22 College Scholarships for Hispanic Women in 2023

What’s Covered:

• 22 College Scholarships for Hispanic and Latina Women
• 5 Tips for Applying for Scholarships
• How Much Will College Cost Your Family?

 

The best colleges seek out diverse student bodies that feature individuals from all races, religions, and walks of life. To draw more Hispanic and Latina women to higher education, many schools and organizations now offer specific scholarships.

 

From general awards targeting women of Hispanic descent to specific grants for Latina women pursuing particular fields of study, read on for some of the best college scholarships for Hispanic women!

 

22 College Scholarships for Hispanic and Latina Women

 

1. HSF Scholar Program

 

Amount: $500-$5,000

Deadline: Passed, but will reopen in 2024

Eligibility:

• Must be of Hispanic heritage
• U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA
• Minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students; minimum of 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for college and graduate students
• Plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the US, for the 2023-2024 academic year
• Submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms (if applicable)

Application Requirement: Online application

 

Are you considering a career in STEM? While the Hispanic Scholarship Fund provides awards to students of all majors, special consideration is given to those pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math. Financial need isn’t considered during the selection process, but it may affect the amount of money you receive in funding.

 

2. The Gates Scholarship

 

Amount: Full cost of attendance that is not covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution, as determined by the FAFSA

Deadline: Passed, but will reopen in 2024

Eligibility:

• A high school senior
• From at least one of the following ethnicities: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
• Pell-eligible
• A US citizen, national, or permanent resident
• In good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)

Application Requirement: Online application

 

The Gates Scholarship is a selective and prestigious last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Last-dollar scholarships are meant to cover any costs remaining after grants and institutional aid are applied. Every year, Gates Scholarship recipients are given the chance to reach their maximum potential through this generous award.

 

3. LNESC/NBCUniversal Media Scholarship

 

Amount: $5,000 (non-renewable)

Deadline: N/A

Eligibility:

• A college sophomore or junior enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university
• At least 18 years of age or older
• Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent
• Must be a U. S. Citizen, Legal Permanent Resident, or have legal authorization to work in the U.S. without requiring sponsorship now or in the future
• Have an interest in the media and entertainment industry; all majors are welcomed

Application Requirement: Online application

 

Are you interested in a career in the entertainment industry? The LNESC/NBCUniversal Media Scholarship Program supports talented Latinx individuals pursuing careers in entertainment and media. Each year, ten rising sophomores and juniors receive an award of $5,000 toward their education. There is no particular major requirement for this scholarship.

 

4. TheDream.US National Scholarship

 

Amount: $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree at a partner college

Deadline: Passed, but will reopen in 2024

Eligibility:

• Are undocumented and came to the United States before November 1, 2017, and have continuously lived in the United States since then or have DACA or TPS
• Came to the United States before the age of 16 (if you were born in the U.S., you are not eligible for this scholarship)
• Have significant unmet financial need
• Have graduated or will graduate from a United States high school (or have earned or will earn a high school equivalency diploma) before Fall 2023
• Graduated or will graduate with a high school GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale or have a cumulative college GPA of 2.5 or better
• Intend to enroll full-time in an associate or bachelor’s degree program at a Partner College in your state in the Fall of 2023 or Spring of 2024
• Are eligible for in-state tuition at the Partner College you want to attend (not applicable if it is a private Partner College in your state)

Application Requirements:

• Online application
• Transcripts
• Immigration information

 

TheDream.US National Scholarship offers a tuition award to undocumented immigrant students at a list of partner colleges. Applicants are assessed based on their academic performance and their commitment to community service. The scholarship committee also takes a particular interest in how applicants have overcome the barriers and challenges they have faced due to their undocumented status.

