College Ready Checklist
Need a guide to get to college? Here are comprehensive checklists to keep those reminders in front of you throughout middle and high school. These documents are to be used in conjunction with regularly visits to school counselors and other advisory personnel.
Financial Aid Assistance
Fafsa.ed.gov – Be sure to fill out the FAFSA before June 30th, 2020.
College Raptor is the only site that offers side-by-side comparisons of estimated financial aid packages, matching students to the right college for the best price.
Sustainability Tips for Living In College
Internship and New Job Suite
Powered by BestColleges.com
Resume and Cover Letter Guide:
Put Your Best Foot Forward in an Interview:
College Guide Series for Undocumented Students
UC Guidelines for Undocumented Students
Resources from TheBestSchools.org
Scholarship List
Most of these resources were originally displayed on JLV College Counseling. We highly recommend signing up for her blog!
If you wish to add a scholarship to our list, please email [email protected] and write it in the format of the other scholarships below (Sponsor, Amount, Deadline and Description)! Please note we only list scholarships that are open to high school students or younger.
Scholarships for Elementary Students
Scholarships for Middle School Students
Scholarships for High School Freshman
Scholarships for High School Sophomores
Scholarships for High School Juniors
Scholarships for Minority Students (Powered by AffordableColleges.com)
Top Scholarships for African American Students – (Powered By Maryville University)
Pepperdine’s List of Outside Scholarships
Scholarship List for DACA Students
Educators For Fair Consideration
United We Dream Scholarship List
Jack Kent Young Scholars Program
Harriet Fitzgerald Scholarship
Sponsor: The Sunflower Initiative
Amount: $10,000
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to highly motivated female graduating high school seniors who have a desire to attend a women’s college in the United States. Applicant must have at least a 3.7 GPA. There is no citizenship requirement, but student must plan on attending a college in the U.S.
TheDream.US National Scholarship Program
Sponsor: The Dream.US Scholarship Program
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: February 25, 2021
Description: Applicant must be a DREAMer who is DACA eligible and has applied for or received DACA approval. Applicant must be a first time college student and intend to attend a partner college (details available on website). In addition to the national scholarship, there is location specific scholarships (states where they face paying out-of-state tuition or will not admit students to their universities).
Sleep Scholarships
Amount: $1000
Closing Date: Varies
Description: SleepZoo offers an annual scholarship of $1,000 to a student who believes in the importance of maintaining healthy sleep patterns. Eligible applicants must be recent U.S. high school graduates or currently enrolled in a two- or four-year college at an accredited U.S. institution. Requirements also include that students maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and be planning to pursue, or already pursuing, a degree in the U.S.
Amount: $2000
Closing Date: Varies
Spring Contest Cycle: April 17 – July 17 of each year.
* Summer Contest Cycle: July 18 – October 14 of each year.
* Fall Contest Cycle: October 15 – January 15 of the following year.
* Winter Contest Cycle: January 16 – April 16 of each year
A Salute to Engineering Essay Contest
Sponsor: EngineerGirl
Amount: Up to $500
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Essay contest is open to girls and boys in grades 3-12. Applicant must submit an essay that salutes engineering’s role in meeting and defeating the challenges presented by COVID-19.
ACPA College Scholarship
Sponsor: American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
Amount: Up to $4,000
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and current college students who have a diagnosis of cleft lip and/or cleft palate or other congenital craniofacial difference). Preference will be given to rising first-year students in any field and to currently enrolled students in a field of study related to cleft or craniofacial conditions (e.g. genetic counseling, speech-language pathology).
Association of Women in Mathematics Essay Contest
Sponsor: Association for Women in Mathematics
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Contest is open to students in grades 6 through 12 and undergraduate students. Student must submit an essay based on an interview with a women currently working in a mathematical career.
Bart Kamen Memorial FIRST Scholarship
Sponsor: FIRST
Amount: $10,000
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors who have been accepted to, or applied for admission, to an eligible undergraduate program, which means a full-time program in Biomedical Engineering, pre-medical studies, or a program that allows students to pursue a chosen major while simultaneously completing a subset of medical school prep courses. Applicant must have participated as a team member for a minimum of one year on a FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, or FIRST Robotics Competition team.
California PTA Scholarships
Sponsor: California PTA
Amount: $500
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors who are graduating from a California high school between January 1 and June 30 of the current academic year. Applicant must demonstrate volunteer service in the school and community.
Childhood Cancer Sibling Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Northwestern Mutual
Amount: $5,000
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and current undergraduate students who are siblings of individuals who are in current treatment, have survived or passed away from pediatric childhood cancer.
Childhood Cancer Survivor Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Northwestern Mutual
Amount: $5,000
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to cancer survivors, age 25 and under, who are high school seniors or graduates, or current postsecondary undergraduates. Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Columbus Citizens Foundation Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Columbus Citizens Foundation
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to elementary school, middle school, high school, undergraduate, and graduate students of Italian descent (at least 25% Italian). Applicant must have financial need and at least a 3.0 GPA (for high school and college students).
