To my college-bound seniors:
This is an exciting and yet stressful time in a young person’s life. High school seniors and their parents/guardians, teachers, and counselors are tasked with admissions applications, financial aid applications like the FAFSA and CSS Profile, Letters of Recommendation, submitting transcripts, and so much more. Perhaps the most fun part of the college going process, however, is seeking out and applying for scholarships.
There are 3 main types of scholarships to be on the lookout for, including: local, institutional, and national. Be sure to check, if you haven’t already, with your high school’s counseling department to see what kinds of local scholarships they are offering, when the deadlines are for each scholarship, and how many scholarships you meet the criteria for. Many of the local scholarships offered by your high school, and the greater Central Virginia area, will likely have later deadlines.
Some of the institutional, university-specific scholarships, however, have deadlines that are fast approaching. For this reason, I am taking it upon myself to notify you all of the deadlines of these scholarships, as well as how to apply for these scholarships and other details specific to each scholarship program. For this blog post, I will be focusing on in-state colleges and universities, but be sure also to keep tabs on scholarship programs at non-Virginia schools.
Christopher Newport University
President’s Leadership Program
- Criteria: Average high school GPA of 4.0 and 1310 SAT or 27 ACT
- Amount: Renewable $1,000-$10,000 residential scholarship + study abroad scholarship
- How to apply: Select “Yes” for PLP interest in the “Academics” section of the Common Application, submit the supplemental essay when prompted and schedule the required interview.
- Deadline: Preference is given to applicants who complete the required essays and interview by December 15. Those who meet the priority deadline will be notified via mail on February 1. The final deadline to apply and interview is February 15 with notification on April 1.
Honors Program
- Criteria: Average high school GPA of 4.1 and 1340 SAT or 29 ACT
- Scholarship: Renewable $2,000-$10,000 residential + study abroad scholarship
- How to apply: Select “Yes” for Honors interest in the “Academics” section of the Common Application, submit the supplemental essay when prompted and schedule the required interview.
- Deadline: Preference is given to applicants who complete the required essays and interview by December 15. Those who meet the priority deadline will be notified via mail on February 1. The final deadline to apply and interview is February 15 with notification on April 1.
COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY
Automatically considered for scholarships with application. William & Mary tries to meet 100% demonstrated financial need for all in-state students.
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
All freshman applicants who apply by November 1 (the Early Action application deadline) will automatically be considered for merit-based scholarships through the Office of Admissions and the Scholarship Committee.
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
For many scholarships at JMU, the application for admission serves as the application for scholarships awarded by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
- There may be other individual departmental scholarships available as well at this link: https://www.jmu.edu/scholarships/incoming-students.shtml
OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
All incoming freshmen and transfer students will automatically be considered for Academic and Endowed scholarships based on their admissions applications. The major scholarships offered to Old Dominion University students are based on information already known to the university.
In order to be considered for financial aid, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. ODU suggests submitting this in early October in order to maximize school aid.
RADFORD UNIVERSITY
Apply by December 1 (early action deadline) in order to qualify for:
- Red and White and Academic Excellence Scholarships
- Highlander Grant (need-based money)
- Whitehead Grant (need-based money specifically for females studying nursing or communications sciences and disorders)
UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON
| Washington Scholars | Full scholarship for instate tuition and fees, room and board for four years of undergraduate study
|
Automatic Consideration with Application for Admission | No additional materials required | Submit application for admission for early consideration by November 15. |
| Alvey Scholars | Full scholarship for out of state tuition and fees, room and board for four years of undergraduate study | Automatic Consideration with Application for Admission | No additional materials required | Submit application for admission for early consideration by November 15. |
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Many scholarships are identified and awarded by financial aid once the student has applied. UVA guarantees to meet 100% demonstrated financial need. UVA is also now offering full coverage of tuition for students whose families earn $80,000 or less before tax. For students whose families earn $30,000 or less before tax, UVA also offers full coverage of room and board.
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
For scholarship consideration, applicants must submit the Common Application to VCU by Nov. 15 and must also submit test scores.