 

5. Chicana Latina Foundation Leadership and Scholarship Program

 

Amount: $1,500

Deadline: Passed, but will reopen on January 1, 2024

Eligibility:

• Self-identify as a Chicana and/or Latina
• Be enrolled in an accredited college, university, or community college in one of the following California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, San Francisco, Sonoma, or Yolo
• Have lived at least two (2) years in one of the above Northern California counties at the time of application
• Community College and Undergraduate students must:
  • Be enrolled in a full-time college student (as defined by your institution) for the 2023-2024 Academic Year.
  • Have completed 12 college units after high school graduation
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 college coursework

Application Requirements:

• College transcripts
• One letter of recommendation

 

Every year, Chicana Latina Foundation selects 40-45 students to participate in their Leadership & Scholarship Program, which comes with a $1,500 scholarship. Selected students will attend all of CLF’s Leadership Institute sessions in August 2023 and February 2024, as well as the CLF Annual Award Dinner in January 2024. They must also complete 10 hours of outreach on their respective campuses as CLF Ambassadors during the application cycle.

 

6. Next Day Animations Illustrating Awesomeness Scholarship

 

Amount: 4 awards of $750

Deadline: Passed, but will reopen in Fall 2023

Eligibility:

• Must be young women or gender non-conforming individuals of color who are currently enrolled or who will begin college/university in the spring semester
• Current high school seniors with a semester of high school remaining will not be considered
• Must attend college in the United States
• Intended for undergraduate students

Application Requirements:

• Online application
• A 500-word essay or 5-minute video detailing how you will make the world a better place

 

The Illustrating Awesomeness Scholarship is an opportunity that celebrates women and gender non-conforming individuals of color who are working to make the world a better place. The scholarship only accepts a certain number of applications a year, so apply early to ensure that you’ll be considered for this prize.

 

7. American Chemical Society Scholars Program

 

Amount: Up to $5,000

Deadline: Passed, but will reopen in 2024

Eligibility:

• U.S. citizens or legal permanent U.S. residents (please inquire via email if you have questions regarding asylum or DACA status)
• African descent or Black, Hispanic or Latina/Latino/Latinx, or Indigenous (e.g., Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native)
• Graduating high school seniors or college freshmen, sophomores or juniors. Seniors can apply for their fifth year.
• Those intending to major or are already majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical technology, or another chemistry-related science AND planning to pursue a career in a chemistry-related science as well
• Full-time students at a high school or an accredited college, university, or community college
• Those demonstrating high academic achievement in chemistry or science (Grade Point Average 3.0 or higher)

Application Requirements:

• Online application
• Unofficial Transcript
• Two letters of recommendation
• Copy of Student Aid Report (SAR)

 

Do you dream of working in the sciences? The ACS supports current and aspiring chemical science or chemical technology majors from underrepresented ethnic groups. This scholarship for minority students is open to high school seniors, as well as college freshman, sophomores, or juniors. Students who are pre-med don’t qualify for the award.

 

8. Hispanic Scholarship Consortium Scholars Program

 

Amount: N/A

Deadline: April 30, 2023

Eligibility (Full list of criteria varies by scholarship):

• Be of Hispanic/Latino heritage
• Plan to enroll on a full-time basis in a certificate or associate, bachelor, master or doctoral degree program
• Hold a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Reside in Texas. U.S. citizenship is not required.

Application Requirement (full requirements vary by scholarship): Online application

 

The Hispanic Scholarship Consortium is a collection of various organizations and individuals, so scholarship amounts, eligibility criteria, and application requirements vary. Nevertheless, the HSC Scholars Program features renewable scholarships, multi-day leadership training experience, mentoring, membership in an extensive alumni network, and regular communication and guidance from trained professionals.

 

9. The Actuarial Foundation Actuarial Diversity Scholarship

 

Amount: $1,000-$4,000 ($1,000 in freshman year with an increase of $1,000 every subsequent year until senior year)

Deadline: June 1, 2023

Eligibility:

• Must have at least one birth parent who is a member of one of the following minority groups: Black/African American, Latinx, Native North American, Pacific Islander
• Enrolling or enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at a U.S.-accredited educational institution
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), emphasis on math or actuarial courses
• Entering college freshmen must have a minimum ACT math score of 28 or SAT math score of 620
• Intent on pursuing a career in the actuarial profession

Application Requirement: Online application

 

The Actuarial Foundation recognizes that there is a diversity challenge in the actuarial profession. There are dramatic disparities in career attainment for minorities. Research has found that Latinx individuals make up only 1.9% of the Society of Actuaries and 1.8% Casualty Actuarial Society. The Actuarial Diversity Scholarship is meant to increase opportunities for students who are part of groups historically underrepresented in the industry.

