Don’t Leave Money on the Table: 5 Ways to Make the Most of National Scholarship Month
National Scholarship Month, sponsored by the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA), is observed every November to raise awareness about the rising costs of education and the scholarship support that is available for students.
Financial aid, grants, private scholarships and merit aid can make higher education more affordable and help reduce student loan debt. UNCF provides $13,000 scholarships annually, so make sure to review our opportunities.
How to Make the Most of National Scholarship Month
- Start searching early: It’s not too early for high school juniors to start researching college scholarships. Seniors should apply to as many as possible. And once students enter college, that doesn’t mean they should stop finding and applying to scholarships either—many scholarships are open to all undergraduates.
- Apply to UNCF scholarships: Log in to UNCF’s scholarship portal to search for scholarship, internship and fellowship opportunities. Read the requirements and fill out every step before submitting. You can also find opportunities at Scholarship America, Scholarships.com or your high school counselor or career center.
- There are a diversity of scholarships: Students can find scholarships for academic excellence, specific majors and areas of study, community service, leadership, athletic talent and more.
- Emergency student aid exists: The money needed to handle a medical or other emergency can mean the difference between staying in school and dropping out. UNCF’s Emergency Student Aid helps students stay in college and complete their degrees.
- Don’t leave money on the table: Billions of dollars in aid, including billions of unclaimed Pell grants, go unused every year because students do not apply for this aid.
We know that higher education is expensive. But aid is available to help lower the financial burden, enable students to get to and through college and into the careers of their dreams.