ESSAY SCHOLARSHIPS
Ayn Rand - Anthem Essay Contest
Anthem contains many elements that appeal strongly to young readers. They are inspiring and exciting stories, with heroic characters fighting for their ideals. The novel portrays events with profound and timeless significance, challenging readers to decide not just what will happen to particular characters, but what their own lives and the world should be like. Go to the web site to read a complete list of rules and guidelines. Grade: 9 and 10 Deadline: March 20
Ayn Rand - Fountainhead Essay Contest
Fountainhead contains many elements that appeal strongly to young readers. They are inspiring and exciting stories, with heroic characters fighting for their ideals. The novel portrays events with profound and timeless significance, challenging readers to decide not just what will happen to particular characters, but what their own lives and the world should be like. Go to the web site to read a complete list of rules and guidelines. Grade: 11 and 12 Deadline: September 27
Holocaust Remembrance Scholarship
Study the Holocaust and write an essay analyzing why it is so vital that the remembrance, history, and the lessons of the Holocaust be passed to a new generation; and suggest what you can do to combat and prevent prejudice, discrimination and violence in our world today
Kindness Revolution Scholarship Search
Seniors who are interested in attending the University of Memphis are invited to submit 300-500 word essays on "Why it is cool to be kind". the focus can be on behavior on the job, at school, as a leader, or in the community. There will be several $500 U of M scholarships awarded to selected participants. Grade: Seniors Deadline: November 1
Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship - The Foundation will select up to 40 college scholarship recipients in 2014. Selection criteria focus on exceptional academic ability and achievements, financial need, persistence, a desire to help others, and leadership. A rigorous application review includes consideration of grades, standardized test scores, participation in available advanced courses, student essays, letters of recommendation, and family finances. Phase 1 of the application opens late August 2013 and closes in early November 2013. All applicants will be notified regarding their Phase 1 application status in mid-November. Scholarship recipients will be notified in late February 2014
Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest- The Atlas Shrugged Essay requires 12th graders, college undergraduates, and graduate students to complete the essay. There will be three topics to choose from. The first prize winner will get $10,000. The deadline will be October 24, 2014.
Association For Women In Mathematics – Must type a essay about a women studying math or sciences or currently teaching math. The essay must be 500-1000 words. Open to undergraduate, grade 9-12, and 6-8 grades students. The amount varies, and the deadline is January31.
B. Davis Scholarship – An essay of less than 1000 words. Be sure to include your name and the school you attending this year and next. Answer the question provided on the website. Open to all juniors and seniors that are currently registered in any post secondary institution. The amount is $1,000, and the deadline is May 26, 2014.
Nordstrom Scholarship – Summit an essay, one online recommendation from a teacher. The amount is $10,000, and the deadline is January 30, 2014.
Platt Family Scholarship Prize Essay Contest – Applicants must write a research – based essay. Non-US citizens are eligible as long as they are attending an American college or University. The amount is $500 - $1,500, and the deadline is July 31.
Fraser Institute Essay Contest – Applicants must submit an essay on a given topic related to the war on drugs. International students are eligible. The award is $500 - $1,000, and the deadline is May 30.
Shout It out Scholarship – Submit an online short written response (250 words or less).The amount is $1,500, and the deadline is December 31, 2013.
College Scholarship Contest – Write an essay and answer the following question “Why is Reality Television so popular, and how has it impacted the viewing public?” The amount is $1,000, and the deadline is December 1.
AMVETS National Americanism Essay Contest - AMVETS (or American Veterans) is an organization that assists veterans and sponsors other programs that serve the country and its citizens. Applicants must write an essay with a starting of I am proud to be an American because… The amount is $500, and the deadline is April 15, 2014.
AFSA High School Scholarship - The American Fire Sprinkler Association wants you to know about fire sprinklers and they are willing to pay you for your efforts. To qualify for this award, students must read an ESSAY on automatic fire sprinklers (available here) and then take a multiple choice quiz on it. For each question they get right, students will be entered to win one of ten $2,000 scholarships. Students can only take one online quiz and funds from the award can be used at two and four-year institutions as well as at technical and trade schools. Since this award does not rely on your financial need, grades, or standardized test scores, whether or not you apply should be a no-brainer. A second scholarship contest that operates along the same rules is available to all US citizens with a high school diploma or GED. The AFSA Second Chance Scholarship has a grand prize of $1,000.
