also many state and institutional grants in this category.
Program-specific scholarships: These are for students who want to go into certain careers or fields of study. For instance, there are a lot of scholarships for people who work in STEM fields like engineering and computer science.
Skill-Based and Talent-Based Scholarships: If you are very good at sports, music, art, or other subjects, you may be able to find scholarships that recognize and reward these skills. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and the John F. Kennedy exceptionally file in Courage Essay Contest are two examples.
Top Scholarships for High School Seniors This Year
National College Match Scholarship
September 26, 2024 is the deadline.
Award Amount: Full Tuition
Low-income high school seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence are eligible for the National College Match Scholarship. This award covers the entire cost of tuition, room, and board at some of the most prestigious colleges in the country.
Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway
September 30, 2024 is the deadline.
Award Amount: $2,500 to $100,000
Students aged 18 to 24 are eligible to participate in the Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway. You are required to either sign in to or create a Pepper Perks account and upload a 60-second video that elucidates your academic objectives, professional aspirations, or personal aspirations. The criteria for evaluating videos include the following: the quality and delivery of the overall presentation, the impact of tuition assistance, the need for tuition assistance, and the career goals. In December, the Conference Champ Game will feature the finalist teams on the field.
Coca-Cola Scholars Program
September 30, 2024 is the deadline.
Prize Amount: $20,000
High school seniors who intend to enroll in an accredited post-secondary institution in the United States are eligible to participate in the Coca-Cola Scholars Program. In order to be eligible for this award, a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Home-schooled students are also eligible to apply.
Summer 2024 Fastweb Invite a Friend Sweepstakes
September 30, 2024 is the deadline.
Amount of the Award: $1,000
The Fastweb Invite a Friend Sweepstakes is open to registered Fastweb members who are legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and are at least sixteen (16) years of age. In order to acquire your personal referral link, you must access your Fastweb account. You and your referral will be entered as a pair into the current drawing for each individual who registers for Fastweb through your personal referral link during the Promotion Period.
Goodwall #ScholarshipNow Challenge
September 30, 2024 is the deadline.
Amount of the Award: $2,500
Enter the #ScholarshipNow challenge for a chance to win $2,500! To participate, download the Goodwall app and share a video on the hashtag #ScholarshipNow explains how winning this scholarship would assist you in achieving your educational objectives.
International Public Policy Forum Contest
The deadline is October 22/24.
Prize Amount: $500 to $5,000
High school students who are interested in forensics or debate are eligible to participate in the International Public Policy Forum Contest. In order to be considered, you must collaborate with a minimum of three students from the same high school to compose a 3,000-word essay that either supports or refutes the subsequent subject: “Resolved: Equitable access to pharmaceuticals should be prioritized over protecting intellectual property rights.”
Scholarship Competition for Voices of Democracy
The deadline is October 31, 2024.
Prize Amount: $35,000
High school students are eligible to participate in the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition. To be eligible for entry, you must create an original audio essay ranging from three to five minutes in length on the subject of “Is America Today A Reflection of Our Forefathers’ Vision?”
Greenhouse Scholars Program
The deadline is November 14, 2024.
$5,000 is the amount of the award.
High school seniors in Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New York, and North Carolina are eligible to participate in the Greenhouse Scholars Program. In order to be eligible for this award, you must possess a minimum GPA of 3.5 and exhibit a strong commitment and interest in the community. Additionally, you must demonstrate financial necessity, leadership, and the capacity to endure challenging circumstances.
Regeneron Science Talent Search
The deadline is November 7, 2024.
Award Amount: $250,000
High school seniors who demonstrate exceptional talent are eligible to participate in the Regeneron Science Talent Search. The students will be responsible for conducting their own research in the fields of science, mathematics, or engineering. In order to be considered, you must submit a research report that is no longer than 20 pages and provides a detailed explanation of your experiments and conclusions. A single individual must conduct the research; group and team projects are not eligible.
National Scholarship from the Washington Crossing Foundation
The deadline is January 15, 2025.
Prize Amount: $500 to $5,000
High school seniors who are interested in careers in local, state, or federal government service to the United States are eligible to apply for the Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship. In order to be considered, you must submit a 300-word essay that outlines the reasons for your decision to pursue a career in government service, including any sources of inspiration that you may have derived from George Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware.
Profile in Courage Essay Contest
The deadline is January 17, 2025.
Prize Amount: $100 to $10,000
High school students are eligible to participate in the Profile in Courage Essay Contest. In order to qualify, you must submit a 700- to 1000-word essay that delineates and evaluates a political act of courage committed by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917. GED students under the age of 20 are also eligible to apply.
ExploraVision Science Competition
The deadline is January 31st, 2025.
Award Amount: $5,000 to $10,000
Students in grades K-12 are eligible to participate in the ExploraVision Science Competition. You are required to collaborate with a group of two to four students. Each team is required to identify a technology or a component of a technology that is present in the home, school, or community, or any other technology that is pertinent to their lives. They will investigate the technology’s functionality, mechanism, and the circumstances surrounding its development, including its origin, timing, and rationale. The students must subsequently envision the potential future of the technology and ascertain the scientific breakthroughs that are necessary to make it a reality, extending the time frame to 10 or more years.
One-for-two scholarship
The deadline is February 2/1/25.
Award Amount: $25,000
High school seniors and current college students are eligible for the One for Two Scholarship. In order to qualify for this award, a minimum GPA of 3.7 is required. The recipients of this award are required to commit to funding a comparable scholarship grant for two individuals who are not related by blood, adoption, or marriage, during their lifetime.
