1. Big Scholarships, Big Money
Miguel Mendoza
Arturo Peña

2. Tips For All Scholarships
Pay attention to deadlines!!!!!!!
Look at scholarships as early as possible.
Get a planner.
Ask for transcripts at least a week in advance.
Get teachers to write letters of recommendation early.
Take ACT/SAT at the end of junior year.
Write your resume.
Get teachers or counselors to proofread your essays.
Fill out FAFSA ASAP

3. What Most Scholarships Ask For
Basic Info (Name, SSN, Address, Etc.)
Transcript
ACT/SAT Test Scores
GPA
Extracurricular Activities
Community Service
Employment History
Leadership in School
Essays (Topic Varies for Each Scholarship)
Courses Taken/Are Taking
Financial Information

4. Value: Full ride to any public, 4-year university
1000 Scholarships per Year
Deadline for Academic Year: January 15, 2015
Requires minimum 3.3 GPA out of 4.0
For minorities only (African American/Black, American Indian - Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, Hispanic American)
Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National or Permanent Resident
Must meet Federal Pell Grant eligibility

5. What This Scholarship Asks For: Recommender and Nominator Form
8 Essays
Personal Information
Educational Info
Leadership
Community Service
Employment
Academic Record
Financial Aid Info
Recommender and Nominator Form
Recommender is the person that knows more about your extracurricular or leadership abilities.
Nominator is your academic recommender. Can talk about your performance in school.

6. Essay Topics
Essay 1: Discuss the subjects in which you excel or have excelled. To what factors do you attribute your success? Essay 2: Discuss the subjects in which you have had difficulty. What factors do you believe contributed to your difficulties? How have you dealt with them so they will not cause problems for you again? In what areas have you experienced the greatest improvement? What problem areas remain?
Essay 3: Briefly describe a situation in which you felt that you or others were treated unfairly or were not given an opportunity you felt you deserved. Why do you think this happened? How did you respond? Did the situation improve as a result of your response? Essay 4: Discuss your short and long-term goals. Are some of them related? Which are priorities?

7. Essay Topics
Essay 5: Discuss a leadership experience you have had in any area of your life: school, work, athletics, family, church, community, etc. How and why did you become a leader in this area? How did this experience influence your goals? Essay 6: Discuss your involvement in and contributions to a community near your home, school or elsewhere. Please select an experience different from the one you discussed in the previous question, even if this experience also involved leadership. What did you accomplish? How did this experience influence your goals?
Essay 7: Other than through classes in school, in what areas (non-academic or academic) have you acquired knowledge or skills? How? Essay 8: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about that may help us evaluate your nomination (i.e., personal characteristics, obstacles you have overcome)?

8. Value: $20,000
Deadline for Academic Year: October 31st, 2014
150 Scholarships
3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
Cannot be children or grandchildren of employees, officers or owners of Coca-Cola bottling companies, The Coca-Cola Company, Company divisions or subsidiaries.
Achievement-based, not need-based

9. No Essay! What It Asks For: Biographical Information
School Activities (Extracurricular Clubs, Organizations, Awards, Honors, Special Skills or Talents)
Community Activities (Volunteer Work, Community Organizations)
Academic Information (Courses, AP Classes)
Employment Information

10. Value: Varies by Chapter for Scholars, HACER: $100,000
Deadline for Academic Year: January 20, 2015
2.7 GPA out of 4.0

11. Ronald McDonald House Charities
What It Asks For:
Biographical Information
Academic Information (Transcript that has to be uploaded)
Community Involvement (Volunteer Service, Extracurricular Activities, Employment History), with Verification of Activities (Contact Info)
Financial Information (Most recent IRS 1040 Form)
Recommendation Form ( request)

12. Ronald McDonald House Charities Essay Topics
Essay 1: What has most influenced your professional or career aspirations for the future? Essay 2: Describe an influential person in your life, and how he/she has helped change your view of yourself and the world. You may use examples from your family life, community service or extracurricular activities. Essay 3: Some believe that a person of character demonstrates the following six qualities: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Pick one of these qualities, describe the value of this quality, and, most importantly, explain how you have exemplified this trait. Essay 4: Describe a time when you were in a leadership position. What obstacles did you have to overcome? How did you overcome those obstacles to obtain your goal?

