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10 More Scholarships to Apply for This Fall

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There's still time to beat Cash Cat and get free money for college!

There’s still time to beat Cash Cat and get free money for college!

(via Cash Cat)

This blog post is a follow up to last week’s “10 Scholarships to Apply for This Fall” post, so if you missed that one, make sure to take a look at it for another helpful list of scholarships to apply for this fall season. Also, don’t forget to check out PUC’s scholarships, many of which are due March 2! Our Maxwell Scholar Program now offers full tuition to five students!

Without further ado, here are 10 more unique scholarships available to high school seniors with upcoming application deadlines.

1. The MoolahSPOT $1,000 Scholarship
Deadline: December 31, 2015
Award amount: $1,000

Presented by MoolahSPOT.com, this essay contest asks you to respond to one of the following questions, in 400 words or less:

  • Why do you deserve to win this scholarship?
  • What is your academic or career goal?
  • Describe what is most important to you and why
  • Or, you can write an essay on any topic of your choice

2. Unigo’s $10K Scholarship
Deadline: December 31, 2015
Award amount: $10,000

For such a big scholarship, the requirements for this one are pretty simple: In 250 words or less, write a response to the question “What’s the biggest challenge facing college students today and how can it be addressed?”

3. Unigo’s 10 Things You Love About You Scholarship
Deadline: December 31, 2015
Award amount: $1,500

Another relatively simple scholarship, this one asks you to write 10 reasons why you should be awarded the scholarship, in 250 words or less.

4. Gates Millennium Scholars Program
Deadline: January 13, 2016
Award amount: Varies

Sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program annually awards scholarships to 1,000 minority students who have demonstrated leadership skills by participating in extracurricular activities and community service. Students must be African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic American and have a minimum unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.3.

5. Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarships
Deadline: January 20, 2016
Award amount: Varies

The Ronald McDonald House Charities has four different scholarship opportunities for students:

  • RMHC/Scholars: All students are eligible to apply regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability or national origin
  • RMHC/Asia: Applicant must have at least one parent of Asian-Pacific heritage
  • RMHC/African-American Future Achievers: Applicant must have at least one parent of African American or Black Caribbean heritage
  • RMHC/HACER: Applicant must have at least one parent of Hispanic/Latino heritage

Typically winners are awarded a minimum of $1,000.

6. Hollister Co. Anti-Bullying Scholarship Program
Deadline: February 1, 2016
Award amount: $2,500 (renewable up to $7,500)

Sadly, it’s estimated over three million students are victims of bullying every year. This scholarship hopes to help put an end to that. Students who have experienced bullying or have participated in anti-bullying efforts at their school or within their community are encouraged to apply.

7. Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: February 15, 2016
Award amount: $28,000

The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides college scholarships of up to $28,000 over four years to minority students who show “leadership potential and dedication to community service” and also demonstrate financial need. Typically 60 students are awarded each year.

8. Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship
Deadline: February 20, 2016
Award amount: $10,000

To apply for this scholarship, you need to have shown “shown compassion, courage, and a strong commitment to promoting a peaceful world through a vegetarian diet/lifestyle.” Two runners-up will receive $5,000 each.

9. Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
Deadline: February 25, 2016
Award amount: $10,000

Calling all artists! It’s worth taking the time to apply for this scholarship. The contest is to design the front of a greeting card and the winning entry will actually be made and sold as a real greeting card, which would be a pretty cool thing to add to your portfolio.

10. Niche.com “No Essay” Scholarship
Deadline: Monthly
Award amount: $2,000

This scholarship is essentially a random drawing every month. Scholarships don’t get any easier!

Editor’s note: This is dated material and does not necessarily reflect how the student financial services office at PUC and the financial process currently operates. Please contact your financial counselor for more information.

10 Scholarships to Apply for This Fall

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Don't let Cash Cat steal your college cash!

Don’t let Cash Cat steal your college cash!

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The fall is prime time for high school seniors to start applying for scholarships to help pay for college. If you haven’t already started your scholarship search, now’s the time! Below are 10 unique scholarships available to high school seniors that have upcoming application deadlines based on leadership experience, artistic abilities, volunteer service, athletic performance, and more. Even if you don’t have an amazing GPA, there’s no need to be discouraged – there are plenty of scholarships you may be eligible for!

Also, if you haven’t already done so, check out PUC’s scholarships, many of which are due March 2! Our Maxwell Scholar Program now offers full tuition to five students!

