I’ve recently started the college search process and I’ve been looking for scholarships, but I’ve found the process rather difficult because it seems every scholarship that would fit me require me to be from a state outside of the one i live in (New York). I’m a female first generation Nigerian- American with a 3.94 gpa (on the 4 point scale) and a 2170 gpa. I am a captain on my school’s track and field team and I’m also a part of various other clubs (such as Science Olympiad and Quiz Bowl). Does anyone know of any scholarships that would fit my persona? Preferably that are able to be used at top schools?
Also it would help a lot if the scholarships were merit based, because I don’t qualify for need based scholarships
Define ‘top schools’.
Schools like Duke and Georgetown that are part of the ivy league or very close to it
You could try google:
Why doesn’t Georgetown offer merit-based scholarships?
*It’s a choice Georgetown has made for two reasons. One, all the students Georgetown admits are exceptional and they all deserve to be here. Two, we think that using our limited scholarship resources to help the neediest students first is consistent with our Catholic and Jesuit tradition and helps build socioeconomic diversity on campus.
Ivy League and peer colleges meet full need, so they expect your family to pay what they believe you can towards the cost. If your family is not willing or able to meet this cost, you probably aren’t going to be able to attend such colleges.
Outside scholarships are usually only for one year and difficult to get. One you could look into is Coca-Cola. It has a separate forum here for discussion.
Madison85 I’m well aware that Georgetown itself does not give merit based scholarships which is why I’m asking about outside scholarships that may still be used there.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/duke-university/1788865-scholarship-competitiveness.html#latest
Looks like Duke does have competitive merit scholarships
You can ask @courtneythurston for her list of scholarships. She garnered $280k in offers.
Are you an incoming senior or junior? You’re not likely to find large enough outside scholarships to fund and education at a place like Georgetown. Like Madison said, Duke has competitive scholarships. How much money do you anticipate your parents will pay for college?
There are few large merit scholarships for students to use at their choice of schools, when there is no need.
Also, there are even fewer of these scholarships that can be used for more frosh year.
How much will your family pay for college?
You can apply to top schools and see, but if you need merit to afford college then you need to also apply to schools schools that FOR SURE will give you merit for your stats.
Duke and Georgetown are not part of the Ivy League.
Read the links In this thread I am posting. The very best scholarships,come directly from the colleges.
^ This.
It’s over 280k now (in outside ones). The outside scholarships based purely/mostly on merit that I received are:
- Coca-Cola (purely merit)
- National Space Club Keynote Competition Scholarship (purely merit)
- Brad Feld Aspirations in Computing Scholarship (purely merit)
- GoEnnounce/UPromise "Define Yourself' Scholarship (purely merit)
- Army Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr. Scholarship (purely merit)
- VIP Women in Tech Scholarship (purely merit)
- EAA Arcamuzi Aviation Scholarship (purely merit)
- AXA Achievement Community ("financial need considered" -- plenty of middle class kids win those kind)
- Elks MVS National Finalist Scholarship ("financial need considered")
- Burger King WHOPPER Scholarship ("financial need considered")
- GE-Reagan Scholarship ("financial need considered")
- SanDisk Scholarship ("financial need considered")
- Jack Kent Cooke is the last outside one but has an income cut-off; financial need factors pretty heavily into that one.
If you want a larger list of outside scholarships, just look through my replies (I tailored this list more towards the merit ones).
But, yes, the easier scholarships to get tend to come directly from colleges (but note that top schools rarely if ever give merit aid).
Great list…but please do clarify…so folks will understand. How much of this money are you actually receiving per year? My guess is it is NOT $280,000.
Also, Courtney has some compelling hook type things in her resume. Just saying.
Courtney is only counting the actual amount she will receive ($293,000 outside scholarships and $127,050 from university merit associated grants).
Is she getting $293,000 a year or for all four years?
(293000+127050)/4= per year
The school starts taking away their own funding once I hit COA, so I’ll only be receiving COA per year (some of which refunds to me). I was also able to defer some of the bigger dollar scholarships to grad school.
Deferral: good thinking!
thanks for everyone that helped with this thread but i got a bunch of full ride/tuition scholarships to schools so i didn’t need to find a specific scholarship in the end 