AIFS Study Abroad Scholarship - Smaller prizes of up to $1,000 are awarded to students who can write ESSAYs addressing “How study abroad will impact my academic and personal growth," but the big awards go to outstanding minority students heading abroad through an AIFS program. A full list of awards is available here.
AMVETS National Americanism ESSAY Contest - Each year, American Veterans offers an ESSAY contest designed to get students thinking about what patriotism and nationalism mean to them. Grade levels are judged individually so you will never be pitted against your little brother, and each grade level has its own maximum word count. Instead of traditional scholarships, winners are awarded Visa gift cards (except for 9th graders). 1st place high school freshmen win an all expense paid trip to the Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Abbott and Fenner Scholarship - Write one ESSAY and submit it to [email protected]. That is all you have to do for this contest. The 2011 ESSAY topic was "What have you done outside of the classroom that demonstrates qualities sought after by universities or other educational facilities? Of these, which means the most to you?," but there is no word on what next year's topic will be. Keep an eye out here for updates on the 2012 award.
Ayn Rand ESSAY Contest - Bone up on your objectivism and you could land some serious college cash. Students who compose award-winning ESSAYs on Ayn Rand's books Anthem, Atlas Shrugged, We the Living, or The Fountainhead will walk away with cash prizes and a novel award to put on their college application. Deadlines and age restrictions vary according to the novel so hit the official site to learn the exact requirements.
Coca-Cola Scholars - You could buy the world a Coke if you land this prize. Each year, the beverage giant passes out 250 $20,000 awards to current high school seniors carrying at least a 3.0 at the end of their junior year. ESSAYs, teacher recommendations, and transcripts are not required until candidates make it to the semi-final round and those who break into the finalists circle will be required to complete an in-person interview as well. Historically the scholarship committee has placed heavy emphasis on community service work so get ready to talk about what you are doing to help the world.
FRA Americanism ESSAY Contest - Every summer the FRA National Committee on Americanism-Patriotism creates one theme centered around the concept of America and hands out scholarships to students who can write about it. Each grade is judged separately—never fear, middle schoolers, your work will not be pitted against 12th grade ESSAYs—and younger students are encouraged to apply. Unlike most of the other awards in this database, this contest is open to younger as well as older students. Apply this year and you could get a jump on paying for college.
First Freedom Student Competition - Examine your freedoms; win some money. How hard could it be? In this competition, students may submit their best ESSAY or video that evaluates "the history and current-day relevance of religious freedom." ESSAYs have to be academic—we are talking citations and all, folks—and videos must be 5-7 minutes long and accompanied by a script and bibliography. A better outline of what the scholarship committee is looking for is chronicled here.
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association Uncommon Student Program - If you want to get a slice of this pie, you have to plan, plan, plan. This award is for the uncommon student. Unfortunately it sounds easier than it is. Previous finalists have gone all out. Past projects include sponsoring a microchip clinic for pet owners, setting up English as a second language classes for Hispanic adults, and setting up a charity to help teens and their families in cases of medical emergency. In the spring of their junior year, students submit a proposal for a project they want to accomplish. Two letters of recommendation are also required. Students are NOT evaluated on the basis of grades, test scores, ESSAYs, or financial need, but on their ability to state a project goal and make plans to reach it.The 15 finalists spend a required expense-paid weekend in West Branch (just east of Iowa City) during the summer between their junior and senior year. In October of their senior year, the students make presentations about their projects at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum. Each student receives $1,000 award at that time. Three of those students are chosen to receive the $5,000 scholarship award.
JFK Profile in Courage ESSAY Contest - Ready those pens and get to writing. The student who composes the best 1,000-word ESSAY (excluding citations) that describes "an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official that occurred during or after 1956, the publication date of Profiles in Courage" walks away with $10,000. The teacher who nominated the student walks away with $500. Students must be nominated by a current or former teacher from their high school and submissions will be judged on how much the ESSAY reflects originality, thoughtfulness, critical thinking, convincing arguments, and a thorough understanding of the topic. If you need some ideas, check out Shmoop's biographies of John F. Kennedy and others.
Joe Foss Independence Day Scholarship Contest - Grades, leadership activities, your award-winning science project...all of those things amount to squat in this scholarship contest. The prize here goes to the students who composes the best 1,500 word ESSAY on the topic "Oh, Say Can You See: What the Star Spangled Banner Means to Me." First place takes home the grand prize (obviously), but the first runner up will also take home $500. Once you are ready, submit your ESSAY here.
