Financial Aid Scholarships

It takes time and energy to conduct a successful scholarship search, but it is well worth the effort when you are awarded a scholarship to help fund your higher education.

The best ways to find scholarships:

• Check with your high school counselor
• Check with your parent’s employer or organizations with which they are affiliated
• Check with organizations and businesses within your community
• Check with your college or university financial aid and/or scholarship office
• Surf the web

Types of Scholarships

Merit Based Scholarships: Awards based on academic performance and personal achievement.

Merit plus Need Scholarships: Awards based on academic performance, personal achievement, and financial need.

Private Scholarships: Awards based on criteria set by a private, non-affiliated organization or individual.

Institutional Scholarships: Awards based on criteria set by the college or university. These awards can be merit based or plus need based.

Be Cautious of Scholarship Scams

The following are signs of a possible scholarship scam:

• If you are required to pay money to get a scholarship
• If you are guaranteed win a scholarship
• If they say, “everyone is eligible” or “free money”
• If you are contacted for a scholarship you never applied for
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Get more information on scholarship scams.

Scholarship Application Timelines

Applying for many scholarships can be done during any time of the year. However, different awards have different deadlines. For institutional awards, the deadlines are typically early Spring. You should check with your college or university to see what their established deadline is. Regardless, if you are late applying for an award one year, you should note the award and make every effort to reapply next year.

Tips for marketing yourself for a scholarship

Develop a great personal statement or essay

The essay is your ultimate communication tool-make a great impression. Think about this question: What makes you worthy of an investment as a student? Proofread, rewrite, and seek peer reviewers (writing is a process).

Develop a great academic transcript

Consistent academic performance is a good sign. A solid GPA is desirable for most scholarships. A bad semester or year is not the end of the world—If you have overcome challenges, explain that in your personal statement. Otherwise, your application will be confusing to the evaluator.

Demonstrate evidence of leadership or service

Submit documentation of leadership, service, or character. Explain your situation and add flavor as to who you are as a person and aspiring student. Connect your personal story with your career or educational goal.

• CFF Foundation Education Award ($1,500 one-time)
  Deadline: applications accepted year-round, 1 student awarded each quarter
  • Cocodrie Fly Fishing (CFF) aims to give advice and tips on how you can have the ultimate fly fishing experience. Whether you are a beginner or pro, our courses and tips can help you hone your skills. CFF is proud to offer quarterly awards to university and college students!
  • To participate, applicants should:
    • be currently enrolled in a college or university.
    • students of all majors are encouraged to apply!
    • submit an essay and submit application on the website.
  • For more detailed information, please visit the scholarship link.
• LA Tutors 123 Innovation in Education Scholarship ($500 one-time)
  Deadline: 20th of each month
  • We at LA Tutors are passionate about sparking the creative genius in students and would love to commend those outstanding students who have a made a difference in the lives of others in some innovative or technological fashion. In order to achieve this, we have established a scholarship for students who meet certain criteria.
  • The application opens the 1st of each month, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on the 20th of each month.
  • To participate, applicants should:
    • be enrolled as a high school or college/university student.
    • have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (or the equivalent).
    • have designed an innovative project that makes a difference in the lives of others (This could be a website, series of blogs, an app, fundraising event, etc.)
    • submit an essay describing the goal of the particular project and provide supporting documentation.

• Car Accidents and Legal Procedure Scholarship ($2,500 one-time)
  Deadline: October 15, 2023
  • This scholarship requires students to think critically about how insurance providers and related parties within their states assign liability after a car accident.
  • BDIW Law hopes that, in encouraging students to engage with their state’s civic statutes, students will develop a more comprehensive understanding of the role negligence can play in roadway accidents. In turn, the firm hopes that this scholarship will encourage students’ critical thoughts about the law as well as their increased diligence on the road.
  • To participate, applicants should:
    • have a 3.0 GPA or higher
    • be enrolled in an accredited college in the United States
    • review and agree to the scholarship terms and conditions
    • submit the necessary application materials
  • For more detailed information, please visit the scholarship link.
• Knoji Corporate Responsibility & Brand Values Scholarship ($1,500 one-time)
  Deadline: October 31, 2023
  • Like you, we want to shop from brands who share our values. Brands who are focused not just to the bottom line, but toward making a positive impact on their communities. Brands who want to make the world a better place.
  • What brand best embodies the values you admire or aspire to? What company is making an important, positive impact? Share your thoughts on your favorite brand and let the world know why you love them.
  • To participate, applicants should:
    • create a short video to share your favorite brands, their values, and how they’re making a positive impact
    • be enrolled in an accredited college in the United States
    • be a US citizen
    • provide a valid .edu email address
    • submit online application
    • For more detailed information, please visit the scholarship link.

• Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest ($50-$10,000 one-time)
  Deadline: November 6, 2023
  • Improve your ability to write and think effectively. This contest will require you to reflect on philosophic themes, form your own opinion, and argue a thesis with evidence and clarity.
  • To participate, applicants should:
    • read the novel and submit an essay on one of the 3 topics
    • be enrolled in high school or college
    • complete the online application
  • For more detailed information, please visit the scholarship link.

• TastyPlacement Marketing Scholarship ($1,000 one-time)
  Deadline: December 1, 2023
  • TastyPlacement is an SEO and digital marketing company and we wish to promote education and ease the pain of educational expenses which we know quite well.
  • To participate, applicants should:
    • create and post a blog on any marketing topic you like
    • be enrolled in (or accepted into) college
    • complete the online application
  • For more detailed information, please visit the scholarship link.