SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH SITES

FREE MONEY: Outside Scholarship Overview

Outside scholarships are private sources of financial aid that require an application separate from
your financial aid application(s). National and local scholarships are offered by corporations,
local businesses, community-based organizations, and private foundations. Money awarded
through an outside scholarship is an excellent supplemental source of aid that can reduce unmet
need that institutional financial aid award may not cover.

TIPS FOR STARTING YOUR SEARCH

Be Proactive
Many scholarships require two or more recommendation letters from adults who know you
well. Recommenders can be teachers, counselors, and coaches, as well as program and work
supervisors. Remember, recommendations can typically be used for multiple scholarships.
Scholarships often ask for an official transcript of your grades and SAT scores. Youll need to
request a copy from your school.
Its best to print out applications once you find them. Doing so will save you time when you
are ready to apply.
Some colleges replace institutional aid with outside scholarships. Be sure to ask your
college(s) how outside scholarships are processed with regard to financial aid awards.
Search Local Scholarships
Start your search by finding scholarships from your city,
Massachusetts, and/or New England.
Your school, neighborhood, community organization,
employer, or place of worship may have scholarships that they
sponsor each year. Ask around!

Be Aware
of Scams!
Ignore notices of winning
a scholarship if you did
not apply to it. You should
never have to pay a fee!

Find Scholarships to Fit You

Look at the requirements for GPA, ethnic background,
neighborhood of residence, family income, and leadership or volunteer experience to see if
you qualify to apply. If not, move on to find scholarships that are a better fit.
Represent Yourself Well
Highlight your strengths, achievements, and goals, as well as challenges you
have overcome.
Read scholarship directions very carefully. Turn in everything on time.
Applications should be typed or very neatly written in pen, and should not be crumpled,
smudged, or food-stained.

SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH SITES

LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES:
Organization

Website

Boston Youth
Zone

www.bostonscholarshipguide.com

Community
Foundation of
Western Mass
Office of
Student
Financial
Assistance

www.communityfoundation.org

www.osfa.mass.edu

Helpful Tips
From View Guide, begin with Community
Sponsored or Nationally Sponsored
Explore College Sponsored Scholarships once
youve identified your final college list
Browse list of scholarships under Scholarship
& Loan Program
Complete and submit a scholarship application
under Application between Jan-Mar
Review the Financial Aid Programs grant
and waiver opportunities offered by the state,
and identify any for which you qualify
Contact 617-727-9420 for more information

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES:

Organization

Website

CollegeBoard

bigfuture.collegeboard.org

Fast Web

www.fastweb.com

Scholarship
America

www.scholarshipamerica.org

Helpful Tips
On the Pay for College tab, select
Scholarships and Grants
Search for scholarships based upon eligibility
criteria with Scholarship Search
Join to see your scholarship matches and receive
emails with upcoming scholarships
Create or update your profile to be matched
with scholarships
Under Students and Families choose the
Open Scholarship option
Check back throughout the year for current
opportunities

MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES:

Hispanic/Latino
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Hispanic College Fund
Latino College Dollars
MALDEF
Black or African Americans
United Negro College Fund
Black College Dollars
NAACP
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders
APIASF Scholarship Fund
USPAACC Scholarships

www.hsf.net
www.hispanicfund.org
www.latinocollegedollars.org
www.maldef.org
www.uncf.org
www.thesalliemaefund.org
www.naacp.org
www.apiasf.org
www.uspaacc.com

SCHOLARSHIP RESUME
This worksheet is designed to help you identify scholarships that you may be eligible for based
on certain characteristics. You should refer back to this worksheet when completing scholarship
applications since many questions will be related to these items.
GPA
Ethnicity
Your Neighborhood
Field of Interest and
Hobbies

Honors, Awards,
Recognition, or
Achievements

School Clubs, Activities,

or Sports

Volunteer Work or
Community Service

(Short-term or long-term)

Work History*

1.

References

(List the name, how you

know the reference, and
contact information)

2.
3.

*List date, job title, & employer. If lacking work, include what has been done around the house
(babysitting, etc), community, church, neighbors (mowing the lawn, etc.)

SCHOLARSHIP PLANNER
Before you start any scholarship applications, its important to know basic information about the
scholarships you are applying to. Filling out the table below allows you to keep track of the
requirements and deadlines of each scholarship.

1.

Scholarship Name
and Website:

Application
Deadline

Application Requirements

Sample Scholarship
www.scholarship.com

March 1st

X Recommendations(s) _2_ Essay(s) X Transcripts

X Other docs: __SAR and Award Letter_____________
X Other docs: ___Taxes & W-2s___________________

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Rec(s) ___
Essay(s)
Transcripts
Other docs: ___________________________
Other docs: ___________________________
Rec(s) ___
Essay(s)
Transcripts
Other docs: ___________________________
Other docs: ___________________________
Rec(s) ___
Essay(s)
Transcripts
Other docs: ___________________________
Other docs: ___________________________
Rec(s) ___
Essay(s)
Transcripts
Other docs: ___________________________
Other docs: ___________________________
Rec(s) ___
Essay(s)
Transcripts
Other docs: ___________________________
Other docs: ___________________________
Rec(s) ___
Essay(s)
Transcripts
Other docs: ___________________________
Other docs: ___________________________
Rec(s) ___
Essay(s)
Transcripts
Other docs: ___________________________
Other docs: ___________________________
Rec(s) ___
Essay(s)
Transcripts
Other docs: ___________________________
Other docs: ___________________________
Rec(s) ___
Essay(s)
Transcripts
Other docs: ___________________________
Other docs: ___________________________
Rec(s) ___
Essay(s)
Transcripts
Other docs: ___________________________
Other docs: ___________________________

Keep your scholarship applications organized! Using the local scholarship handout,

identify scholarships that you are eligible for, and list here any that you plan on applying
to throughout the year. As the deadline approaches, keep track of which application
requirements you have completed. Keeping organized will ensure that you do not pass
up an opportunity to apply to scholarships that you are eligible for.