NASA Aeronautics Scholarship Program - NASA's lucrative awards will take you to infinity and beyond, but only if you have the grades and ESSAY skills to prove it. On top of winning cold, hard cash, recipients also win a $10,000 summer internship at the NASA Research Center. Before you get too cozy picturing yourself bragging about landing a NASA job, understand that this is one of the hardest scholarship competitions out there. Go big or go home.
NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Writing Contest - Yes, you did read that right. The National Rifle Association is sponsoring a scholarship contest kindergarteners can enter. Compose 1,000 perfect words on "The Second Amendment to the Constitution: Why it is important to our nation" along with a statement from a parent or teacher stating that the work is original to enter this scholarship competition. Entries are separated—students in grades 10-12 compete with each other as do students in grades 9 and below—but all are judged on presentation, scholarship, and originality. Per the rules of the competition, ESSAYs should also include your contact information along with a grade you got on the paper. Official rules are available here.
National Merit Scholarship - No ESSAYs, no teacher recommendations, no submitting your high school transcript—the National Merit Scholarship sounds like a breeze! Don't be fooled. To apply for this elite scholarship program, students have to take the PSATs—also called the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT)—during their third year in high school. Score high enough and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will simply hand you a check. The good news is that even if you are not in the 15,000 finalists chosen every year, landing in the top 50,000 will win you a National Merit commendation that can be sent to two colleges or universities of your choice. You can prep for the PSAT over here.
National Peace ESSAY Contest - Give peace a chance or at least talk about it on paper. In this ESSAY contest, students wax philosophic about "How can new media best be leveraged to help build peace and prevent conflict?" The national winner walks away with the big $10,000, but all state winners land $1,000 scholarship and an all-expense paid trip to Washington DC which focuses on the international peacemaking process. ESSAYs can be no longer than 1,500 words and must include certain features. A list of requirements is available here.
Platt Family Scholarship Prize ESSAY Contest - Celebrate one of history's most revered leaders by writing about him. Since 2011 marks "the sesquicentennial of the beginning of the American Civil War," this year's ESSAY topic is "Lincoln the War President." Undergrads have up to 5,000 words to explain how well Lincoln adjusted to war during his first presidential term. Judging will be based solely on the ESSAY—grades, financial need, and extracurricular activities do not count on this one, kids—so choose your words well.
Pursue Your Passions With HP - Register with the HP Academy Store, choose a laptop that will help you pursue your passion, and write a kick-A ESSAY about it. That is all you have to do to win this college scholarship. This is one of the rare scholarship opportunities that is open to younger high school students, so freshmen, sophomores, and juniors...get on it.
Scholarshipexperts.com Scholarships - Younger students—these are for you. Each year ScholarshipExperts.com sponsors an array of awards, each of which has a specific question you are not likely to find on any other application. Last year, questions ranged from “If you were inventing a widget for high school or college students, what would your widget be?” to “Create a list of your 10 favorite books and what they have taught you.” For younger students just dipping their toes into the financial aid waters, this one is a great place to start since most ESSAYs are limited to 250 words. Questions for 2012 awards will be posted here.
Share Your Story - Applying for this award should be easy as pie considering that you have already done all the leg work. To enter this competition, students merely need to submit a college entrance ESSAY they already have and fill out a brief questionnaire to go with it. Students may only enter one ESSAY so choose your work wisely.
Voice of Democracy Audio ESSAY Competition - Is there pride in serving in our military? If you can put together a prophetic answer that can be read in 3 to 5 minutes, you could win. In this scholarship competition, your grades, disciplinary record, SAT scores...none of them count for squat. The ONLY thing that matters is whether you can compose an award-worthy ESSAY and record it on CD in your own voice. Judging is based on originality, content, and delivery. If you need a little inspiration, check out those who made it to the nationals last year.
Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship - Minority students majoring in science subjects ranging from computer engineering to laser optics are invited to apply for free cash from Xerox. Candidates must hold a 3.0 GPA or better, be enrolled full time, and of African American, Asian, Pacific Island, Native American, Native Alaskan, or Hispanic descent. While there is no ESSAY required for this award and the application materials are fairly short, competition is stiff.
Zinch Three Sentence ESSAY Scholarship - Zinch gives you a prompt, you compose up to 3 sentences as a response, and you walk away with cash. Three sentence ESSAY competitions are offered each week, but students only have a maximum of 280 characters to showcase their best answers. Open to younger students as well as older ones, this scholarship competition is a fun and easy one to enter if you are just getting started with financial aid.
