The ultimate guide to college scholarships: For High School

Seniors, College Students, and Music Majors

Nearing the end of your high school journey? You must be

stoked because let’s face it, going to college is exciting. One

thing that might interfere with your excitement is the cost

of college. Fortunately, scholarships are there to ease your

journey through college by aiding you financially. So, whether

you are a hardworking student or an aspiring musician,

scholarships help ease your financial burden so you can focus

on more important matters i.e. education and growth.

Many types of scholarships are available for high school juniors

and college students. If you dream of taking the stage or

joining a marching band and are in financial need, you might

find a scholarship that’s tailored to your needs.

Types of Scholarships for College Students

Here are the different types of scholarships offered to college

students.

Merit-based scholarships

National Merit Scholarship and the Gates Millennium Scholars

Programs are examples of scholarships offered to students to

reward them for their outstanding academic achievements.

Need-based scholarships

These scholarships are offered to students who demonstrate

financial need. Examples of need-based scholarships include but

are not limited to Federal Pell Grant and The Jack Kent Cooke

Foundation Scholarship.

Specialized scholarships

Specialized scholarships cater to the needs of special

groups of students who want to excel in their

respective fields. The scholarships often require

essays or projects that showcase your passion.

Scholarships for high school seniors and college

students

Here are the most popular high school seniors and

College students 4-year college scholarships that

award students based on their academic achievements

and needs.

National Merit Scholarship

This is a general scholarship that is offered to every

college student. Every student who meets the

requirements for this scholarship stands a chance to

secure a high-yield scholarship that can pay the dues.

This scholarship rewards students who excel in their

studies and standardized testing.

How to apply?

Here’s how to apply for the National Merit Scholarship.

During your junior year of high school, take the

PSAT/NMQST to be eligible for this scholarship.

Qualify as a semifinalist by scoring in the top 1% of

your state.

Apply for the final standings and submit your essay,

high school transcript, and SAT or ACT scores.

Finally, submit the letter of recommendation from

the principal of your high school.

Requirements

To avail of the National Merit Scholarship, you must;

Be a citizen or legal resident of the U.S.

Have an excellent academic record with a 3.5+ GPA.

Prepare an outstanding personal essay to showcase

your future goals.

Gates Millennium Scholars Program

This program is for outstanding minority students

who have excellent academic records and demon-

strate a need for financial aid. The scholarships

offered by this program covers all the expenses at

an accredited college or university.

How to apply?

To apply for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program

scholarship, you have to;

Visit the Gates Scholarships website and fill out the

online application.

Submit a high school transcript, two letters of recom-

mendation from your institute, and an impressive

essay that depicts your future career goals.

Verify your financial need by providing the Free

Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA report.

requirements

Here are the requirements for the Gates Millennium

Scholars Program scholarship.

You must be a minority student i.e. African-American, Native

American, Hispanic, or Asian.

You must have a minimum GPA of 3.3.

You must demonstrate leadership through volunteer work,

extracurriculars, or community service.

Coca-Cola Scholars Program

This scholarship awards over 150 high school seniors who

demonstrate excellent academic records. The Coca-Cola

Scholars

Program scholarships are available for high school students

and awards over $20,000 per student.

How to apply?

Here are the steps to apply for the Coca-Cola Scholars

Program scholarship.

Visit the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation website and

submit an application before the last date.

Provide the required documents such as a letter of recom-

mendation and high school transcripts along with

a personal statement.

Participate in the interviews and qualify as a semi-finalist

requirements

To be eligible for this scholarship, you need to;

Be a high school senior.

Be a U.S. citizen.

Have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Scholarships for Music Majors, Concert and Marching Band Members

If you love music and want to pursue a career doing what you love,

good news! Many colleges, universities, and other organizations

offer various scholarships for students who are enrolled in music

programs or participate in concerts or marching bands. These

scholarships identify dedicated, hardworking, and talented

music majors and band members and offer financial aid to those

most deserving.

Here are the most popular scholarships specific for music majors,

concert and marching band members.

National Association of Music Merchants Scholarship

The NAMM scholarship identifies exceptional students of music or

those involved in music programs. This scholarship aims to

financially aid promising, aspiring, and dedicated music students

through colleges or universities.

How to apply?

here’s how to apply for the National Association of Music Merchants

Scholarship.

Visit the NAMM Foundation website and fill out the application

form for the scholarships.

Provide a letter of recommendation and transcripts.

Submit a personal statement that demonstrates your commitment

to music education.

Requirements

To be eligible for the NAMM scholarship, you must;

Be a music major or enrolled in a music program.

Be a U.S. citizen.

Have a minimum GPA of 3.0

Berklee College of Music Scholarship

Berklee College of Music is one of the most prestigious music institutions

in the world. It has a long history of nurturing talented musicians. It

offers a wide range of scholarships for students in music education.

All the full-time students of this institute are eligible and

automatically enrolled and considered for all the scholarships.

How to apply?

Here’s how to apply for admission to Berklee College of Music.

Visit the official website of Berklee College of Music and fill out

the online application form for admission.

Provide letters of recommendation, portfolio, transcripts, and

additional materials.

Appear before the Berklee admissions team for the live audition

or interview.

Requirements

Here’s what’s required for the Berklee College of Music Scholarship.

Active participation in campus music performances and events.

Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 throughout the program.

University of Michigan Marching Band Scholarship

As the name indicates, this scholarship is for students who

actively take part in the activities of the University of Michigan

Marching Band. The scholarship helps marching band member

students get through the program without facing financial problems.

How to apply?

Here is how you can apply for the University of Michigan Marching

Band Scholarship.

Audition for the marching band of the university and become a

member before the fall semester.

Using the band credentials, apply for the scholarship on the official

website of the university.

Requirements

To be eligible for the University of Michigan Marching Band

Scholarship, you need to;

Be a student at the University of Michigan.

Be a member of the marching band.

Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Tackling the Process of Application for Scholarships

Many or most of the students that deserve scholarships

don’t even know if these scholarships exist and if they do, they

find the application process for these scholarships daunting. But

don’t worry, it can managed with a bit of organization.

Here are a few tips to help you tackle the process step-by-step.

Start your search early

To catch the scholarships in time, you need to start searching for

them early. Utilize different databases that provide information

about various scholarships such as Fastweb or college board.

Find and apply for the scholarship opportunities that match

our qualifications and requirements.

Prepare the necessary documents

Most of the applications for scholarships have the same requirements

when it comes to gathering the necessary documents. So, it is wise

to gather your transcripts and letters of recommendation in advance.

You may also need a resume that depicts your academic achievements,

extracurriculars, and community work. Write a compelling essay or

personal statement that highlights your future goals because you will

need it.

Make a spreadsheet

Keep track of all the scholarships by marking their deadlines on the

calendar or a spreadsheet so you don’t miss out on any of them.

Tailor each application accordingly

Avoid sending out the same application for every scholarship. Instead,

take a look at the requirements and tailor your application. Tweak

your essays and personal statements to create an application that

favors your interests. You may also need to submit audio or video

recordings for music scholarships, make sure they are of high quality.

Conclusion

Scholarships can prove to be the golden ticket for all your financial

problems during your journey through college. If you secure a good

scholarship, you will ensure a debt-free college experience. High

school seniors and college students have countless options available,

all you need is to look in the right place. Even if you are simply a

part of a marching band or majoring in music, you can find many 

scholarships that are tailored to your needs. So, do your research,

make a list of all the scholarships that you qualify for, and apply for

the ones most suitable.