 

10. BLM² Foundation Scholarship

 

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: July 3, 2023

Eligibility:

• Be a minority (e.g., African American, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific American, or Alaska Native).
• Be a graduating high school senior in the year of the award
• Plan to attend an accredited college or university within the United States
• Must be a permanent US Citizen
• Must hold a high school Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Must be enrolled as a full-time student during the Fall Academic Semester of the award

Application Requirements:

• Online application
• Completed essay on the topic provided
• Activity Sheet
• Recommendation Letter (typed and in a sealed envelope)
• ACT/SAT Score Sheet
• Official High School Transcript (with Seal). A broken seal will void your application.
• School information for sending out the check (check addressed to, physical school address, contact name, contact number)
• Copy of College/University Acceptance Letter
• Office of Admissions Contact Information (phone number and address)

 

The BLM² Scholarship Foundation was established in 2014 to help minority high school seniors pursue higher education. Their Scholarship Program is designed to address the financial needs of minority college students and award outstanding high school graduates—who plan to earn a baccalaureate degree from an accredited, four-year college or university—with financial assistance.

 

11. José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund

 

Amount: $2,000 annually

Deadline: Passed, but will reopen in 2024

Eligibility:

• Submit a completed, error-free Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA)
• Be of Spanish culture, born in or having a natural parent who was born in either Mexico or a Hispanic country of the Caribbean, Central or South America, regardless of race. Students of the following countries are not considered for an evaluation of this scholarship: Brazil, Spain, and Haiti.
• Minimum unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Demonstrate a minimum of $2,000 in financial need by timely completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in time to be processed error-free by the U.S. Department of Education on or before May 15, 2023.

• Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. A student’s residency and citizenship status are determined by the postsecondary institution.
• Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made
• Not have previously earned a baccalaureate degree
• Enroll as a degree-seeking student at an eligible postsecondary institution and enroll each academic term for a minimum of 12 credit hours for undergraduate study or 9 credit hours for graduate study

Application Requirement: Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA)

 

Named for Cuban poet and national hero, José Martí, the José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund is a need-based merit scholarship that provides financial assistance to eligible students of Hispanic origin who will attend Florida public or eligible private institutions. 

 

Applicants are ranked first by highest need as determined by the FAFSA, second by the highest GPA, and third by application submission date. First priority is given to renewal applicants.

 

12. McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship

 

Amount: Up to $100,000

Deadline: Application opens Fall 2023

Eligibility:

• Younger than 21 years old
• Legal U.S. resident or a DREAMer/DACA recipient
• High school seniors with a minimum 2.8 GPA who are eligible to attend a two- or four-year college or university with a full-time course of study
• Must disclose other scholarship programs that you’ve applied for
• Will enroll in and attend an accredited institution in the academic year after your selection (verification needed, as scholarship funds are paid directly to the schools)
• Have at least one parent of Hispanic heritage

Application Requirements:

• Transcript
• Personal statement
• Letter of recommendation to be submitted online
• List of community service projects
• FAFSA report and/or 1040s

 

This award celebrates talented young people with at least one parent of Hispanic descent. To be competitive, students should have performed well academically despite limited access to educational resources. Scholarships start at $5,000 for Tier 3 recipients. Tier 2 recipients will receive $10,000 or $20,000, and Tier 1 recipients are awarded up to $100,000.

 

13. Café Bustelo El Café del Futuro Scholarship

 

Amount: $5,000

Deadline: July 3, 2023

Eligibility:

• Full-time undergraduate or graduate students of Latino descent
• Open to all majors
• Must be 18 years or older
• Currently enrolled at a HACU-member institution within the United States, D.C., and Puerto Rico
• Internet access and a valid e-mail address are required to apply

Application Requirements:

• Online application
• 800-word essay about your Latino heritage

 

Through this generous scholarship award, Café Bustelo is investing in the Latino community. This scholarship fund is intended to help those who are seeking better futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. 

 

College students with a passion for learning and community involvement are asked to write an essay (in English or Spanish) detailing how their heritage, family, and community have impacted their desire and motivation to obtain a college degree, how they plan to give back to their community, and what they intend to accomplish with their degree.