1. Adopt a Veteran Scholarship
Deadline: November 15, 2015
Award amount: $5,000

This scholarship encourages students to befriend a veteran, and write a 1,500 word about their experience as well as their feelings about Veterans Day and veterans. Three winners will receive $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000 scholarships.

2. Youth Noise Scholarship
Deadline: November 21, 2015
Award amount: $1,000

For the Youth Noise Scholarship, you can create a video (up to 5 minutes long) explaining how your vision on the future, and why education is the key.

3. The Defining Theme of Our Age Essay Contest
Deadline: November 30, 2015
Award amount: $1,500

Offered by the Fountain Magazine, this contest asks students to write a 1,500-2,500 word essay on the topic of “How do you think history will record the 21st century?”

4. Card Against Humanity’s Science Ambassador Scholarship
Deadline: December 1, 2015
Award amount: 100% tuition

Funded by Cards Against Humanity, this scholarship is open to women seeking an undergraduate degree in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). You must submit a three minute video explaining a scientific topic you’re passionate about.

5. DormBedding.com #FortonFleek Scholarship
Deadline: December 1, 2015
Award amount: $1,000

This is one of the coolest scholarships I’ve ever heard of. All you need to do is build a fort out of sheets or blankets, use the hashtag #FortOnFleek and tag @DormBedding on your post on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to win.

6. Look Twice, Save a Life Scholarship
Deadline: December 1, 2015
Award amount: $1,000

This is a great scholarship for any student with a motorcycle-driving parent or other relative! Put together a video, essay, or artwork that encourages other students to focus on looking twice for motorcycles.

7. The Christopher Reeve Service Award
Deadline: December 15, 2015
Award amount: $1,000

Presented in honor of Christopher Reeve, this award is given to a student who has shown courage, compassion, and caring in serving their community. You must have significant volunteer experience, and be nominated by someone who is not your relative.

8. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Scholarship
Deadline: December 17, 2015
Award amount: $25,000

The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program awards student athletes who have demonstrated excellence not just on their sports team, but also in school and in their community. Two essays are required, as well as references. Twenty winners are chosen to receive the scholarship; the grand prize is $25,000 while the remaining awards are $20,000.

9. Apprentice Ecologist Initiative Scholarship
Deadline: December 21, 2015
Award amount: $850

The Apprentice Ecologist Initiative Scholarship is open to students interested in the environment and conservation. To apply, you need to conduct an environmental stewardship project, and write an essay about the project that includes photos.

10. CollegeWeekLive Monthly $1,000 Scholarship
Deadline: Monthly
Award amount: $1,000

The requirements for this monthly scholarship drawing are simple! Sign up for CollegeWeekLive, research at least five colleges while you’re logged in, and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win $1,000.

Editor’s note: This is dated material and does not necessarily reflect how the student financial services office at PUC and the financial process currently operates. Please contact your financial counselor for more information.

Important Updates to PUC Scholarships

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Are you tired of cats having more scholarship money than you?

Are you tired of cats having more scholarship money than you?

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Who wouldn’t be interested in getting free money for college? PUC offers a wide variety of merit- and need-based financial aid and scholarships to incoming freshmen. For the 2016-2017 year, we’re announcing several changes to some of our scholarships – and even a brand new scholarship! For a full list of what we offer, including transfer student scholarships, visit puc.edu/scholarships.

Maxwell Scholar Program
Application: puc.edu/maxwellscholar
Deadline: March 2, 2016

We’re excited to announce a big change to our Maxwell Scholar Program! This year, it is a full tuition scholarship (worth approximately $112,000!), awarded to five students and renewable with a 3.5 GPA. PUC’s most prestigious scholarship is based on a combination of academic success, leadership experience, and a commitment to Christian service. You can find a full list of requirements at puc.edu/maxwellscholar. (Please note, this scholarship may not be combined with any other PUC scholarships, awards, or discounts.) We encourage you to apply if you meet the requirements!

President’s and Dean’s Scholarships
Application: None
Deadline: None, information must be submitted to receive award

Our President’s and Dean’s scholarship requirements remain the same, though the award amounts for both scholarships have increased. These scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen and are based on unweighted cumulative GPA or test scores. Both are renewable with a 3.0 GPA.