13. Value: $16,000
Deadline for Academic Year: January 9, 2015
No minimum GPA
2 winners from our school

14. What It Asks For: Biographical Information Academic Information
Work Experience
Activities, Awards, and Honors
Goals Statement (1-paragraph statement)
Financial Information
Transcript
Letter of Recommendation
Transcript Verification Form

15. GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program
Value: $10,000, renewable
Deadline: January 8, 2015
3.0 GPA out of 4.0
20 awards

16. GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program
Essay Topic: Describe how your leadership and service have made a positive difference in your community/school.
What It Asks For:
Personal Information
Academic Info
Extracurricular Activities, Community Involvement, Leadership Activities (big emphasis on these)

17. Value: ranges from $500 to $5,000 for one year
Deadline: Priority Consideration: February 28th, 2015; General Deadline: March 30th, 2015
3.0 GPA out of 4.0
Must be Hispanic

18. What It Asks For: Applicant Information
Educational Information (School Info, GPA, Classes, ACT/SAT Test Scores)
Career Interests
Extracurricular Activities
Employment History
Recommenders (up to 5 requests)

19. Essay 1: Describe the world you come from--for example, your family, community, or school--and tell us how your Hispanic heritage shaped your life. Essay 2: If we did an online search of you 10 years from now, what would it say you had accomplished in your life and career? What else would the search reveal about you? Tweet: It's difficult enough to describe yourself in a 500-word essay. We dare you to describe yourself as completely and truthfully as possible in the 140-character limit of a tweet.

20. Value: 3 levels: $1,000, $5,000, and $50,000
Deadline: December 15, 2014
2.0 GPA out of 4.0

21. What It Asks For: Applicant Information Academic Information
Work Experience
Activities, Awards, and Honors
Financial Information
Transcript

22. Two Scholarships: Opportunity and Metropolitan
Value: $18,000 for both scholarships
Deadline: February 23rd, 2015 for Online Application, February 27th for Supplement Forms
Opportunity: Top 1/2 of class AND 1300 SAT or 18 ACT
Metropolitan: Top 1/4 of class AND 1350 SAT or 19 ACT

23. What It Asks For: Personal Information
High School and College Information
Scholastic Record (GPA, Rank, Test Scores)
Financial Information
High School Leadership, Activities, and Awards
Community Activities and Work Experience
Supplement Forms: Mail an Official Transcript, Application Summary (Downloaded), Individual Scholastic Record (Downloaded), Certification and Verification Form (Downloaded), SAT/ACT Test Scores, and FAFSA Student Action Report to Scholarship Offices

24. Essay 1: Why do you believe you need, or should receive, financial assistance, such as a Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship to attend the college/university of your choice? This should include details about family situations such as: care of family members, medical situations, family financial burdens and/or how important it will be for you to work while in college.

25. Essay 2: Choose one of the three topics:
Who is the most influential person in your life and why? 
What experience helped mold you into the person you are today? 
Describe your most meaningful achievements and how they relate to your future goals. 

26. George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation
Value: $18,000
Deadline: February 20th, 2015
Must be mailed
Big emphasis on financial aid
SAT Score of 1000 (Critical Reading and Math only) or ACT Score of 21

27. George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation
What It Asks For:
Personal Information
Achievements
Future Plans (Do you plan to work during college?)
A LOT of Financial Information (Applicant Income, Debt, Assets, Parents’ Income, Assets, Etc.)
Unusual Circumstances Statement

28. Value: Ranges from $500 to $5,000 per year
Deadline: February 3rd, 2015
3.0 GPA out of 4.0

29. What It Asks For: Applicant Info
Academic Info (Uploaded ACT/SAT Scores and Transcript)
Resume (Community Service, Extracurricular Activities and Leadership, Honors and Awards, Work Experience)
Financial Info (Upload IRS Form 1040)
Recommendation (One for academic performance, and one for community involvement)