Ayn Rand - Anthem Essay Contest
Anthem contains many elements that appeal strongly to young readers. They are inspiring and exciting stories, with heroic characters fighting for their ideals. The novel portrays events with profound and timeless significance, challenging readers to decide not just what will happen to particular characters, but what their own lives and the world should be like. Go to the web site to read a complete list of rules and guidelines. Grade: 9 and 10 Deadline: March 20
Ayn Rand - Fountainhead Essay Contest
Fountainhead contains many elements that appeal strongly to young readers. They are inspiring and exciting stories, with heroic characters fighting for their ideals. The novel portrays events with profound and timeless significance, challenging readers to decide not just what will happen to particular characters, but what their own lives and the world should be like. Go to the web site to read a complete list of rules and guidelines. Grade: 11 and 12 Deadline: September 27
Holocaust Remembrance Scholarship
Study the Holocaust and write an essay analyzing why it is so vital that the remembrance, history, and the lessons of the Holocaust be passed to a new generation; and suggest what you can do to combat and prevent prejudice, discrimination and violence in our world today
Kindness Revolution Scholarship Search
Seniors who are interested in attending the University of Memphis are invited to submit 300-500 word essays on "Why it is cool to be kind". the focus can be on behavior on the job, at school, as a leader, or in the community. There will be several $500 U of M scholarships awarded to selected participants. Grade: Seniors Deadline: November 1
Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship - The Foundation will select up to 40 college scholarship recipients in 2014. Selection criteria focus on exceptional academic ability and achievements, financial need, persistence, a desire to help others, and leadership. A rigorous application review includes consideration of grades, standardized test scores, participation in available advanced courses, student essays, letters of recommendation, and family finances. Phase 1 of the application opens late August 2013 and closes in early November 2013. All applicants will be notified regarding their Phase 1 application status in mid-November. Scholarship recipients will be notified in late February 2014
Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest- The Atlas Shrugged Essay requires 12th graders, college undergraduates, and graduate students to complete the essay. There will be three topics to choose from. The first prize winner will get $10,000. The deadline will be October 24, 2014.
Association For Women In Mathematics – Must type a essay about a women studying math or sciences or currently teaching math. The essay must be 500-1000 words. Open to undergraduate, grade 9-12, and 6-8 grades students. The amount varies, and the deadline is January31.
B. Davis Scholarship – An essay of less than 1000 words. Be sure to include your name and the school you attending this year and next. Answer the question provided on the website. Open to all juniors and seniors that are currently registered in any post secondary institution. The amount is $1,000, and the deadline is May 26, 2014.
Nordstrom Scholarship – Summit an essay, one online recommendation from a teacher. The amount is $10,000, and the deadline is January 30, 2014.
Platt Family Scholarship Prize Essay Contest – Applicants must write a research – based essay. Non-US citizens are eligible as long as they are attending an American college or University. The amount is $500 - $1,500, and the deadline is July 31.
Fraser Institute Essay Contest – Applicants must submit an essay on a given topic related to the war on drugs. International students are eligible. The award is $500 - $1,000, and the deadline is May 30.
Shout It out Scholarship – Submit an online short written response (250 words or less).The amount is $1,500, and the deadline is December 31, 2013.
College Scholarship Contest – Write an essay and answer the following question “Why is Reality Television so popular, and how has it impacted the viewing public?” The amount is $1,000, and the deadline is December 1.
AMVETS National Americanism Essay Contest - AMVETS (or American Veterans) is an organization that assists veterans and sponsors other programs that serve the country and its citizens. Applicants must write an essay with a starting of I am proud to be an American because… The amount is $500, and the deadline is April 15, 2014.
AFSA High School Scholarship - The American Fire Sprinkler Association wants you to know about fire sprinklers and they are willing to pay you for your efforts. To qualify for this award, students must read an ESSAY on automatic fire sprinklers (available here) and then take a multiple choice quiz on it. For each question they get right, students will be entered to win one of ten $2,000 scholarships. Students can only take one online quiz and funds from the award can be used at two and four-year institutions as well as at technical and trade schools. Since this award does not rely on your financial need, grades, or standardized test scores, whether or not you apply should be a no-brainer. A second scholarship contest that operates along the same rules is available to all US citizens with a high school diploma or GED. The AFSA Second Chance Scholarship has a grand prize of $1,000.
