Scholarships for Average Joes
If you aren’t an athlete, a straight-A student, or talented in the performing arts, you may think that there are no scholarships out there for you. However, in today’s world, exclusive elite campuses are a thing of the past and universities now boast of the eclectic mix of students who attend; scholarships are no different. For every merit and ethnicity-based scholarship, there are others targeted to different factors. Scholarships can be tied to hobbies and interests, your gender, your talents, your faith, even your field of study. Here are a few scholarships that are offered to average, non-ethnic, and non-performance-based student hopefuls.
AACE International Competitive Scholarships
Amount: $2,500
Scholarship Description:
AACE International Competitive Scholarships are offered to students who have completed one year of college, are currently enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited university for the fall term, and are pursuing a program in one of the following disciplines: agricultural engineering; architectural engineering; building construction; business administration; chemical engineering; civil engineering; industrial engineering; manufacturing engineering; mechanical engineering; mining engineering; electrical engineering; quantity surveying. A minimum 3.0 GPA is also required.
Amount: $1000
Scholarship Description:
This is an essay scholarship based around the following topic: With the advent of easy-to-use DVR technology in the 1990s, and then it’s wide-spread adoption over the last fifteen years, sports remain one of the few types of programming that are consistently watched live versus recorded. Using psychological and sociological principles, attempt to understand and explain this issue: What makes watching a sporting event live more valuable than watching it pre-recorded, and why is this different from most another programming? Requirements: Your essay should be between 600 and 1000 words, include two professional sources, and use MLA citation style (not included in word count).
Amount: $2,000
Scholarship Description:
The $2,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is an easy scholarship with no essay required! The scholarship can be used to cover tuition, housing, books, or any education-related expenses. The monthly winner will be determined by random drawing and then contacted directly and announced in Niche’s e-newsletter and on the Scholarship Winners page. The contest is open to all high school and college students; simply log in or create a free account to apply.
Future Leaders of IT Scholarship
Amount: $2000
Scholarship Description:
The Future Leaders of IT Scholarship is open to high school seniors and college students pursuing a career in information engineering, information management (or related academic discipline). Scholarships include $2,000 payable to the academic institution on the student’s behalf. Applicant must submit their most recent academic transcripts, three letters of recommendation, proof of university acceptance, and an essay (1,000-word minimum) on why they are pursuing a career in information engineering, information management (or related academic discipline) and what they hope to accomplish in their career.
Scholarship Directories
There are thousands of scholarships and sorting through them all would be rather impossible. Luckily, there are several websites that make finding scholarships easy. First, you’ll fill out some information about yourself, your education background, and a few other questions and the directories will find scholarships you are likely to qualify for. Here are our favorite scholarship websites:
1. Fastweb.com
2. Niche.com
3. Scholarships.com
4. Collegeboard.com
5. MoolahSpot.com
Don’t discount federal aid money
Pell grants are gifted by the federal government to low and middle-income individuals and they don’t have to be repaid. Be sure to apply to see if you qualify. If you haven’t qualified in the past, and your circumstances have changed, there is a chance that your eligibility has changed as well.