President’s Scholarship
3.75-4.0 GPA or 29+ ACT/1900+ SAT
$12,000 per year / 4-Year total: $48,000

Dean’s Scholarship
3.5-3.74 GPA OR 26+ ACT/1700+ SAT
$10,000 per year / 4-Year total: $40,000

Legacy Scholarship
Application: puc.edu/scholarships
Deadline: None, information must be submitted to receive award

Our Legacy Scholarship is a brand new scholarship given in appreciation of our alumni. It recognizes families who have made a PUC education part of their family tradition. The scholarship is offered to encourage the pioneer spirit in children of PUC alumni. Legacy students receive an automatic renewable $1,500 scholarship if their biological parent or legal guardian attended PUC (for a minimum of one quarter).

Mostert Christian Leaders Scholarship
Application: puc.edu/scholarships
Deadline: March 2, 2016

The amount for our Mostert Christian Leaders Scholarship has increased to $3,000 per year. This renewable scholarship is awarded to 25 incoming freshmen who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in their schools, churches, or communities.

There’s so much more!
PUC offers many other scholarships and grants based on academic performance, PSAT scores, Christian service and missionary experience, athletic ability, artistic performance, and more. Find out what you may qualify for by contacting our Student Finance office at 800.862.7080 option 1.

Editor’s note: This is dated material and does not necessarily reflect how the student financial services office at PUC and the financial process currently operates. Please contact your financial counselor for more information.

10 Scholarships to Apply For This Spring

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If you’re still looking for ways to help pay for college this fall, here’s a list of 10 scholarships open to high school seniors with application deadlines during the next few months. Some scholarships are even available to current college students!

1. Sports Unlimited Scholarship
Deadline: April 20, 2015

Write an essay between 500 and 1000 words describing a time when you have overcome adversity to succeed in a sport for a chance to win $1,000.

2. All About Education Scholarship
Deadline: April 30, 2015

This scholarship asks you to write a short essay (250 words or less) in response to the question “How will a $3,000 scholarship for education make a difference in your life?”

3. National Home Improvement Scholarship
Deadline: May 1, 2015

Open to both high school, college, and graduate students, applicants must write an essay of up to 1,000 words about how they will use their education to help the world. The winner receives $1,000.

4. Mometrix College Scholarships
Deadline: May 22, 2015

If your friends are always asking you for study tips, this is for you! Write an essay of up to 2,000 characters (about 400 words) sharing how you prepare for a test and you could win $5,000. This scholarship is also open to current college students as well as high school seniors.

5. Krylon Clear Choice Art Scholarship
Deadline: May 31, 2015

This scholarship awards five winners $1,000 each, as well as gives each winner’s school a $500 grant and Krylon supplies. To apply, you must submit your portfolio, a statement, a letter of reference and your transcripts. High school seniors as well as college freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to apply.

6. PicMonkey College Scholarship
Deadline: May 31, 2015

After taking a survey, write a short 400-500 word essay in response to one of two questions; the story behind your favorite photo or a moment you wish you had a photo of. The winner receives $1,000.

7. Sunoco Rewards Scholarships
Deadline: May 31, 2015

Sunoco is offering two $1,000 scholarships; one for designing signage to be used at their stations and the other for coming up with a digital marketing campaign for the company.

8. Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest
Deadline: June 1, 2015

Probably one of the most famous college scholarships, this contest asks students to make outfits made entirely of Duck brand duct tape to be worn to prom. This isn’t limited to couples; there’s also a category just for singles if you’re planning on attending solo. There’s over $50,000 worth of prizes, while first place winners receive $10,000 each as well as $5,000 for their school.

9. RevZilla Design Scholarship 2015
Deadline: June 1, 2015

This $1,000 scholarship asks applicants to design a new t-shirt for the company. The winner also has their design printed on shirts the winner can hand out to friends and family.

10. Do-Over Scholarship Application 2015
Deadline: June 30, 2015

It’s never good to obsess about the past, but make an exception for this $1,500 scholarship. All you have to do is write a short response up to 250 words to the question “If you could get one ‘do-over’ in life, what would it be and why?”

Editor’s note: This is dated material and does not necessarily reflect how the student financial services office at PUC and the financial process currently operates. Please contact your financial counselor for more information.

10 Scholarships to Apply for This Winter

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If you haven’t already started your scholarship search to help pay for college, now’s the time! At PUC we offer many scholarships for things ranging from athletics to leadership to the creative arts, but the deadline to apply is quickly approaching and we don’t want you to miss out! Remember, you need to be an accepted student and apply before the March 2nd deadline.

There’s also plenty of money available to students outside of what colleges offer, but you just have to look for it. Here’s a list of 10 scholarships open to high school seniors with application deadlines this winter or early spring.