AIFS Study Abroad Scholarship - Smaller prizes of up to $1,000 are awarded to students who can write ESSAYs addressing “How study abroad will impact my academic and personal growth," but the big awards go to outstanding minority students heading abroad through an AIFS program. A full list of awards is available here.
AMVETS National Americanism ESSAY Contest - Each year, American Veterans offers an ESSAY contest designed to get students thinking about what patriotism and nationalism mean to them. Grade levels are judged individually so you will never be pitted against your little brother, and each grade level has its own maximum word count. Instead of traditional scholarships, winners are awarded Visa gift cards (except for 9th graders). 1st place high school freshmen win an all expense paid trip to the Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Abbott and Fenner Scholarship - Write one ESSAY and submit it to [email protected]. That is all you have to do for this contest. The 2011 ESSAY topic was "What have you done outside of the classroom that demonstrates qualities sought after by universities or other educational facilities? Of these, which means the most to you?," but there is no word on what next year's topic will be. Keep an eye out here for updates on the 2012 award.
Ayn Rand ESSAY Contest - Bone up on your objectivism and you could land some serious college cash. Students who compose award-winning ESSAYs on Ayn Rand's books Anthem, Atlas Shrugged, We the Living, or The Fountainhead will walk away with cash prizes and a novel award to put on their college application. Deadlines and age restrictions vary according to the novel so hit the official site to learn the exact requirements.
Coca-Cola Scholars - You could buy the world a Coke if you land this prize. Each year, the beverage giant passes out 250 $20,000 awards to current high school seniors carrying at least a 3.0 at the end of their junior year. ESSAYs, teacher recommendations, and transcripts are not required until candidates make it to the semi-final round and those who break into the finalists circle will be required to complete an in-person interview as well. Historically the scholarship committee has placed heavy emphasis on community service work so get ready to talk about what you are doing to help the world.
FRA Americanism ESSAY Contest - Every summer the FRA National Committee on Americanism-Patriotism creates one theme centered around the concept of America and hands out scholarships to students who can write about it. Each grade is judged separately—never fear, middle schoolers, your work will not be pitted against 12th grade ESSAYs—and younger students are encouraged to apply. Unlike most of the other awards in this database, this contest is open to younger as well as older students. Apply this year and you could get a jump on paying for college.
First Freedom Student Competition - Examine your freedoms; win some money. How hard could it be? In this competition, students may submit their best ESSAY or video that evaluates "the history and current-day relevance of religious freedom." ESSAYs have to be academic—we are talking citations and all, folks—and videos must be 5-7 minutes long and accompanied by a script and bibliography. A better outline of what the scholarship committee is looking for is chronicled here.
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association Uncommon Student Program - If you want to get a slice of this pie, you have to plan, plan, plan. This award is for the uncommon student. Unfortunately it sounds easier than it is. Previous finalists have gone all out. Past projects include sponsoring a microchip clinic for pet owners, setting up English as a second language classes for Hispanic adults, and setting up a charity to help teens and their families in cases of medical emergency. In the spring of their junior year, students submit a proposal for a project they want to accomplish. Two letters of recommendation are also required. Students are NOT evaluated on the basis of grades, test scores, ESSAYs, or financial need, but on their ability to state a project goal and make plans to reach it.The 15 finalists spend a required expense-paid weekend in West Branch (just east of Iowa City) during the summer between their junior and senior year. In October of their senior year, the students make presentations about their projects at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum. Each student receives $1,000 award at that time. Three of those students are chosen to receive the $5,000 scholarship award.
JFK Profile in Courage ESSAY Contest - Ready those pens and get to writing. The student who composes the best 1,000-word ESSAY (excluding citations) that describes "an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official that occurred during or after 1956, the publication date of Profiles in Courage" walks away with $10,000. The teacher who nominated the student walks away with $500. Students must be nominated by a current or former teacher from their high school and submissions will be judged on how much the ESSAY reflects originality, thoughtfulness, critical thinking, convincing arguments, and a thorough understanding of the topic. If you need some ideas, check out Shmoop's biographies of John F. Kennedy and others.
Joe Foss Independence Day Scholarship Contest - Grades, leadership activities, your award-winning science project...all of those things amount to squat in this scholarship contest. The prize here goes to the students who composes the best 1,500 word ESSAY on the topic "Oh, Say Can You See: What the Star Spangled Banner Means to Me." First place takes home the grand prize (obviously), but the first runner up will also take home $500. Once you are ready, submit your ESSAY here.
