The Shofur National College Scholarship

Do you have a compelling story? Are you a high-school senior or current college student seeking assistance with financing your education? Then the Shofur National Scholarship may be the answer.

Armir Harris, CEO of the bus reservation platform Shofur, is a strong believer in higher education. An Albanian-born refugee, he created this scholarship to give students opportunities they might not otherwise receive.

The Shofur National Scholarship: Award

The Shofur National Scholarship covers one student’s full tuition at any accredited college or university (including public, private, and technical institutions) for four years. The scholarship is awarded annually (once per academic year); past recipients may not apply again. 

How to Apply

1. Create a 1-2.5-minute video in which you describe yourself, your background, and how the Shofur scholarship would enable you to grow and develop your skills. Upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo with the title “My Scholarship Story,” adding the scholarship link (https://shofur.com/scholarship) in the description section. Shofur suggests sharing it on social media, too.

2. Complete the application form. You will need a recommending mentor and should inform him or her of your intention to apply. You should also attach any supplemental materials you would like the organization to review. These supplementary materials could include awards, an essay, or a transcript of your video.

3. Send your official high school transcript to [email protected].
   

Requirements

The Shofur National Scholarship does not impose strict restrictions on who is eligible to apply for their funds. The only requirement is that applicants must be a graduating high-school senior or current college student.

Note: There is no minimum GPA requirement; applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens.

Tips on Applying for Scholarships

Scholarships can significantly ease the burden of paying for college. How do you increase your odds of securing one? Here are some tips.

Start early. Many scholarships have deadlines that are earlier than college application deadlines. Some will ask you to apply in your junior year—or even before. Even if your scholarship deadlines are later, you’ll be very busy with college applications in your senior year, so get organized and start assembling scholarship application materials as early as possible.

Cast a wide net. There are numerous scholarships available for different niches, interests, demographics, and more. There’s no limit to how many scholarships you can pursue, so it will find as many as possible that qualify for—then, narrow the list that you’ll pursue from there.

Keep track of deadlines. Create a spreadsheet or calendar to stay on top of scholarship deadlines. Make sure you leave plenty of time to collect materials like recommendation letters and transcripts. Consider setting up alerts on your phone or other devices to ensure that you stay on top of every deadline.

Double-check any directions and proofread. Many scholarships have creative components, such as essays or even videos, like the Shofur. These components are crucial, because they allow you to make your best case for yourself—so be sure all your materials are polished! Consider asking a trusted teacher or friend to double-check your work. Then, before you click “submit,” review the directions to confirm that you’ve fully completed all the application components.

For more advice on applying for scholarships, check out Helpful Scholarship Resources & Tips.

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