30. Essay 1: Imagine that you have the opportunity to travel back in time
Essay 1: Imagine that you have the opportunity to travel back in time. To what point in time would you like to travel, and why? Essay 2: How would you describe yourself as a human being? What quality do you like best in yourself and what do you like least? What quality would you like to see flourish and which would you like to see wither? Personal Statement: Please provide a summary of your personal and family background, including information about your family, where you grew up, etc. State any special personal or family circumstance affecting your need for financial assistance. Describe circumstances you wish the Scholarship Selection Committee to consider when evaluating your application.

31. Texas Legislative Black Caucus
Value: $1,500 or $4,000
Deadline: MAILED by January 27, 2015
2.5 GPA out of 4.0 for $1,500, 3.0 for $4,000

32. Texas Legislative Black Caucus
What It Asks For:
Personal Info
School Club and Organization Membership
Volunteer Work
2 Letters of Recommendation
Official Transcripts
Cover Letter
Essay: How will I use my college education to contribute to the betterment of the State of Texas or my local community in the next 15 years?

33. Value: $25,000 per year
Deadline: February 27, 2015
Plan to major in a study that focuses on Engineering, Technology, or Business and Design-related fields.
Demonstrate interest in a career in the automotive industry.
Majority of awards will be given to STEM students
Looks for: academic achievement, financial need, participation and leadership in community and school activities, work experience in automotive-related industry

34. Value: $2,500 the first year, with a chance of an increase to $5,000 the next three years
Deadline: February 26, 2015
Acceptable majors: Geology, Geophysics, Physics, Chemical, civil, electrical, geological, geophysical, mechanical or petroleum engineering
Incentive Fund for Minorities

35. What It Asks For: Applicant Info Academic Info
Resume with Extracurricular Activities, Community Service, Honors or Awards, Work Experience
2 Recommendations (one from a science teacher)

36. Essay 1: Describe a time when you were in a leadership position
Essay 1: Describe a time when you were in a leadership position. What obstacles did you have to overcome? How did you overcome those obstacles to obtain your higher goal? Essay 2: Based on your current scientific interests, describe your educational goals and how they affect your career goals. Specifically comment on how you could potentially contribute to the petrochemical industry.

37. Value: Up to $40,000 per year
Deadline: December 9, 2014
3.5 GPA out of 4.0
SAT Score of 1200 (Critical Reading and Math only) or ACT Score of 26
Looks for: academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, leadership, desire to help others
Asks for: Basic Information, Academics, Honors, Activities, Short Answer and Long Essay Responses, Parents’ Financial Info, Recommenders (Two Academic Recommenders, Personal Recommender, Principal or Guidance Counselor Recommendation)

38. Value: $24,000
Deadline: February 15th, 2015
SAT score of 1000 (Critical Reading and Math only) and ACT score of 21
Minorities only
Parts of application: Online application with four essays, a letter of recommendation, test scores.

39. Value: Full ride to matched college
Deadline: October 13, 2014
This scholarship matches you to a college through its application and gives you a full ride to ONLY that school.
What It Asks For: online application, with academic and extracurricular accomplishments, financial background, two essays, short answer questions, two academic letters of recommendation, Academic Report from your high school counselor, transcript, test scores (including AP Exams)

40. Essay Tips
Most scholarships require essays or some sort of personal statement.
They are one of the most important factors in the application
Stay on topic
Paint a picture! Be descriptive, and let the committee see what you are talking about.
Be unique. Make yourself stand out above the rest of the applicants.
DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!!!

41. Websites for Scholarships
Fastweb.com
Chegg.com
Cappex.com
Colleges.niche.com/scholarships/
Zinch.com
Scholarshippoints.com
Scholarships.com

42. Never Give Up!
If you do not win a scholarship, it’s okay. There are plenty more scholarships out there, so not winning one isn’t the end of the world. Just keep applying.