Harriet Fitzgerald Scholarship
Sponsor: The Sunflower Initiative
Amount: $10,000
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to highly motivated female graduating high school seniors who have a desire to attend a women’s college in the United States. Applicant must have at least a 3.7 GPA. There is no citizenship requirement, but student must plan on attending a college in the U.S.
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Sponsor: Jackie Robinson Foundation
Amount: Up to $30,000 over four years
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating, minority high school seniors who plan on attending an accredited and approved four-year institution within the United States. Applicant must show leadership potential, dedication to community service, and evidence of financial need.
John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship
Sponsor: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 years old. Applicant must be pursuing a profession in visual arts and must show an affinity with the classical tradition of Western culture.
Junior Duck Stamp Contest
Sponsor: United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Contest is open to students in grades K-12 who attend public, private, or home schools in the United States and the U.S. territories. Contestant must draw, paint, or sketch a picture of an eligible North American waterfowl species. Deadline only for Maryland and California only. All other states have a later deadline.
SME Education Foundation Scholarships
Sponsor: Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Education Foundation
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors, current undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree students who are pursuing degrees in manufacturing or a related field at a two-year or four-year college or university. Multiple scholarships are available.
Walt Disney Company UNCF Corporate Scholars Program
Sponsor: The Walt Disney Company/UNCF
Amount: Up to $2,500
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to African American college sophomores who have an interest in pursuing a career in the entertainment industry (e.g. film, television, hospitality management, journalism, media production, digital media, etc). Preference will be given to students attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
Winston Classical Voice Scholarships
Sponsor: National Society of Arts and Letters
Amount: $12,000
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. citizens between the ages of 16 and 22 years of age. Applicant must submit a ten-minute vocal performance. Scholarship funds are for private study, special training or personal advancement in the applicants’ future careers. The funds cannot be used for college tuition, housing or travel.
Winston Two-Dimensional Art Scholarships
Sponsor: National Society of Arts and Letters
Amount: $12,000
Closing Date: February 1, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. citizens between the ages of 16 and 22 years of age. Applicant must submit five (5) art works done within the past two years. Scholarship funds are for private study, special training or personal advancement in the applicant’s chosen art field – funds cannot be used for college tuition, housing or travel.
AMS Freshman Undergraduate Scholarships
Sponsor: American Meteorological Society
Amount: $5,000
Closing Date: February 5, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to students entering their freshman year of college in the fall and must be planning to pursue a degree in the atmospheric or related oceanic or hydrologic sciences.
Better Brothers LA Book Scholarship
Sponsor: Better Brothers Los Angeles
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: February 5, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to Black LGBTQ students who are residents of Los Angeles County and who have been admitted or are attending an accredited degree, licensing, or vocational program.
BMI Student Composer Awards
Sponsor: BMI Foundation, Inc.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: February 5, 2021
Description: Award is open to citizens of a country in the Western Hemisphere who is engaged in the study of music with a recognized and established teacher (other than a relative). Applicant must have been born on after February 2, 1992. Applicant must submit one composition.
SimpleTexting Scholarship
Sponsor: SimpleTexting
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: February 5, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and current college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors between the ages of 16 and 22. Applicant must be attending college in the U.S. or a U.S. territory. Applicant must submit an essay on how texting helped sustain and strengthen their relationships during COVID-19.
Success for Survivors Scholarship
Sponsor: General Federation of Women’s Clubs
Amount: $2,500
Closing Date: February 5, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to students enrolled or planning to enroll at an accredited public or private post-secondary or vocational institution who has survived intimate partner abuse.
Cyrus Artisan Rugs Scholarship
Sponsor: Cyrus Rugs
Amount: $500
Closing Date: February 8, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming and current college students studying interior design. Applicant must submit an essay on the rug industry.
ExploraVision Science Competition
Sponsor: Toshiba/NSTA
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: February 8, 2021
Description: Competition is open to students in grades K through 12. Students must work in groups of 2-4 and select a technology that is present in the home, school, and/or community and explore what the technology does, how it works, and how or why it was invented.
Shred Nations Scholarship
Sponsor: Shred Nations
Amount: Up to $7,500
Closing Date: February 8, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and current college students with at least a 3.0 GPA and have an interest in business, environmental studies or the shredding and recycling industry.
Davidson Fellows Scholarship
Sponsor: Davidson Institute for Talent Development
Amount: Up to $50,000
Closing Date: February 10, 2021
Description: Program is open to students who are 18 years of age or younger as of February 10, 2021. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen residing in the United States, or a Permanent Resident of the United States residing in the United States, or be stationed overseas to active U.S. military duty. Applicant must submit a significant piece of work in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, music, philosophy, or “outside the box.” Program is looking for students whose projects are at, or close to, the college graduate level with a depth of knowledge in their particular area of study.
Texting and Driving Prevention Scholarship
Sponsor: Hodge & Langley Law Firm
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: February 10, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to students accepted to or currently enrolled in an accredited community college, undergraduate, or graduate program in the United States. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to distracted driving.