Shari Simon Greenberg Community Scholarship
February 14, 2025 is the deadline.
Award Amount: Subject to Change
The Shari Simon Greenberg Community Scholarship is available to high school seniors who are graduating and demonstrate academic potential. To be eligible for this award, you must be a legal U.S. resident, reside in a community around a Simon mall, and demonstrate financial need.
Scholars Assisting Collars
February 24, 2025 is the deadline.
Award Amount: $200 to $1,500
High school seniors are eligible to apply for the Scholars Helping Collars Scholarship. In order to be considered, you must submit an essay that details your volunteer efforts to assist animals in need and how this involvement has influenced your life or influenced your perceptions of the significance of animal welfare.
Scholarship Competition for the Development of a Greeting Card
March 3, 2025 is the deadline.
Prize: $10,000
Students who are at least 14 years of age are eligible to participate in the Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest. To be eligible for entry, you must submit an original design for a greeting card that applies to any occasion, including Christmas, holiday, birthday, or all-occasion. All designs or photographs must be the applicant’s original work.
Video Contest for Courageous Persuaders
March 10, 2025 is the deadline.
Award Amount: Subject to Change
High school students are eligible to participate in the Courageous Persuaders Video Contest. In an effort to warn middle school students about the hazards of drinking and driving or distracted driving, it is necessary to develop a 30-second television commercial. Entering as an individual or as a team is permissible.
RealtyHop Scholarship
April 30, 2025 is the deadline.
Amount of the Award: $1,000
High school seniors and current undergraduate students are eligible for the RealtyHop Scholarship. In order to be considered, you must submit a 500-word essay on the following subject: “Imagine yourself 10 years in the future after having graduated college and living the life of your dreams: find a listing on RealtyHop you picture yourself living in and write what your favorite room or feature is on the listing and why it is important to your future life.”
Rover College Scholarship
The deadline is May 1, 2025.
Amount of the Award: $2,500
The Rover College Scholarship is available to current college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, as well as graduating high school seniors. In order to be considered, you must submit a 400- to 500-word essay on the following topic: “How has the presence of a pet in your life (which could be a friend’s or family member’s) influenced the person you are today?”
Posse STEM Program
The deadline is subject to change.
Award Amount: Full Tuition
High school seniors who are leaders in their schools and communities are eligible to participate in the Posse STEM Program. To be eligible for participation, you must be a resident of Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, or New York. Brandeis University, Bryn Mawr College, Middlebury College, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin – Madison, and Texas A&M University will award leadership scholarships to Posse Scholars. A high school or community-based organization must nominate the candidate.
National Oratorical Contest of the American Legion
The deadline is subject to change.
Award Amount: $20,000 to $25,000
Junior high and high school students who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States and are under the age of 20 are eligible to participate in the American Legion National Oratorical Contest. In order to be considered, you must compose an oration that addresses a specific aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with a particular focus on the responsibilities and obligations of a citizen to our government. The Legion’s website contains an exhaustive list of subjects. The first round of the national contest qualifies each individual state winner for a $2,000 scholarship.
Tips for maximizing your chances
Applications can be a time-consuming and competitive endeavor; however, there are methods to differentiate oneself: early hour: as soon as possible, begin the process of researching and applying for scholarships. Scholarships have deadlines that are well in advance of the application deadline for college.are strategies that can assist you in distinguishing yourself from the competition and time-consuming process of applying for scholarships:
Early Application: and applying for scholarships as soon as possible. are well in advance of the deadline for college applications.
Order of Your Documents: Ensure that your transcripts, essays, recommendation letters, and other essential documents are organized and easily accessible. will simplify the application process.application process will be achieved.
Adhere to the Instructions: It is imperative that you adhere to all application instructions attentively. include a specific detail or submit incomplete information may result in your disqualification fromFailure to the selection process.
Complete a comprehensive review of your essays and applications to ensure that they are free of errors in grammar, spelling, and clarity. It is advisable to have a third party review the documents in order to identify any errors that may have been overlooked.
FAQs
Q: How can I find scholarships that I qualify for?
A: Commence by employing scholarship search engines such as Cappex, Scholarship.com, or Fastweb. Additionally, consult the guidance counselor at your school, local community organizations, and prospective colleges. Through these channels, numerous scholarships are advertised.
Q: What if I don’t have perfect grades or test scores?
A: Not all scholarships are wholly contingent upon academic achievement. Extracurricular involvement, leadership, community service, and personal challenges are all factors that are taken into account by numerous scholarships. Hunt for scholarships that align with your distinctive strengths and experiences.
Q: Can I apply for scholarships if I plan to attend a community college or trade school?
Absolutely! There are numerous scholarships available to students who are enrolled in community colleges or trade schools. Inquire with your chosen institution, local organizations, and industry-specific scholarships to identify pertinent opportunities.
Q: Are there scholarships for students pursuing non-traditional paths, such as gap years or unconventional careers?
A: Yes, scholarships are available for students who pursue non-traditional academic tracks. Hunt for scholarships that encourage non-traditional career paths, entrepreneurial ventures, or gap year experiences. This type of scholarship is frequently provided by organizations and programs that prioritize distinctive experiences.
Q: How can I stay organized during the scholarship application process?
A: Develop a comprehensive list of the deadlines and specific requirements for each scholarship for which you are applying. Use a planner or calendar to monitor the dates and materials required for the application process. Ensure that you submit applications that are both timely and comprehensive by maintaining a sense of organization.