 

14. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Inclusion Scholarship

 

Amount: $10,000

Deadline: Passed, but will reopen in 2024

Eligibility:

• Pursuing a career in any aspect of the television industry
• Identify as Black, indigenous, or a person of color

Application Requirement: Online application

 

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS)—the organization that created the Emmy Awards—is dedicated to the advancement of television and related electronic media. To that end, they award scholarships to high school seniors intending to pursue a communications degree with an emphasis on any aspect of the television industry.

 

The Inclusion Scholarship is awarded to students pursuing careers in the television industry who identify as Black, indigenous, or a person of color.

 

15. Prospanica Scholarship Program

 

Amount: Up to $5,000

Deadline: Passed, but will reopen in 2024

Eligibility:

• Be a United States citizen, legal permanent resident, or DACA recipient
• Be of Hispanic/Latino heritage
• Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent) OR have a minimum 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent) in combination with work experience during that time
• Have a Prospanica membership – Member ID required. Prospanica is offering a 50% discount on student membership during the preliminary round, using code 2023SCHOLAR.
• Be enrolled or planning to enroll in a postgraduate (Master’s or PhD) or undergraduate program in an accredited university business school (in the U.S. or Puerto Rico). If applying for the undergraduate awards, the applicant must currently be a college sophomore or higher.

Application Requirement: Online application

 

Prospanica was founded to empower and enable Hispanic professionals to achieve their full potential—educationally, economically, and socially. To help achieve this goal, they offer scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students who intend to make meaningful contributions to society. Their scholarship program is seeking the next generation of agents of change who will help to uplift the entire Hispanic community.

 

16. Hispanic Heritage Foundation Youth Awards

 

Amount: N/A

Deadline: N/A (2023 details TBA)

Eligibility:

• Be currently enrolled in high school and graduating in the spring of 2023
• Must have a minimum unweighted 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale or 7.5 on a 10.0 scale
• Must enroll at an accredited higher education institution in 2023-2024
• Be of Hispanic heritage (includes Spain, Brazil, Philippines)
• If selected, attendance at a virtual regional awards ceremony is mandatory

Application Requirement: Online application

 

The Youth Awards, founded in 1998 by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, celebrates high-achieving Latino high school seniors for their excellence in the classroom and the community.

 

Students who work in various categories are recognized. These categories include Business & Entrepreneurship, Community Service, Education, Engineering, Green Sustainability, Healthcare & Science, Media & Entertainment, Public Service & Social Justice, and Technology. Awardees receive a one-time grant to fund their college education or to fund a community service project that addresses a social issue.

 

17. Study Abroad Scholarship in BiH for American Minority Students

 

Amount: $500-$2,000

Deadline: N/A

Eligibility:

• Be an American undergraduate or graduate student
• Be of African American, Hispanic American, or Native American descent
• Be accepted into a university program in Bosnia and Herzegovina, enroll in a university-accredited language program, or participate in a faculty-led study tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Application Requirement: N/A. Information can be requested through the contact on the website.

 

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) has designated Bosnia and Herzegovina as a study abroad destination under its TCA Study Abroad Scholarship Program for American Minority Students. Through this program, TCA provides up to 100 scholarships—of $500 to $2,000—per year to eligible American undergraduate and graduate minority students who are accepted to study for a semester or a year at a university in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

18. LULAC National Scholarship Fund

 

Amount: Up to $2,000

Deadline: Application opens February 2024

Eligibility:

• U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or DACA
• Must have applied to or be enrolled as a full-time student in a college or university, including 2-year colleges, or vocational schools that lead to an associate’s degree. Graduate students must have applied to or be enrolled as a part-time student in a college or university.
• Students will not be eligible for a scholarship if related to a scholarship committee member, the Council President, or an individual contributor to the local funds of the Council
• Participating states will be made available on the website

Application Requirements:

• Completed and signed LNSF application form. LNSF applications must be mailed or emailed directly to a participating LULAC Council by March 31
• High school or college transcript, including cumulative GPA
• Verification of admittance or enrollment from the institution the student is attending or planning to attend (e.g., letter of acceptance, letter from the registrar, or a transcript)
• Typed, or neatly printed, personal essay of not more than 500 words

 

The LULAC National Scholarship Fund (LNSF) was created to help youth in underserved communities realize their dreams of attending college. LNSF is a partnership between grassroots advocates and big corporations that is intended to empower the Latino community through educational funding. The scholarship’s rigorous selection process ensures that the level of excellence recipients attain remains consistent.