1. Teens for Jeans
Deadline: February 15, 2015

Want a chance to help others and possibly earn some cash for yourself? DoSomething.org is giving away a $10,000 scholarship to a student who organizes a jean drive for the homeless in their community. Every two pairs of jeans donated earns an entry into the scholarship lottery, and there isn’t a limit to the number of entries you can earn.

2. Toyota Teen Video Challenge
Deadline: March 16, 2015

If you’re into making videos, this is the scholarship for you! Create a video encouraging teens to drive safer and you could win $15,000. Another cool perk? If you win, you also get to work with a film crew to reshoot your video entry into a PSA to be aired on TV!

3. Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku Competition
Deadline: March 25, 2015

This scholarship competition is not just open to high school seniors, but also to students in grades 7 through 11. You’re able to submit up to three original haiku poems for a chance to win $50 and have your poem published in Frogpond, the journal of the Haiku Society of America.

4. Superpower Scholarship
Deadline: March 31, 2015

How many of us have daydreamed what we would do if we had superpowers? The possibilities are endless. This short essay contest asks that you answer the question “Which superhero or villain would you want to change places with for a day and why?” The winner receives $2,500 to use towards their education.

5. American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship Program
Deadline: April 1, 2015

Taking a 10-question multiple choice test after reading an essay from the American Fire Sprinkler Association could earn you $2,000. For every question you answer correctly, you will receive one entry into a drawing for one of 10 $2,000 scholarships.

6. Project Yellow Light
Deadline: April 1, 2015

In honor of Hunter Garner, who died in a car accident, this scholarship asks students to create a 25 or 55 second video to encourage teens not to drive distracted. The winner receives a $5,000 scholarship, while the second place winner receives $2,000. Third place gets you $1,000.

7. All About Education Scholarship
Deadline: April 30, 2015

It’s no secret college education is expensive. This scholarship asks students to write a short essay in response to the question of “How will a $3,000 scholarship for education make a difference in your life?” The winner receives $3,000.

8. CollegeWeekLive Monthly $1,000 Scholarship
Deadline: Monthly

The requirements for this monthly scholarship drawing are pretty simple. Sign up for CollegeWeekLive, research at least three colleges while you’re logged on, and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win $1,000.

9. Niche.com “No Essay” Scholarship
Deadline: Monthly

I’m not sure scholarships get any easier than this, which is basically a monthly drawing. The winner receives $2,000 for simply entering the drawing.

10. Common Knowledge Scholarship
Deadline: None

Think of this ongoing scholarship program like taking BuzzFeed quizzes, only if you do well, you can receive scholarship money. Competitions include one or more quizzes on topics that range from academic subjects or even books and movies, and the student with the highest score at the end of each competition wins. Students can compete more than once, and are able to receive up to $5,000.

Editor’s note: This is dated material and does not necessarily reflect how the student financial services office at PUC and the financial process currently operates. Please contact your financial counselor for more information.

Things to Know About PUC’s Maxwell and Mostert Scholarships

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We like throwing scholarships at our students. It’s just a thing we do. Occasionally we find ourselves doing crazy things, like awarding over $38 million dollars in financial aid every year. We’re so stoked about scholarships that every student who comes to school at PUC is eligible for some kind of financial aid. Some of the more popular ones are for academic achievement, athletics, or the arts.

I’m here to shine some light on two of the more exclusive award options for you. These are the rarer ones you’ll need to apply for. The first is our heavy-hitting Maxwell Scholarship, which awards $15,000 a year to five incoming freshmen each school year. My calculator tells me that adds up to $60,000 by the time you finish a four year degree. The fact I even joked about using a calculator should tell you I was not Maxwell Scholarship material…

To be eligible for this particular chunk of change you have to be accepted to PUC, eligible for the President’s and Dean’s Scholarships, and be an incoming freshman. You should also be able to show, “outstanding academic achievement, exceptional leadership experience, and a commitment to Christian service.” Things that improve your chances would be a high GPA, involvement in extracurricular activities and student leadership, as well as being active in your community. You don’t lose anything by applying, and five semi-finalists are also selected each year to receive $12,000 in renewable aid. So be sure to apply before March 2nd if you want to take a crack at it. (Please note, the Maxwell Scholarship cannot be combined with the President’s or Dean’s Scholarships.)

