Recently, I saw my first Christmas display of the season in a store. Sure, Thanksgiving hasn’t even happened yet, but it’s never too early to look ahead to December. With that in mind, here’s my early gift to all of you: a new list of scholarships with upcoming deadlines in December 2017.
Odds are, you might finally (finally!) have some free time coming up with the holidays and winter break. Apply for a few of these scholarships—and then you can binge-watch all the stuff you missed this past semester guilt-free. (Unless it’s the latest Real Housewives or something like that, which you should at least feel a little guilty watching.)
Deadline: December 1, 2017
Amount: $2,000
The Future Leaders of IT (FLIT) scholarship is available to students pursuing a career in information engineering, information management, or a related academic area. So, if you’re focused on tech, this award is for you. To apply, students must submit:
- Their most recent high school or college transcripts.
- Three letters of recommendations from teachers and or counselors.
- Proof of university or college acceptance (if you’re still in high school).
- A 1,000-word essay on your career goals.
This award also serves as a reminder that December is a GREAT time for high school seniors to search and apply for scholarships. You’ll need to figure out your financing for college sooner rather than later. Why not get some free money to make those decisions a whole lot simpler?
Deadline: December 15, 2017
Amount: $3,000
This scholarship is for students at accredited U.S. law schools and undergraduate students who have applied or will apply to law school. That last bit of language (“will apply”) potentially opens this award up to a broader audience. If you’re even considering a career in law, give this one a shot.
To apply for this scholarships, students must submit a 750- to 1,000-word essay about who they are and their interests. The provider states that they’ll also accept a Prezi or other creative-based presentations. You should be able to reuse your personal statement essay for this one, especially if it talks about your community service efforts. (The judging criteria specifically references, “Worthy deeds that you have already performed.”)
Deadline: December 15, 2017
Amount: $5,000
The Foreclosure.com Scholarship Program is available to legal U.S. residents who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited college, university, or trade school. To apply, students must submit an 800- to 2,000-word essay based on the following prompt: “Is the ‘American Dream’ of one day owning a home alive and well among Millennials?”
Bonus points if your essay references the Life Delayed study by Salt’s parent organization, American Student Assistance, which talks about how student loan borrowers are postponing home ownership. (Well, bonus points from me, not the scholarship judges. That’s worth something, right?)
Deadline: December 15, 2017
Amount: $5,000
The Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship offers $5,000 to the best college cartoonist around—or at least the best one that applies for this award. According to their website, this award received just 90 submissions last year. I bet there are way more struggling artists out there who could use a little free money for school.
To apply, students must send eight samples of their cartooning work. Applicants must be attending a 4-year college in the United States, Canada, or Mexico and be in their junior or senior year for the 2018-2019 academic year. You do not have to be an art major to qualify.
Deadline: December 30, 2017
Amount: $1,000
As a freshman in college, I had two grilled cheese sandwiches and fries for lunch pretty much every day. Dinner was typically a bagel—or Lucky Charms cereal. If you’re more health conscious than I was (which is an admittedly very low bar), give the Fitwirr College Scholarship a shot.
This award is open to all currently enrolled college students, regardless of major or minor. You simply need to be a U.S. resident and attending an accredited U.S. college or university. To apply, submit a 500- to 1,000-word essay on the following prompt: “How to eat healthy in college.” (Needless to say, I probably wouldn’t have done very well in this competition.)
Deadline: December 31, 2017
Amount: $1,000
Offered by Global English Editing, the Better America Scholarship Program offers a $1,000 award to students who wish to change the world. To apply, students should submit an essay no longer than 200 words that outlines how they intend to change America. Eligibility criteria include:
- Must be currently enrolled at an accredited university in the United States.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or have a valid green card.
The scholarship does allow international students studying in the United States to apply as well. However, they must, “demonstrate their intention to stay in the country after graduation and see through their change-making agenda.”
Deadline: December 31, 2017
Amount: $1,000
All right, let’s finish things with a “nope” scholarship that aligns with the latest scholarship challenge. The Getting Real About Distracted Driving Scholarship is looking for creative submissions instead of essays. If you’re ready to have a little fun applying for scholarships, try this one out.
The award’s provider, Comedy Defensive Driving (which, from what I can tell, is a serious driving school), wants students to: “Design an advertisement that will educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving, and convince them with a clear call to action not to text and drive, drink and drive, eat and drive, or any other distraction you choose to focus on.”
They’ll accept all types of ads, including PSAs, billboards, commercials, etc. It just needs to have a clear call-to-action. The only listed eligibility requirement is that you either plan to attend or are currently attending an accredited college, university, or continuing education program.
EmoticonEmoticon