Hello!
I was wondering if anyone could post a link of LEGITIMATE (not just write fill out a survey and get entered to win types) academic and community service scholarships that aren’t need based or by race? I was hoping to find scholarships that I could apply for from all years in high school, not just one year!
Thanks!!
You he biggest and most consistent scholarships come directly from the school
Are you a rising junior or rising senior
What is your overall goa
What are your test scores
What is your home state
@collegehelp1010
My daughter won $8,000 in outside scholarships, including Carson, Comcast, Simon Youth and several local only ones. She was very organized and applied to over 100. Her qualifications included raising 3 guide dog puppies, editor of high school newspaper, 3.7 unweighted/4.0 weighted and 1260/1600 SAT. She got much more money (11,500 a year from Rowan University in NJ) in merit aid from the school she attended. Because of AP transfer of 29 credits and lots of effort, she will graduate in 3 years. Currently has a 3.9 GPA and enters her junior year in the fall. She did not qualify for any ethnic or low income based scholarships. She did win a $1,000 scholarship from the college in addition to the merit aid this spring.
I would strongly disagree with the idea to set expectations on winning scholarships easily to pay for these schools. I would advise you to concentrate on finding affordable schools and not to waste money applying to expensive schools you realistically won’t be able to attend. One or two dream applications, fine, but don’t drop $1,000 applying to 10 places instead of focusing on the schools you can afford (and will enjoy especially coming out with low debt!).
I also have a foster son who won Gates Millennium. There were 57000 applicants, 1,000 winners. That is a huge amount of competition. Nothing is easy money.
@sybbie719
Rising sophomore
GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.27 weighted
Home state: WI
Test Scores: I haven’t taken the PSAT or SAT yet but my ACT score was a 32.
AP Chinese- 5
(I’m planning on taking AP Euro, AP Bio, AP HUG, and AP Micro this year)
Your best bet is contacting your guidance department and asking them for a list of local scholarships. They should have a comprehensive list of all of the ones available to you. However, given your age/being in 10th grade next year, you probably cant apply for another 2 yrs anyways.
Just because you can’t apply yet doesn’t mean you can’t get ready. If a scholarship application indicates you need certain classes, take them. Community service, do it. Letters of recommendation, make sure you keep the names and addresses so you can contact them in two years. Some require art work or photography or an essay about the Revolutionary War. You can start researching what is out there and what is required.
do you mind sharing what scholarship was it from Rowan? thanks
Does anyone have a list of some scholarships that they could post (not need based)?
Thanks!!
@annamom - Rowan University in NJ offers merit based scholarships to attract a strong student body. They make their offers of money from a well hidden table 
based on SAT scores, GPA and class rank. I’m a NJ resident, so while I believe they offer money to out of state students, I am not 100%. Their money offers have varied over the three years I’ve watched, so my daughter’s offer may be higher than what you are offered. Henry Rowan (the school’s benefactor died in Jan 2016, so I believe that was why she was offered more).
Any other questions, let me know!
@@collegehelp1010
If you search for user Courtney Thurston over at the Outside Scholarship page you can find some lists. The vast majority require financial need, which I define as parental income of <60,000, rough ballpark.
Part of my daughter’s learning experience was searching out the scholarships and applying to them. Gave her quite the Excel and project management skills. Keeping tracking of various due dates, recommender letters, essays completed etc was a lot of work, but taught her some good skills.
Would recommend to find out what local scholarships are given by your high school - find out when the Senior Award night is, and GO. Get the program, listen to what is offered and why. I agree with the poster who said get ready now. Do the volunteer work starting now, find what you are best at and stick with it. Don’t just say you walked on the track for Relay for Life once and that was your memorable volunteer experience. LIVE WELL help other people and you will have essay material, and be a better person.
Volunteer to make dinners at Ronald Mc Donald House
Volunteer for Special Olympics
Volunteer for a Food bank, soup kitchen or homeless shelter
The list goes on - do these things starting this year, and next summer hunt for scholarships and make your list!
@NJRoadie I am a NJ resident, I think 11,500 is near full tuition, I doubt 1260 SAT will net a student near full tuition. Last year, I checked with Rowan, I “think” they told me they started giving merit scholarship beginning at 26 ACT…my younger DD has higher ACT…and will convert to over 1500 SAT… but I highly doubt she will get near full tuition… I will see
@annamom here are the numbers of what we actually paid (invoices).
Total COA for us for 2016-2017 30055.4
Fees 3674
Tuition 9434
Room and Board 12844
Books 512.43
Transportation 387.31
Personal 2742.66
Supplies 461
We were given $5750 each semester from Rowan.
This is the chart Rowan used to have on their website. They took it down, and I think they wiggle it a lot more now. My daughter also had significant volunteer service, school newspaper editor etc. All of that matters to them for the type of students they are trying to attract. The wildcard for my child was that Henry Rowan died in January 2016 and her amount was increased. Was it due to that? I don’t know, but her friends also received more money out of the blue from Rowan.
You must live on campus (FYI) for these scholarships. I also believe they only look at SAT scores, not ACT, but they may have changed that.
SAT Score Range of Award
1,500-1,600 $10,900-$21,800
1,400-1,499 $10,400-$20,800
1,350-1,399 $9,000-$16,000
1,300-1,349 $8,500-$13,500
1,250-1,299 $4,700-$7,400
@NJRoadie thank you. I didn’t realize the award was so high…I knew they took it off from their web side and I recalled a parent mentioned she had to contact Rowan to convert ACT to SAT…
@annasmom You’re welcome - and good luck to your child! Take a look at Ramapo too, they were offering some nice merit as well.