Another scholarship to keep an eye on is our Mostert Christian Leaders Scholarship. This is where all those years of volunteering for Vacation Bible School pays off! If you’ve demonstrated exceptional leadership in your church, school, or community, you could find yourself with a $2,000 renewable scholarship. This can be combined with other academic achievement scholarships you may be eligible for. Once again, you’ll want to submit your application before March 2nd to be eligible for this one.

In fact, March 2nd happens to be the deadline for all of our scholarship applications. So if your scholarship requires you to fill out an application, that’s when you’ll need to have everything turned in by. I’ll wait while you go make a note of that in your calendar.

The Maxwell and the Mostert Scholarships are just two of the many options available to students at PUC for financial aid, and now you should know what you need to get online and apply! Speaking of which, our scholarship applications can be found at https://www.puc.edu/admissions/finance. Swing by, apply, and impress your friends and family when you start to rake in all that sweet scholarship cash.

Editor’s note: This is dated material and does not necessarily reflect how the student financial services office at PUC and the financial process currently operates. Please contact your financial counselor for more information.

PUC & LSU Are Coming to You!

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Throughout January, PUC and La Sierra University will be hosting financial workshops across the state (as well as in Arizona and Hawaii) to help you learn how you can afford an Adventist college education. We’ll cover the FAFSA, Cal Grant, scholarships available at both schools, and where else you can look for scholarships to help pay for college. This is a great opportunity to learn about your financial options. Don’t miss out!

Visit http://www.puc.edu/admissions/finance for more information about the workshops and addresses for each location.

Workshop Dates

La Sierra University will be hosting the workshops in Southern California and Arizona. More information regarding those workshops can be found at http://www.lasierrapucworkshops.com/.

If a workshop isn’t being held in your area or you aren’t able to make it to one, consider scheduling a visit to PUC to sit down and talk with one of our Financial Counselors. They can go over your financial options with you and put together an estimate where you can see how much per month it would cost for you to attend PUC. Learn more about visiting PUC at http://www.puc.edu/admissions/visit.

Editor’s note: This is dated material and does not necessarily reflect how the student financial services office at PUC and the financial process currently operates. Please contact your financial counselor for more information.

10 Scholarships to Apply for This Fall

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I hope last month’s “Five Tips for Finding College Scholarships” post inspired many of you to start looking for college scholarships, but if you need a few suggestions, here are 10 scholarships available to high school seniors that have application deadlines within the next few months. Even if you don’t have an amazing GPA, there are plenty of scholarships you may be eligible for! And don’t forget, PUC’s scholarship deadline is March 2nd!

1. Education Matters Scholarship
Deadline: November 31, 2014

These days, there’s a lot in the news about whether or not college is worth it. Spoiler alert: It is. This scholarship asks students to write a short essay in response to the question of “What would you say to someone who thinks education doesn’t matter, or that college is a waste of time and money?” The winner receives $5,000.

2. Gates Millennium Scholars Program
Deadline: January 14, 2015

Every year, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program awards scholarships to 1,000 minority students who have demonstrated leadership skills by participating in extracurricular activities and community service. Students must be African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic American and have a minimum unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.3.

3. Tall Clubs International Scholarship
Deadline: February 15, 2015

Are you tall? To be more specific, are you a guy that’s at least 6’2” or a girl that’s at least 5’10”? If you are, you should apply for this $1,000 scholarship! You will need to write an essay on the subject of “What Being Tall Means to Me.” Contact Tall Clubs International for more information.

4. Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: February 15th, 2015

The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides college scholarships of up to $24,000 over four years to minority students that show “leadership potential and dedication to community service” and also demonstrate financial need. Typically 60 students are awarded each year.

5. Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
Deadline: February 18, 2015

If you have even one artistic bone in your body, it’s worth taking the time to apply for this $10,000 scholarship. The contest is to design the front of a greeting card and the winning entry will actually be made and sold as a real greeting card!

6. Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship
Deadline: February 20, 2015

The Vegetarian Resource Group awards scholarships to graduating high school students who have helped to promote vegetarianism in their school or local community. One award of $10,000 is given as well as two awards of $5,000.

7. Frame My Future Scholarship Contest
Deadline: March 3, 2015

Applicants must submit a collage, drawing, graphic design piece, painting, photograph, poem or another creative entry discussing what they hope to achieve in both their personal and professional life after college. Five winners receive $1,000, and the grand prize winner also receives an additional $1,000 to be given to their college.