Agricultural Scholarships
Sponsor: California Table Grape Commission
Amount: Up to $20,000
Closing Date: February 12, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors graduating in 2021 or high school graduates who are residents in the Coachella or Joaquin Valleys and are planning to enroll in a California university with a declared major tied to the future in the California table grape industry.
AMS Minority Scholarships
Sponsor: American Meteorological Society
Amount: $6,000
Closing Date: February 12, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to minority students who will be entering their freshman year of college in the fall of 2021 and are planning to pursue careers in the atmospheric or related oceanic and hydrologic sciences.
Injury Scholarship
Sponsor: Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc.
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: February 12, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming and current college students who have suffered a serious injury and are committed to demonstrating a determination to rebuild their lives by attending college. Applicant must submit an essay related to their injury and how it has affected their education.
PG&E Scholarships
Sponsor: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: February 12, 2021
Description: Scholarships are open to high school seniors and current undergraduate students whose primary residence is a PG&E customer in California at the time of application. Applicant must be enrolled full-time at a four-year college or university in California.
ACB Scholarships
Sponsor: American Council of the Blind (ACB)
Amount: Up to $7,500
Closing Date: February 15, 2021
Description: Applicant must be a legally blind student who is a graduating high school senior enrolling in higher education in the fall, or a current undergraduate, graduate or vocational student.
AHLEF Scholarships
Sponsor: American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF)
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: February 15, 2021
Description: Scholarships are open to incoming freshman through graduate students who are enrolled in a hospitality management degree program. Multiple scholarships available.
California Strawberry Scholarships
Sponsor: California Strawberries
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: February 15, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming and current college students with at least a 2.0 GPA who have a parent who is currently employed as a California strawberry field worker for the current and prior two harvest seasons.
HSF General College Scholarships
Sponsor: Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: February 15, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to students of Hispanic descent who are graduating high school seniors, community colleges students, transfer students, college students, or graduate students. All majors and graduate fields are accepted, but there is an emphasis on STEM majors.
Scholarships4mom.net Scholarship
Sponsor: Scholarships4Moms.net
Amount: $10,000
Closing Date: February 15, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to legal U.S. residents who are at least 18 years of age and currently enrolled, or will be enrolled within the next three months, in a college or university in the United States. Applicant must be a mother or an expectant mother.
Teens for Alzheimer’s Awareness College Scholarship Essay Contest
Sponsor: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: February 15, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to current high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and will be attending an accredited four-year college/university in the next year. Applicant must submit an essay on how Alzheimer’s disease has changed or impacted their life.
UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program
Sponsor: UCB, Inc.
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: February 15, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to students living with epilepsy or students who are a family member or caregiver of a person living with epilepsy. Applicant must be seeking an associate’s, undergraduate, or graduate degree program during the fall of 2021
Live Deliberately Essay Contest
Sponsor: The Walden Woods Project/Thoreau Institute
Amount: Up to $500
Closing Date: February 16, 2021
Description: Contest is open to youth ages 14-18 around the globe. Applicant must submit an essay or visual essay on a topic related to a quotation by Henry David Thoreau.
The Christophers’ Poster Contest for High School Students
Sponsor: The Christophers
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: February 18, 2021
Description: Contest is open to students in grades nine through twelve. Contestant must create an original poster based on the theme, “You Can Make A Difference.”
Mathworks Math Modeling Challenge
Sponsor: MathWorks
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: February 19, 2021
Description: Scholarship challenge is open to high school juniors and seniors. Applicants must form a team of three to five students and one teacher from the same school.
Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship
Sponsor: Vegetarian Resource Group
Amount: Up to $10,000
Closing Date: February 20, 2021
Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. high school seniors graduating in the spring of 2021. Applicant must be a vegetarian and have promoted vegetarianism in their school and/or community.
Orion Fund Grants
Sponsor: The Orion Fund
Amount: Up to $3,000
Closing Date: February 25, 2021
Description: Scholarships are open to California college students with serious illness or injury. Applicant must be under the age of 32 and have a serious medical condition affecting their ability to stay in school.
TheDream.US National Scholarship Program
Sponsor: The Dream.US Scholarship Program
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: February 25, 2021
Description: Applicant must be a DREAMer who is DACA eligible and has applied for or received DACA approval. Applicant must be a first time college student and intend to attend a partner college (details available on website). In addition to the national scholarship, there is location specific scholarships (states where they face paying out-of-state tuition or will not admit students to their universities).
Ruiz 4 Kids Scholarships
Sponsor: Ruiz 4 Kids
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: February 26, 2021
Description: Scholarships are open to high school seniors who live within 35 or 50 miles of an area with a Ruiz Foods presence (Dinuba or Tulare, California; Denison, Texas; or Florence, South Carolina – see website for details).
Youth Eco-Hero Scholarship
Sponsor: Action for Nature
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: February 28, 2021
Description: The award is available to students between the ages of eight and 16 who exhibit environmental activism. Applicant must carry out an action-based and self-initiated project that concerns environmental health, advocacy, research, or protection of the natural world.