 

19. LNESC/ExxonMobil Engineering Scholarship

 

Amount: One national scholarship of $20,000; 12 local scholarships of $2,000

Deadline: Not yet announced

Eligibility:

• Applicants must reside within the following cities and surrounding areas and meet the following criteria to be considered for a scholarship:  Albuquerque, NM,  Austin, TX,  Bayamon, PR,  Colorado Springs, CO,  Corpus Christi, TX,  Dallas, TX,  El Paso, TX,  Houston, TX,  Kansas City, MO,  Miami, FL,  Oxnard, CA,  Philadelphia, PA,  San Antonio, TX,  San Diego, CA,  Vancouver, WA
• Must be a high school senior or first-year college student
• Must have a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or have the legal right to work in the U.S. without requiring sponsorship now or in the future

Application Requirement: Online application

 

The product of a partnership between the LULAC National Educational Service Centers (LNESC) and the ExxonMobil Foundation, the ExxonMobil Engineering Scholarship Program is intended to assist outstanding Hispanic college freshmen who plan to pursue a degree in engineering at U.S. post-secondary institutions.

 

One national scholarship of $20,000, paid over four years, and twelve $2,000 local scholarships will be awarded to qualified high school seniors and college freshmen.

 

20. American Meteorological Society Scholarship for Underserved Communities

 

Amount: $6,000 for two years ($3,000 per year)

Deadline: Passed, but will reopen in 2024

Eligibility:

• U.S. citizen or hold permanent resident status.
• Students who will be entering their freshman year of college in the fall of 2023 are eligible to apply.
• Students must plan to pursue careers in the atmospheric or related oceanic and hydrologic sciences. Marine Biology is not eligible.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Students eligible to apply for the AMS Scholarship for Underserved Communities may also apply to the AMS Freshman Scholarship Program but can only accept one scholarship if selected for both.

Application Requirements:

• Online application form
• An official high school transcript showing past three years
• One letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or guidance counselor

 

The AMS Scholarship for Underserved Communities awards funding to students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, especially Hispanic, Native American, and Black/African American students.

 

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is committed to diversity in the meteorological sciences. They espouse core values of diversity, inclusion, and equity across all aspects of the atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences.

 

21. La Unidad Latina Foundation Scholarships for Undergraduate and Graduate Latino Students

 

Amount: $500-$2,000

Deadline: Passed, but will reopen in 2024

Eligibility:

• Minimum GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 GPA scale
• Enrolled on a full-time basis, in a bachelor’s program at an accredited four-year college or university. Graduates of two-year, community college students who are starting at a four-year college no later than August 2023 are also eligible to apply.
• At least one complete semester of full-time study
• Must reside in the United States at the time of application
• Residential criteria for NYS regional scholarship: Enrolled at a college or university in New York State (out-of-state residents may apply) or have a primary address in New York and attend a college or university out of state (i.e. eligible if family resides in NYS and you return to NYS for winter/spring/summer break)
• Residential criteria for GLC Mateo Gomez Memorial Scholarship: Enrolled at any college or university in the United States with a plan to pursue a study abroad, internship, or other international experience that provides exposure to Latin American culture

Application Requirements:

• Transcript
• 2-year, community college applicants starting at 4-year college must provide an acceptance letter from the 4-year college or university the applicant plans to attend
• Letter of recommendation describing student leadership and commitment to civic service (maximum of 250 words)
• GLC Mateo Gomez Memorial Scholarship applicants must submit a letter of approval to a study abroad or international work program. If a letter of approval is not available, then a letter on college or university letterhead from your study abroad office indicating your intent to study or work abroad.
• Only when requested by LULF: Official university-issued academic transcript(s) required and included in application

 

La Unidad Latina Foundation currently offers two scholarships—one for students in New York State and one for students who intend to have an international experience (including study abroad and internships) that provides exposure to Latin American culture.