VIRGINIA TECH
Apply through general scholarship application to be considered for multiple VT scholarships here: https://vt.academicworks.com/
Deadline for VT’s general scholarship application is January 22nd, 2019
AVERETT UNIVERSITY
Presidential Scholarship ($16,000), Dean’s Scholarship ($15,000), Founder’s Scholarship ($13,000), and Horizon Scholarship ($8,000)
- Criteria: Merit-based scholarships awarded to students based on academics
- Scholarship: Listed above
- How to apply: Considered with application
Ministerial Tuition Discounts
- Criteria: Full-time students who are sons or daughters of ministers or students preparing for church-related vocations are eligible for this renewable award.
- Scholarship: $1,000 (resident students), $500 (commuters)
- How to apply: Considered with application
BLUEFIELD COLLEGE
Many academic scholarships are awarded with application. A combination of GPA and SAT/ACT scores are used to determine the scholarship level, including the Lansdell, Harman, Trustees’, Deans’, and Alumni scholarships.
BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE
Numerous endowed scholarships, funded by our generous alumni and other private donors, are also available. Each scholarship has select criteria and eligibility requirements associated with it. BC currently has more than 240 endowed scholarships. You are automatically considered for these scholarships after you submit the FAFSA.
Church of the Brethren Scholarship
- Criteria: Available to students who are members of the Church of the Brethren
- Scholarship: $2,500 for residents and $1,500 for commuters
- How to apply: Apply to BC early
EASTERN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY
Applicants are automatically considered for many academic scholarships when applying to EMU. The following scholarships require separate applications:
Honors
- Criteria: Awarded on basis of academic performance in HS, SAT or ACT scores and demonstrated leadership potential. 2017-2018 EMU Honors students had an average GPA of 4.09, 1334 SAT, and 30 ACT.
- Scholarship: Ranges from $20,000 to full tuition scholarships
- How to apply: Students who apply for admission by November 1 and meet minimum academic criteria will be invited to apply for the Honors Program
EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE
Applicants are automatically considered for many academic scholarships ($9,000-$21,000) when applying to E&H. The following scholarships require separate applications:
Honors College
- Criteria: Based on grades and test scores, selected by admissions committee and complete interview on Scholarship Day
- Scholarship: $9,000-$21,000
- How to apply: Must apply to E&H by November 15
FERRUM COLLEGE
Applicants are automatically considered for academic scholarships when applying to Ferrum.
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE
All students are automatically considered for scholarships upon admission to Hampden-Sydney. All are renewable for up to three years as long as student maintains academic requirements.
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Check Liberty’s financial aid website for 30+ individual school-specific scholarships you can apply to. Scholarships include: VA Resident Scholarship, Liberty Virginia High-Achiever Scholarship, and more.
● Check individual scholarships for deadlines and procedures.
UNIVERSITY OF LYNCHBURG
All students are automatically considered for scholarships upon admission to University of Lynchburg. All are renewable for up to three years as long as student maintains academic requirements.
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND
| Richmond Scholars Program | Full tuition plus room and board | Automatically considered with application for admission | No application or additional materials required | Submit admission application by December 1st |
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
Merit-based aid is awarded based on transcripts and SAT/ACT scores. No additional application is necessary.
VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY
Students will be considered for merit-based aid with their application for admission.
WASHINGTON & LEE UNIVERSITY
Washington & Lee always meets full demonstrated financial need for all students with a combination of grants, scholarships, and student employment.
Applying for a Johnson Scholarship ensures consideration for all other merit-based scholarships. W&L offers a variety of regional and departmental awards each year. While these scholarships are separately named, students must apply for the Johnson Scholarship in order to be considered for them.
Johnson Scholarship Program
- Criteria: Awarded based on merit.
- Scholarship: Full need is met by the scholarship (at least tuition, room and board). Also receive $7,000 for summer experiences.
- How to apply: Submit a Common Application, including the W&L Writing Supplement, no later than December 1.
W&L Promise
- Criteria: Any undergraduate student admitted to Washington and Lee with a total family income* below $100,000 and assets typical for their income.
- Scholarship: Grant equal to the full cost of tuition at W&L.
- How to apply: Apply to W&L and submit your FAFSA and CSS Profile.
Seniors,
In the case of quite a few of these colleges and universities, you will automatically be considered for institutional, merit-based aid upon applying. That being said, some of them also require that you apply early, or by the school’s priority deadline (which is often December 1st), in order to be considered for school-specific scholarships.
In the pursuit of institutional scholarship dollars, always remember the 1st of November, the 15th of November, and the 1st of December. I will have more scholarship dates, deadlines, and details in the days, weeks, and months to come.
All the Best,
Marcus
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