How Do I Begin?
Most high schools receive a variety of local and national scholarship
applications during the year.
If your school does not inform you of these opportunities, you can do a
few things to change that situation.
Check out the following two web sites for free scholarship information:
www.fastweb.com
www.finaid.org
Your high school college/career center or guidance office often has
scholarship applications.
Some high schools list the current scholarship applications on the
school web site.
You could check another high school’s web site for scholarship
listings.
Many local clubs and organizations in your community often provide
scholarships.
You won’t find these scholarships listed on the national web sites.
Often students are most competitive for the local scholarships.
What About Fee Services For Scholarship Searches?
Many people are able to find scholarships on the Internet.
Paid services are also available, but you can do a search yourself on
the web for free.
Keep in mind no one can guarantee you a scholarship.
Free scholarship searches include www.fastweb.com and www.finaid.
org.
Scholarship Scams:
If you have any doubts about a scholarship, you can check the Federal
Trade Commission web site at: www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams
Types of Scholarships:
Ethnic background
Essay contests
Community service
Military: ROTC scholarships
Parent’s employer: Large companies
Special talent or interest: art, music, journalism, engineering
Local clubs and organizations: Rotary, Kiwanis, Chamber of
Commerce.
Check with the college you plan to attend to see if scholarships are
available.
Merit Scholarships:
Merit scholarships reward students with a high grade point average
and high SAT scores.
All colleges have some scholarships for bright students without need
These scholarships may be called the President’s Scholarship,
Regents Scholarship, Dean’s Scholarship, etc.
Some colleges will offer reduced tuition for students with a high grade
point average in order to attract the student to the college.
NATIONAL MERIT SEMI-FINALISTS:
Colleges are often interested in students who are National Merit Semi-
Finalists.
These students received a very high score on the PSAT taken in the
junior year.
Some colleges offer scholarship money to NMSF if the student plans to
attend. Colleges like to have a variety of students who are National
Merit Semi-Finalists.
National Scholarships Normally Available Every Year:
WRITING CONTESTS
National Association of Black Journalists www.nabj.org
Cox Newspapers Minority Journalism Scholarship
PO Box 105720, Atlanta, GA 30348
Ayn Rand www.aynrand.org/contests
Holocaust Remembrance Project www.holocaust.hklaw.com
No-Addiction Essay Contest www.No-Addiction.org
ENGINEERING
Gates Millenium Scholars www.gmsp.org
National Society of Black Engineers www.nsbe.org
SAE Engineering Scholarships www.sae.org/students/engschlr.htm
ARTS
Emerging Young Artist Awards www.artsed411.org
ARTS Scholarship www.ARTSaward.org
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Burger King www.bkscholars.org
Coca-Cola Scholars www.coca-colascholars.or
Discover Card Tribute Awards for Juniors www.aasa.org/discover.htm
Good Tidings Community Service Scholarship www.goodtidings.org
SAMMY Award Program www.whymmilk.com
ETHNIC BACKGROUND
Knight Ridder Minority Scholars and HBCU Scholars www.kri.com
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation www.cbcfinc.org
HBCU Connect Scholarship http://hbcuconnect.com/scholarships.
shtml
Jackie Robinson Foundation www.jackierobinson.org
Ron Brown Scholars Program www.ronbrown.org
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org
Sons of Italy Foundation: www.sonsofitalyca.org
Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards www.HispanicHeritageAwards.org
Hispanic Scholarship Fund www.hsf.net
Ronald McDonald House Charities www.rmch.org
Swiss Benevolent Society www.sbssf.com
MILITARY
Army ROTC: www.armyrotc.com
Navy ROTC: www.nrotc.navy.mil
Air Force ROTC: www.afrotc.com
OTHER
Education Communications Scholarship Foundation www.honoring.
com
Elks Foundation: www.elks.org
Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange www.usagermanyscholarship.
org
Books To Read:
The Scholarship Advisor by Chris Vuturo
The Scholarship Book by Daniel Cassidy
The Black Student’s Guide to Scholarships by Barry Beckham
The Hispanic Scholarship Directory
Getting Money for College: Scholarships for Asian-American Students
The College Board Scholarship Handbook
The Scholarship Advisor by Chris Vuturo
How To Go To College Almost For Free by Ben Kaplana
Advice on Getting a Scholarship to College