8. Common Knowledge Scholarship
Deadline: None

Think of this ongoing scholarship program like taking BuzzFeed quizzes, only if you do well, you can receive scholarship money. Competitions include one or more quizzes on topics that range from academic subjects or even books and movies, and the student with the highest score at the end of each competition wins. Students can compete more than once, and are able to receive up to $5,000.

9. Zinch.com $1,000 Weekly Scholarship
Deadline: Weekly

Each week, Zinch posts an essay topic question and the winner with the best answer receives $1,000. The “essays” are limited to 280 characters, which is essentially two tweets on Twitter – hardly anything! Set a reminder on your phone and apply for this scholarship once a week.

10. Niche.com “No Essay” Scholarship
Deadline: Monthly

This $2,000 scholarship is essentially entering a random drawing every month. I don’t think scholarships get any easier. I don’t want to hear any excuses about it, you are all capable of doing this!

Editor’s note: This is dated material and does not necessarily reflect how the student financial services office at PUC and the financial process currently operates. Please contact your financial counselor for more information.

Five Tips for Finding College Scholarships

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It can be really scary thinking about how you’re going to pay for college. The overall price may seem intimidating, but keep in mind that nobody pays that sticker price. Scholarships can substantially lower the price families pay for a college education. PUC offers many scholarships that can help, but the reality is we can’t always offer as much financial aid as some students might need. Don’t worry, though! It’s estimated that there are 1.5 million scholarships in the United States alone, so if you haven’t already, it’s time to start your scholarship search.

1. Think Locally

Take a look around your community for scholarship opportunities – you might be surprised at what you find in your area. Your local Rotary Club and Kiwanis International Club may offer college scholarships, as could your chamber of commerce. Other businesses and community groups could provide college scholarships as well. Your high school guidance counselor may also have ideas of where you can look nearby for scholarships. One big advantage of applying for local scholarships is that there’s far less competition for them than there are for state or national scholarships – you have a greater chance at receiving them! Remember to check with your church too.

2. Get Online

I talk with a lot of students who worry they won’t receive any scholarships since they don’t have a 4.0 GPA, but keep in mind scholarships aren’t just for students with a great GPA. There are non-academic scholarships available based on your major field of interest, hobbies, and more. There are many places you can look online for college scholarships, but I recommend starting with these sites:

  • Fastweb: Fastweb is considered to be the premier scholarship website with over 1 million scholarships worth over $3 billion.
  • GoodCall: Another great resource, SchoolSoup can match you to scholarships you may be eligible for. The site has over 250,000 scholarships.
  • Unigo: This website lists over 3.6 million scholarships worth over $14 million.

Also, take a look at our extensive list of outside scholarships available on our Admissions website. Click the “Helpful Resources” tab on the left-hand side.

3. Write One Good Essay

Obviously, you’re going to need to write more than just one essay when applying for scholarships, but you will likely be able to use certain parts of an essay more than once. Have the basics – your career goals, personal statement, and academic career thus far – perfected, as you will likely use that information repeatedly. These essays could determine whether or not you’re awarded a great deal of money, so it’s worth spending time on them to make sure you present yourself well.

4. Put the Time In

The internet can be both a blessing and a curse. There’s a wealth of information available right at your fingertips, but there are also countless distractions that can quickly take you down the rabbit hole. Before you know it, you’ve spent two hours taking BuzzFeed quizzes and not doing what you intended to do. Treat applying for college scholarships as though it was your job – try spending an hour each day or at least several hours a week searching and applying for scholarships. That time could be the difference in receiving thousands of dollars in scholarships.

When I first began working for Enrollment, our Student Finance office told us the story of a student whose entire first year of college was paid with scholarships. She dedicated herself to applying for 1,000 scholarships, which is just amazing. That may be an unrealistic goal for many of you, but don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and set your sights high.

5. Don’t Get Scammed

Unfortunately, there are people out there that try to take advantage of students looking for ways to afford college. Always be careful about the information you give out, and there’s no reason you should ever pay for access to a database of scholarships or to apply for a scholarship. Only apply for scholarships from organizations and websites you trust, and a good rule to follow is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. (If you believe you’ve been a victim of scholarship fraud, immediately contact the California Attorney General’s office at 800-952-5225.)

At PUC, we have several financial counselors ready to help if you have questions about scholarships and how to make college affordable for your family. Call (800) 862-7080, option 1 or email studentfinance@puc.edu to get connected with a counselor today.

Editor’s note: This is dated material and does not necessarily reflect how the student financial services office at PUC and the financial process currently operates. Please contact your financial counselor for more information.