Scholarships Available For STEM Degree!
So you're a bright young high school student with ambitions to be a scientist or enter into some other technological profession. Your grades make you a top candidate. At the same time, you'll be in over your head in student loans before graduating. You've heard about Pell grants and state aid, but may be wondering what other sources of financial aid are out there.
The U.S. is indeed suffering from a shortage in just about every aspect of the technological professions. It's been said that the measure of a nation is based on the number of people in technology it can support. Colleges - both online and on campus - are receiving a lot more financial aid to produce more Bachelors of Science. Others, from public corporations to private societies, have also signed up with grants, if only because they realize their own survival is dependent on it.
Students looking for grants and scholarships should first consult a school's financial aid officer. This person's job is know the aid possibilities and assist those seeking to find the ones that apply. This can include everything from tuition to living expenses. Its part of their job is to stay abreast of all these new programs. This doesn't mean the new or returning student shouldn't do their own homework. Quite frankly, there are many grant and scholarship sources looking for students to hand their cash to. Here are some places to start with:
(1) Pell Grant - At the moment, this federal grant is capable of supplying up to $5,350, although that might be going up to $5,900 by 2011. All that is required is filling out a FASFA form, and then wait for response. Don't forget the state you reside in. That's what most state lotteries are supposed to finance.
(2) S-STEM Scholarship - This program was created by the Federal government specifically to help students get science degrees ranging from an Associates to even a Masters. In 2009, it awarded 100 scholarships ranging from $100,000 to $600,000, based on both academics and need. To find out more one should go to the National Science Foundation, who works with the Board of Education on this program.
(3) Corporate Scholarships - When you think about it, it's in their best interest to sponsor these programs. It's a great way to recruit their future superstars. In this case, one should look up the SIC of the industry you're interested in, and then look up the corporations they correspond to. From there, go on their web sites. You'll be hard pressed to find a company that doesn't have some program already in place.
(4) Professional Organizations - Every vocation has its society or professional organization. In turn, they almost always have some sort of scholarship program. It's a good way of maintaining the ranks. Some of them include such august operations as the National Society of Professional Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Yes, doing this involves a little homework, even apply for Pell Grants. Then again, if you're planning a career in the technological fields, that should come naturally. This time, you're just not shopping for a better grade, but also researching online grants, for what could be some serious money in the future. That in itself should be enough motivation.
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