Applying for a nationally competitive award takes time. Quite often, the process will take a several weeks, often spread out over a few months. For more information on how to get started, see our ideas and tips.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to be eligible. If you have a strong academic record, are involved in activities that interest you, and are able to clearly articulate your professional goals, you may be an excellent candidate for one of these awards. Click here for more eligibility hints.

There are prestigious awards for all undergraduate students. The main issue often is what your major or desired study area is; some scholarships are for humanities, others for science, etc.

The Gates Millenium Scholars Program is administered by the United Negro College Fund and is described more in-depth in our features section. Among others, the Ford Foundation Scholarships are targeted toward minorities. In addition, you can search for minority awards at MOLIS Scholarship Search.

We have set up a scholarship links page for those who want to search for all kinds of other scholarships. Also, plenty of helpful books are available, and usually contain more organized and concise information.