Undergraduate Scholarships
You have probably heard this a million times, but I'll repeat it: If you want to be financially secure, you will need a college education. Unless you're Mark Zuckerberg, you need to attend and graduate from school. Even NBA and NFL stars are now expected to give college a shot before hitting the big leagues. Hollywood is still an option, but from what I hear (from every third person who shares the dream), it's competitive.
An education is a cherished commodity, and the price tags reflect it. Many students interested in receiving a college degree will need assistance with affording it. Thankfully, plenty of financial aid is available, especially where undergraduate scholarships are concerned. Philanthropic organizations, large corporations, understanding individuals and the government all work together to provide students with the support they need to attend college.
That’s good news for anxious undergraduates worried about the financial consequences of obtaining a postsecondary education. Two types of scholarships, the corporate and the private, can be particularly helpful to these individuals.
Corporate Scholarships
Numerous large corporations give back to the community by offering scholarships for undergraduate students. The bigger the corporation, the larger the chance of scholarship offers. Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Toyota, you name it, they offer scholarships. The benefit of corporate scholarships is that eligibility criteria tend to be unrestrictive. Corporations want to reach as many people as possible, so their scholarships are open to various students. This obviously increases applicant competition, a negative side effect corporations try to offset by offering either lucrative awards or a large number awards. Worries about competition are warranted, but if you’re looking for straightforward requirements, corporate scholarships are a good bet.
Private Scholarships
Many individuals and small organizations also offer scholarships to help students pay for an education. It is not uncommon for private scholarship providers to attach detailed eligibility criteria to their awards, but, contrary to popular belief, they don’t always concentrate on GPA. In fact, private scholarships are frequently made available to students majoring in a particular subject or to those who have faced certain obstacles. For example, a pilot may begin an annual scholarship fund to assist aviation students in overcoming the financial obstacles he or she faced as a student. It is always a good idea to take advantage of scholarships with detailed eligibility criteria if you are among those eligible. Finding such awards may be time consuming without assistance, but using the free scholarship search at Scholarships.com will fix that.
Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowships
Application Deadlines:
March 31, Annually
Five Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowships in the amount of $15,000 will be awarded to young poets through a national competition sponsored by the Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry. Established in 1989 by the Indianapolis philanthropist Ruth Lilly, the fellowships are intended to encourage the further study and writing of poetry.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and at least 21 years of age but no [...] More
ALBA George Watt Memorial Essay Contest
Application Deadlines:
June 01, Annually
The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA) is pleased to announce the continuing annual competition for the George Watt Memorial Essay prizes. Graduate and undergraduate students from the United States and elsewhere are invited to submit an essay or thesis chapter about any aspect of the Spanish Civil War, the global political or cultural struggles against fascism in 1920s and 1930s, or the [...] More
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Program
Application Deadlines:
February 07, Annually
The Truman Scholarship provides up to $30,000 to support students who wish to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or elsewhere in public service.
Candidates must:
- Attend an accredited U.S. college or university and be nominated by the institution's Truman Faculty Representative [candidates MAY NOT apply directly]
- Be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals
- Complete [...] More