NASA Aeronautics Scholarship Program - NASA's lucrative awards will take you to infinity and beyond, but only if you have the grades and ESSAY skills to prove it. On top of winning cold, hard cash, recipients also win a $10,000 summer internship at the NASA Research Center. Before you get too cozy picturing yourself bragging about landing a NASA job, understand that this is one of the hardest scholarship competitions out there. Go big or go home.
NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Writing Contest - Yes, you did read that right. The National Rifle Association is sponsoring a scholarship contest kindergarteners can enter. Compose 1,000 perfect words on "The Second Amendment to the Constitution: Why it is important to our nation" along with a statement from a parent or teacher stating that the work is original to enter this scholarship competition. Entries are separated—students in grades 10-12 compete with each other as do students in grades 9 and below—but all are judged on presentation, scholarship, and originality. Per the rules of the competition, ESSAYs should also include your contact information along with a grade you got on the paper. Official rules are available here.
National Merit Scholarship - No ESSAYs, no teacher recommendations, no submitting your high school transcript—the National Merit Scholarship sounds like a breeze! Don't be fooled. To apply for this elite scholarship program, students have to take the PSATs—also called the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT)—during their third year in high school. Score high enough and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will simply hand you a check. The good news is that even if you are not in the 15,000 finalists chosen every year, landing in the top 50,000 will win you a National Merit commendation that can be sent to two colleges or universities of your choice. You can prep for the PSAT over here.
National Peace ESSAY Contest - Give peace a chance or at least talk about it on paper. In this ESSAY contest, students wax philosophic about "How can new media best be leveraged to help build peace and prevent conflict?" The national winner walks away with the big $10,000, but all state winners land $1,000 scholarship and an all-expense paid trip to Washington DC which focuses on the international peacemaking process. ESSAYs can be no longer than 1,500 words and must include certain features. A list of requirements is available here.
Platt Family Scholarship Prize ESSAY Contest - Celebrate one of history's most revered leaders by writing about him. Since 2011 marks "the sesquicentennial of the beginning of the American Civil War," this year's ESSAY topic is "Lincoln the War President." Undergrads have up to 5,000 words to explain how well Lincoln adjusted to war during his first presidential term. Judging will be based solely on the ESSAY—grades, financial need, and extracurricular activities do not count on this one, kids—so choose your words well.
Pursue Your Passions With HP - Register with the HP Academy Store, choose a laptop that will help you pursue your passion, and write a kick-A ESSAY about it. That is all you have to do to win this college scholarship. This is one of the rare scholarship opportunities that is open to younger high school students, so freshmen, sophomores, and juniors...get on it.
Scholarshipexperts.com Scholarships - Younger students—these are for you. Each year ScholarshipExperts.com sponsors an array of awards, each of which has a specific question you are not likely to find on any other application. Last year, questions ranged from “If you were inventing a widget for high school or college students, what would your widget be?” to “Create a list of your 10 favorite books and what they have taught you.” For younger students just dipping their toes into the financial aid waters, this one is a great place to start since most ESSAYs are limited to 250 words. Questions for 2012 awards will be posted here.
Share Your Story - Applying for this award should be easy as pie considering that you have already done all the leg work. To enter this competition, students merely need to submit a college entrance ESSAY they already have and fill out a brief questionnaire to go with it. Students may only enter one ESSAY so choose your work wisely.
Voice of Democracy Audio ESSAY Competition - Is there pride in serving in our military? If you can put together a prophetic answer that can be read in 3 to 5 minutes, you could win. In this scholarship competition, your grades, disciplinary record, SAT scores...none of them count for squat. The ONLY thing that matters is whether you can compose an award-worthy ESSAY and record it on CD in your own voice. Judging is based on originality, content, and delivery. If you need a little inspiration, check out those who made it to the nationals last year.
Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship - Minority students majoring in science subjects ranging from computer engineering to laser optics are invited to apply for free cash from Xerox. Candidates must hold a 3.0 GPA or better, be enrolled full time, and of African American, Asian, Pacific Island, Native American, Native Alaskan, or Hispanic descent. While there is no ESSAY required for this award and the application materials are fairly short, competition is stiff.
Zinch Three Sentence ESSAY Scholarship - Zinch gives you a prompt, you compose up to 3 sentences as a response, and you walk away with cash. Three sentence ESSAY competitions are offered each week, but students only have a maximum of 280 characters to showcase their best answers. Open to younger students as well as older ones, this scholarship competition is a fun and easy one to enter if you are just getting started with financial aid.