Getting A Degree Is Easier With Help Of Scholarships From The State Of Illinois
Illinois is composed of a heavily industrialized and urban north coupled with a more rural and agricultural-oriented south. Scattered throughout the state though are a number of highly recognized colleges and universities. That said, it should come as no surprise the various scholarships out there reflect this variety. Some of the programs include the following:
For starters, one scholarship the state offers is The Merit Recognition Scholarship. It's a general scholarship that can be applied to any school inside Illinois. To qualify, students must graduate in the top 5% of their high school GPA, SAT, ACT or similar grading system. In return, they get $1,000 for any military or in-state institution.
The state also has the Illinois General Assembly Legislative scholarship. The way this works is each year, the state's district councilmen pick at least two students going to college, and awards them up to a full tuition, again to any Illinois-sponsored university. In the case the students select to go to a 2-year school, the remaining award money is given to a similar student going for another 2-year program.
Illinois' largest city, Chicago, has a program all its own. Called the College Bound Scholarship, recipients can receive as much as $5,000 a year for up to five years. To receive this award, they not only must have top grades, but also come with a letter or recommendation and compete in an essay-writing contest.
If anything, it appears Illinois actually likes essay contests. Another one is the Lincolnland Legends competition. While the award isn't quite the same, it's only $1,000; there are more chances of winning. Lincolnland chooses 19 different winners of deserving high school juniors and seniors. They also hold a special dinner to honor the winners.
The American Legion and the Boy Scouts of America also have their version of an essay competition. It is targeted to all current or former Boy Scouts who plan or are taking courses in journalism. Their essays must be on either the Legion, the Scouts or "Americanism" in general. In turn, the two organizations awards two prizes; First prize is a $700 while second is $200.
Then there is the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholars Program. True, this is a national program, but each state has its own way to administer it and set the criteria to qualify. In the Illinois version, an applicant must be one of the top students when it comes to GPA, SAT, ACT or similar standardized test. Like everywhere in the states though, the award is the same; $1,500 a year goes towards any Bachelor's degree program in the nation.
With the exception of the American Legion/Boy Scout scholarship, all these plans don't require taking a specific degree program. True, they mainly require going to a school inside the state, but with the right mix, this can actually cut costs down considerably. Then again, when you look at a state with such a wide variety of industries and needs as Illinois, setting up these awards accordingly is probably the most efficient way to meet Illinois' personal needs. If you would prefer to earn an online degree from home, visit Education Connection to learn about your options.
- Article Word Count: 440
- |
- Total Views: 32
- |
- permalink