 

Unlike many programs, this scholarship is open to almost all fields of study and degree types. The award welcomes applicants pursuing a bachelor’s degree, a Master of Arts degree, a Master of Science degree, a Master of Public Administration/Policy degree, a Master of Social Work degree, a Master of Education degree, a Master of Divinity degree, and PhDs.

 

22. American Association of School Personnel Administrators Leon Bradley Scholarship Program

 

Amount: $3,500

Deadline: May 31, 2023

Eligibility:

• Minority students
• Seeking a degree in education and in your final year

Application Requirements:

• Online application
• Copy of your unofficial transcript
• Letter from the Dean of the College of Education or a designated representative of the program
• Letter from a character reference
• Copy of your resume

 

Funded by The American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA), the 

Leon Bradley Scholarship Program awards up to two undergraduate scholarships annually. In addition to supporting minority students on their journey to becoming teachers, the program strives to ensure that all students have access to instructors from different races and ethnic backgrounds. Graduate students seeking administrative credentials may also qualify for support.

 

23 (Bonus). CollegeVine Scholarships

 

Amount: $2,000

Deadline: Quarterly

Eligibility: high school student and US resident

Application Requirements: create a free CollegeVine account or fill out chancing profile if you already have an account.

 

CollegeVine provides a quarterly, no-essay scholarship of $2,000. All you have to do is sign up for a free account, which allows you to see your chances of acceptance at 1,600+ schools, get your essays reviewed by a peer, ask questions in our community forum, and more. If you already have an account, just make sure your chancing profile is filled out.

 

Awards will be paid out directly to students to help them cover any educational costs. Learn more about the CollegeVine scholarships.

 

5 Tips for Applying for Scholarships

 

Whether you’re targeting general college grants or scholarships for Hispanic women, it’s important to do your homework. Here are some of our top tips for increasing your chances of securing a scholarship.

 

1. Start early

 

As a high school student, it’s never too early to start seeking out options for scholarships. With college tuition prices on the rise, students need all the funding they can get. Because winning scholarships is a numbers game, it’s wise to apply to as many scholarships as you can, prioritizing those that you have a good chance of securing. Look for scholarships with similar requirements, so you can limit any extra work you have to do.

 

2. Find a support system

 

Applying for scholarships can be just as arduous as applying to colleges. Therefore, it’s important to have a good support system in place to help you through the process. While friends and family can be great for moral support, you might want to go outside your inner circle by consulting teachers and guidance counselors. Along with writing recommendations if necessary, these professionals can advise you on application questions and even read over your essays and give you pointers.

 

3. Check your work

 

No matter how brilliant your essay is, if it’s full of grammatical errors, misspellings, and typos, you will not be seriously considered for a scholarship. Before sending in your application package, be sure to read over every section and answer to identify mistakes and to make sure there’s nothing you missed. If proofreading isn’t your strong suit, think about having a trusted pal look over your documents as well.

 

4. Apply to a mix of larger and smaller awards

 

If you only apply for large, established scholarships, you will be facing stiff competition. Don’t just limit yourself to scholarships with huge national awards—also look for very small local groups who may have smaller awards, but also smaller pools of candidates.

 

5. Research past winners

 

Scholarship committees—especially those working for programs that have been running for a long time—already have an idea of who and what they’re looking for. To present yourself in the best light, read about these students to get a better sense of what each particular scholarship committee wants to see.

 

Most scholarship pages will have a section dedicated to past winners with details on what their application was like and where they are now. If this information isn’t readily available, you can always search the web for the name of the scholarship and “past winners.”

 

How Much Will College Cost Your Family?

 

The actual cost of each college can vary significantly for the same family, and you can’t trust the sticker price to tell you your personal cost of attendance. After financial aid, expensive private colleges can actually be cheaper than in-state public schools for some families.

 

Want to estimate your cost of attendance? You can use each individual school’s net price calculator, or check out our free Financial Aid Calculator for an estimate at hundreds of schools in just 3 minutes. 

 

Our free chancing engine will also tell you your chances of acceptance based on your grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and demographics. Use these free tools to improve your profile and plan for your college finances!