Computer Scholarships
If you dream in binary (perhaps of electric sheep), can’t sleep without the hum
of at least a dozen cooling fans, and regularly grapple with the urge to overclock
everything in sight, computer science might be the major for you. With a lot of
work and a bit of luck, who knows, maybe you’ll be responsible for the next big
leap in computer technology. Whether you plan to work for or compete with the giants
of the computer industry, you’re going to need to take some steps to build your
skills, not to mention an impressive resume.
To be a professional computer whiz, you will need training, and at least some amount
of formal education. Those who plan to embark on a career in technology should seriously
consider a degree in computer science. While a college dropout succeeded in founding
Microsoft in 1975, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a college dropout will succeed
in getting a job coding for Microsoft today. A college education, and likely some
additional certification, is all but necessary to succeed in the computer industry
today.
Computer Scholarships Come in Many Forms
Of course the need to go to school brings about the problem of finding a way to
pay for school. And in order to pay for school, chances are, you will need to find
scholarships or other financial aid. Luckily, computer science majors are still
highly sought after, and as a result, have many scholarship opportunities available
to them. To encourage the popularity and growth of the field, numerous scholarship
providers have created computer scholarships for students with an interest in technology.
Major companies like Google and Intel offer scholarships for the technology-minded
student. Many smaller providers and individual colleges have also created funds
that award computer scholarships to students working towards a postsecondary degree.
In addition to major-specific scholarships, the savvy computer nerd might also want
to search for available scholarships based on his or her other diverse skills, interests,
and experiences. Internet debates can be great practice for essay scholarships,
and early adopters of webcam technology might have an advantage in video-based scholarship
contests. Our lists of wacky and unusual college scholarships might also be a good
place to start, especially if your interest in geek culture extends beyond programming
jokes.
Popular Computer Scholarship Awards
Below are just a few examples of scholarships available to computer science students.
To find computer scholarships, students can conduct a free college scholarship search
at Scholarships.com. At Scholarships.com, students will have access to information
about more than 2.7 million scholarships and grants. By using their major as a search
criterion, students can find awards created to help those interested in computer
science and computer engineering obtain a postsecondary education.
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Gates Millennium Scholars Program
The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS), funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established in 1999 to provide outstanding African American, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education, in all discipline areas and a graduate education for those students pursuing studies in mathematics, science, engineering, education, or library science. More
Google Scholarship Program
Among other things, Google provides scholarships to encourage students of various backgrounds, genders and ethnicities to excel in their studies. In hopes that these programs will help dismantle barriers that keep women and minorities from entering computing and technology fields, Google offers the following scholarships:
Google Anita Borg Scholarship
The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the legacy of Anita Borg and her efforts to encourage women to pursue careers in computer science and technology. More
Intel Science Talent Search
Since 1942, Science Service has been in the businessof making dreams come true through the Science Talent Search. Each year, this nationwide competition – America’s oldest and most highly
regarded pre-college science contest – encourages talented high school seniors to pursue careers in science, math, engineering and medicine. For this competition, the first place award is $100,000.
For more information about this scholarship opportunity, please visit:
http://www.sciserv.org/sts
The deadline for submission is November 18. More
Scholarships.com Technology Scholarship
Before embarking on a career in technology, students need the knowledge and skills necessary to find success in the field. Most of the time, an education is a prerequisite for such jobs. Students studying technology, especially ones who enjoy their classes, may find financing an education to be more difficult than obtaining it. By offering scholarships to such students, Scholarships.com hopes to help technology majors attend their colleges of choice.
Students who apply for the Scholarships.com Technology Scholarship will have the chance to earn $1,000 towards their college education—and it couldn’t be easier. More
The Dell Scholars Program
The Dell Scholars Program enables more underserved students with financial need to achieve their greatest potential through higher education.The Dell Scholars Program is offered to those high school students participating in an approved AVID program. The funding for each Dell Scholar is substantial: $20,000. The value of these 250 scholarships equals $5.0 million. MSDF believes that funding a significant percentage of their college expenses will enable these students to focus on their college studies and complete their bachelor program. More