The Siemens Competition
June 27, 2007
Interested in science, math, engineering or technology? The Siemens Foundation is offering students an opportunity to compete for $100,000 scholarship!
The Siemens Competition promotes excellence by encouraging students to undertake individual or team research projects in science, mathematics, engineering and technology or in combinations of these disciplines. In 1999, the Foundation hosted the first national Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology. With its high academic standards, rigorous judging process and emphasis on authentic scientific research, it has quickly become the leading science and mathematics research-based competition for high school students in the United States.
Contact:
The Siemens Foundation
170 Wood Ave South
Iselin, NJ 08830
Phone:
877-822-5233
Email Address :
foundation.us@siemens.com
Application Deadline :
October 1, 2007
Maximum Amount :
See Description
Website Address :
http://www.siemens-foundation.org
Remember, there are millions more scholarships and grants at Scholarships.com, along with a huge resource section to help you deal with all phases of attending college including essay writing tips!
As a member of Scholarships.com, you could win cash prizes just for helping us spread the word about our free college scholarship search. All you have to do is enter up to ten of your friends’ names and email addresses. If they join the site, you’ll both be eligible for the $1,000 sweepstakes. The more friends you refer, the more entries you’ll get!
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One of the best things about scholarships is that for the most part, they reward the applicants who put forth the most effort. Like teachers who can instantly spot a sloppy homework assignment, scholarship judges can identify poorly composed applications without lifting a finger. Depending upon the award and how many students participate, the process of eliminating underqualified students can be competitive at best, and downright ruthless at worst. You may already be thinking “They won’t pick me, so why waste my time?” The answer: the financial assistance that is obtainable through scholarships is worth it, even if you don’t receive an award from each and every scholarship that you apply to.
Most of the students who succeeded in earning scholarships did so for two reasons:
- They met the criteria outlined by the scholarship sponsor.
- They approached the application process strategically and were selective in their pursuit of scholarship opportunities. It’s that simple.
There is no magic recipe that will help you win a scholarship. What there is, however, is a time tested strategy that many students find incredibly helpful in organizing their scholarship search. The students who apply these techniques usually come out ahead in the end.
Make a list. Gather the information for all of the scholarship offers that you are qualified to apply for. The latter part of this suggestion is essential—do not spend valuable time applying for scholarships for which your GPA, major, community involvement requirement, or any other criteria does not meet the standard. There are likely hundreds of awards for which you specifically qualify, so focus your attention on those. Read through your list and eliminate all awards that you are not qualified for.
Assess each individual opportunity. This will take time, but in the end your investment will pay off. After narrowing down your list so that it only includes the scholarships that are most relevant, consider the following categories:
- Deadlines. How long do you have to complete the scholarship?
- Difficulty of preparation. Considering the deadline, do you have time to thoroughly prepare for this award?
- Award amount. How much is the award worth? If it is only worth a couple hundred bucks, consider whether or not you are willing to spend your time on it. Keep in mind that every little bit does help and that you have a greater chance at receiving slightly smaller awards as opposed to full tuition grants, simply because they are less competitive.
Prioritize your opportunities. Now that you have determined the value of the scholarships that you have selected based on when the deadline is, preparation required, and the amount of the award, create a rating system. A simple way to do this is to rate each scholarship with a ( + ) or (– ) sign next to the award. For example, an award with three plus signs is a scholarship for which you must apply. The deadline is far off, average preparation is required, and the reward it $2000. On the other hand, a scholarship with two minus signs might cause you to reconsider before taking the time to apply. It could be that amount of preparation required simply exceeds the amount of effort you are willing to exert because the scholarship award in only $100.
Begin applying. Alright, you’ve determined what scholarships you are actually interested in applying for. Chances are your list is a good bit shorter now, and much more feasible. Begin submitting to the scholarships that you have ranked highest in priority. Good luck!
Check out Scholarships.com for more scholarship strategies and search tips.
Scholarship Winners Dish on Secrets to Success
June 15, 2007
It may be difficult to convince yourself to write a scholarship essay. All of that work, and you’re not even guaranteed to win? I mean, for all you know, there are hundreds of people competing against you, and they’re all overachievers. Yes, yes, you know that it’s silly to work for months for this money and not give a scholarship opportunity a few hours. Still, it’s just that there are no guarantees. If only you knew what the winners were doing, things would be different. Well, we’re here to help with that one. We have gone through winners’ testimonials to find out the secrets of their success. Here is what we found.
Be Persistent. Most of the winners who have contacted us have received numerous scholarships. Coincidence? Probably not. To win numerous scholarships, you have to apply regularly. Stephanie Sylvester, a college student who has received several scholarships is a great example. “Just because I’m a sophomore in college doesn’t mean I’ve quit the scholarship search here at Scholarships.com,” she said. “I’m still searching and don’t count me out.” Stephanie began her search as a junior in high school and is still going strong. You don’t need to throw your hands up if you haven’t received a scholarship by the end of your senior year. Systematically apply, and you will see results.
Apply Early. The same hints that apply to college applications apply to scholarship ones. Applying early may significantly increase your chances of winning. Once deadlines draw near, applications may be skimmed through by overworked readers. You have a greater chance at having your essay thoroughly reviewed if you get a head start. Let your seriousness and responsibility shine through by getting things done early. Readers are likely to take notice.
Carefully Read Required Qualifications. This is crucial. Your time is precious and so is that of the judges who will be reading your submission. Your ability and willingness to follow simple instructions is often one of the first things scholarship providers will look for. Using your profile, Scholarships.com will help you find scholarships that apply to you. To maximize the amount of scholarships you qualify for, make your profile as detailed as possible. Nikki from Chicago had this to say on the topic, “Scholarships.com was incredibly helpful in my search for scholarships that fit my criteria. When I knew that I wanted to study abroad, I went to Scholarships.com and found so many scholarship programs for students like me.” We can help you too. If you give us the details, we’ll show you the scholarships.
Stay Positive. Many scholarships are open to all prospective college students, regardless of GPA. Just because you are an average student doesn’t mean that you cannot write an excellent essay. That is what numerous scholarship reviewers are looking for. When you are asked to write an essay on a given topic, do your best to give solid support for your thesis. Do some research and include personal thoughts as well as applicable facts. Scholarship readers aren’t looking for the perfect person, but they are looking for someone who has put obvious effort into their essay. You may feel average, but your attitude doesn’t have to be.
There are plenty of scholarships out there, for all students. By taking the advice of those who have been awarded scholarships, you may save yourself the trouble of learning what works and what doesn’t first hand. You can get a lot more than a penny for your thoughts, but you have to share them first.
Start your road to success by visiting Scholarships.com!
You could win $1,000 just for referring a friend to Scholarships.com.
As a Scholarships.com member, you’ve gotten free access to customized, detailed scholarship searches and other financial aid information. Tell your friends how they can do likewise and you’ll both receive a chance to win $1,000! Just enter up to ten of your friends’ email addresses, and for every one you refer who fills out a User Profile at Scholarships.com, you’ll both be eligible to win the $1,000 prize. Your friends will thank you for telling them about Scholarships.com (and giving them a chance at the prize), and you’ll be entered once for every valid referral you give.
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