There’s Still Time to Apply for These Scholarships

As parents of teens and twenty-somethings know all too well, higher education comes with a hefty price tag. At UT Austin, in-state tuition will cost you about $10,000 per year – and that’s before room, board, and textbooks. At private institutions like Rice and the Ivy League schools, all expenses combined can easily exceed $50,000 per year. Whether you’re putting your children through college or encouraging them to pay their own way, that’s a lot of money.

There are many ways to pay for college – savings funds, student loans, grants, and combinations of the above. And of course, there are scholarships, both school-based and independent. While scholarships are rarely the primary source of tuition funds, they can offset the cost considerably and help to make college more affordable.

With college applications finished and AP exam season not yet upon us, it’s the perfect time to apply for late-deadline scholarships. While competition for independent scholarships is quite steep, it certainly never hurts to try – the potential benefits are well worth the effort.

Is your child eligible for one of these scholarships?

1. Buick Achievers Scholarship

Award: Up to $25,000, renewable for four years

Decision Factors: Academic Achievement, Financial Need, Community Involvement, Career Interest in Automotive Industry

Deadline to Apply: February 27, 2015

The Buick Achievers Scholarship, funded by the GM Foundation, honors and encourages young people who potentially interested in working in the automotive industry. Many recipients are in the STEM fields, but not all – design and business majors can benefit, too.

The application requires a transcript, employment and community involvement information, financial information, and an online questionnaire. You can learn more and apply here.

2. AFA Teens for Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship

Award: Up to $5,000

Decision Factors: Essay Contest

Deadline to apply: February 15, 2015

The Teens for Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, encourages teens to reflect on how Alzheimer’s has impacted their lives and their loved ones. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of an essay contest; applicants must write 1,200-1,500 words about their experience with the impact of Alzheimer’s. Apart from the essay, applicants must also submit a brief autobiography (approximately 200 words), proof of US citizenship or permanent residence, and a transcript. The application is paper only. You can learn more here.

3. Kohl’s Cares Scholarship

Award: Up to $10,000

Decision Factors: Community Involvement

Deadline to Apply: March 13, 2015

The Kohl’s Cares Scholarship honors students who give back to the community through volunteer work – making it an excellent choice for students with service requirements. Applicants will be judged on the basis of how much good they have done in their community. Regional winners will receive $1,000 scholarships, and one national winner will receive $10,000.

In place of a standard application, this scholarship requires applicants to be nominated by an adult familiar with their volunteer work. Students can ask their volunteer supervisors or guidance counselors to nominate them. The nominator, rather than the student, will describe the student’s volunteering efforts and the impact thereof, and the nomination will comprise the bulk of the application. You can learn more here.

4. Carl N. & Margaret Karcher Founders’ Scholarship

Award: $1,000

Decision Factors: Academic Achievement, Financial Need, Community Involvement

Deadline to Apply: February 15, 2015 (postmark date)

The Carl N. & Margaret Karcher Founders’ Scholarship honors the founder of the Carl’s Jr. restaurant chain. Recipients are selected on the basis of combined academic achievement, financial need, and community involvement. The application form includes parents’ financial information and information on the student’s achievements and goals, as well as a brief recommendation form to be filled out by a teacher or other adult. The only other required material is a transcript. All materials must be sent by post. You can learn more and download the application form here.

 

These are just a few of the many scholarships your child could still be applying for. You can find more scholarships at scholarshipamerica.org or through a personalized search from the College Board.

And stay tuned – we’ll have more scholarship recommendations for you next week!