How to Get STEM Scholarships: Student Tips for Success

November is National Scholarship Month and we are celebrating with Jacob Bojito, a STEM student from Springfield, MA

STEM Scholarships

National STEM Day, which occurs annually on November 8 (NOV8=en-o-v-ate= innovate) presents an opportunity to search for scholarships in science, technology, engineering and math and some of the most interesting scholarships are available to diverse students. The number of STEM students has grown over the last decade but unfortunately some diverse students are underrepresented in the industry. 

“Many students feel pressure to obtain a four-year college degree to access jobs in the STEM fields and while many of these careers require a bachelor’s degree that may not be the case for other careers in STEM,” said María Fernanda Trochimezuk, Founder of IO Scholarships. “More and more students are finding alternative pathways to building a successful STEM career such as associate’ degrees, certificate program or some technical courses.” 

Below are some of the biggest STEM scholarships for Latinx, African American, Asian Pacific Islanders, and Native American students. Sure, they are quite competitive as the bigger the award, the bigger the competition. But if done right, students can make a very large difference in their long-term financial situation.

Winning free money to pay for school is always something students can celebrate and Jacob is sharing with IO Scholarships some recommendations to help you improve your scholarship application process.

Why do you apply for scholarships?

I have received some scholarships that have been tremendously helpful especially since my parents have to pay for three children in school. I feel a bit of pressure to cover the cost of my career and scholarships are very helpful.

 IO Scholarships Tip: Each day we enter new scholarships, logging onto IOScholarships so you can be matched to new awards, and you never miss an opportunity.  

How do you stay motivated to apply for scholarships?

For each scholarship I won I didn’t win another one so sometimes I felt discouraged. But it can’t stop you. If you continue to strive without fear, you will succeed. I know that I must be proactive in applying for scholarships to help ease the financial burden.

IO Scholarships Tip: Every dollar counts and the more scholarships you win the less money you will have to borrow. Continue searching for scholarships past high school graduation as we have hundreds of opportunities for college graduates and postgraduates!

What scholarship advice do you have for other students?

I found that the process of preparing and applying for scholarship opportunities was much less intimidating when I seek the help of teachers and other students applying for scholarships and careers in STEM. I recommend applying to as many scholarships as you can and don’t wait until the last minute!

IO Scholarships Tip: Treat applying for scholarships like a part-time job. Dedicate a few hours each week to apply to awards of all amounts including the small ones which could cover your education expenses such as book. The more you apply to, the better your chances of winning!

Why should students use IO Scholarships?

I am extremely helpful with IO Scholarships help through this process. Speaking to María Fernanda made me realize it is possible to go to college and graduate debt free. Our conversation has inspired me to work towards that goal

IO Scholarships Tip: Using IO Scholarship allows you to apply for opportunities which you already qualify, and your ethnic and cultural background is valued. We take so much work out of the actual scholarship search process. Remember to update your profile frequently with a change in GPA to get the best matches possible.

If you need more information to help you win big scholarships read the following article.

Founder of IOScholarships Shares Her Tips on Getting Free College Money

Below is some advice to help you win scholarships. However, winning them takes time, dedication and hard work.

Customize each essay
Scholarship judges can tell if you’ve adapted a previously written essay to meet their criteria.  I customized each application and use the beginning of my essay to showcase my unique skills. Remember, the time you are spending to tailor your essay can be rewarded with a college debt free future. Also, details are very important. Your essay might be very appealing but grammar mistakes and spelling errors can stand between you and a $100,000 award as careless mistakes can been seen as lack of dedication.

Submit scholarship applications early
Meet the deadlines and don’t wait until the due date. I followed the organizations’ application criteria. If the organization asks you to mail the application, don’t try to email it and if there is a maximum word count limit, don’t go over it. Most scholarship providers receive more qualified applications than available funds, so reduce your chances of being disqualified because you didn’t follow their requirements.

Treat the application process as a part-time job
The more applications you submit, the greater your chances are of winning scholarships.  I treated the application process as a part-time job dedicating 15-25 hours per week. I figured if I spent two hours applying for a scholarship and won $1000, that was like making $500 per hour; an AMAZING part-time job!

It was difficult at first, because I was putting in hours and hours in the application process before winning scholarships but it got easier as time went on. I wrestled with self-doubt. But don’t let the competition discourage you. IOScholarships help narrow your search. Results are generated based on your ethnic background and interests. Don’t wait, apply today!

 

ABOUT IO SCHOLARSHIPS

The majority of the scholarships featured on the IOScholarships website come directly from corporations and organizations, rather than solely from competitive national pools – thereby maximizing the number of opportunities students have to earn funding for their education. Each month IO Scholarships adds hundreds of new curated scholarships to its database and posts “The Scholarship of the Week” on its Twitter, Facebook and Instagram social media accounts (@IOScholarships), making it easy to find new scholarship opportunities.

In addition to providing scholarships, IOScholarships website offers a free scholarship organizer, news articles designed to provide guidance on how to apply for scholarships, and money saving tips. The platform also offers a Career Aptitude Quiz designed to help students identify the degrees and professions that best fit their skills.

For more information about IOScholarships visit www.ioscholarships.com or for weekly STEM scholarships email [email protected].  

 

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How to Get Scholarships: Student Tips for Success