DoSomething.org Scholarships: Your Guide to Earning Money for College Through Volunteering
Getting accepted to college is a huge accomplishment, but figuring out how to pay for it can be daunting. Scholarships can make your college dreams a reality, and it all starts with your applications. This guide provides tips and resources to help you find, apply for, and win scholarships, particularly focusing on the unique opportunities offered by DoSomething.org.
Finding the Right Scholarships
The first step is to find scholarships that fit your profile and goals. Here's a list of online scholarship resources to get you started:
- DoSomething.org: DoSomething offers scholarships for volunteering and community service. No essay, GPA, or recommendation is required.
- Access Scholarships: Search for scholarships, read blog posts on opportunities for various student groups, and access student resources.
- American Indian College Fund: Provides scholarship opportunities to students of their 35 accredited tribal college partners.
- Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholars (APIA): Mobilizes resources to create opportunities for students to access and succeed in post-secondary education.
- College Board: Offers a scholarship search tool with results from more than 2,200 programs.
- CollegeXpress: Connects students with the right schools and scholarships.
- Edvisors: Features unique scholarships, including a "Weird and Unusual Scholarships" list.
- Fastweb: Matches you with scholarships targeted to your strengths, interests, and skills.
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF): Provides Scholar Support Services and scholarships to outstanding students.
- Niche: Offers an "Easy to Apply" section for scholarships that don’t require essays, GPA, or letters of recommendation.
- Unigo: Allows you to search for scholarships from different angles (college, state, major, etc.).
- United Negro College Fund (UNCF): The nation’s largest private scholarship provider to minority group members.
The DoSomething.org Advantage: Easy Scholarships Through Volunteering
DoSomething.org stands out by offering scholarships for young people who volunteer and engage in social change. If you're between 13 and 25, you can win a DoSomething scholarship in three simple steps:
- Sign up for a volunteer campaign.
- Take action to complete the campaign (some take under 5 minutes!).
- Upload a photo to show you’ve completed the action.
That’s it! You’re automatically entered to win. There are no essays, GPA requirements, recommendations, or applications. DoSomething awards over $300,000 in scholarship funding each year.
Tips for a Winning Scholarship Application
Applying for scholarships can be time-consuming, but these tips can help you stand out and increase your chances of winning:
Read also: Camp Scholarships Guide
- Start Early: Scholarship applications take time, and their deadlines vary, so begin your research in the summer between junior and senior year.
- Keep Organized: Use spreadsheets to track scholarships you want to apply for, those you’ve already submitted, deadlines, and award announcement dates.
- Widen Your Applications: Apply to as many scholarships as possible, ensuring you meet the requirements for applying.
- Follow Instructions: Pay attention to details like formatting instructions and essay word counts. Use a checklist to keep track of different requirements.
- Be Yourself: Focus on your unique talents and qualifications. Let your voice shine through in your application.
- Show, Don’t Tell: Avoid bland, generalizing essays. Instead, provide specific examples and stories that demonstrate your skills and experiences.
- Proofread: Double-check your application for errors. Have someone else review it with fresh eyes.
- Keep Copies: Back up your documents in case you need to resend them.
Highlighting DoSomething.org's Impact and Mission
DoSomething.org's mission is to fuel young people to change the world. Founded with the goal of making volunteerism as cool as sports, it has become one of the largest youth-centered movements for doing good. With over 1 million active members ages 13-25, DoSomething.org empowers young people to lead change and create a safer, kinder, and fairer world.
For over three decades, DoSomething.org has championed young people, providing them with the skills and confidence to take action on the issues they care about. Through impactful activations, leadership opportunities, campaigns, and programs, DoSomething.org is making a difference.
A Specific Example: The STEM Superheroes Scholarship
One example of a DoSomething.org scholarship is the STEM Superheroes scholarship. Applicants between 13 and 25 can win a $2,500 scholarship by drawing an original superhero who uses STEM to make the world a better place. By creating a poster for school classrooms, applicants empower students to pursue STEM fields.
Read also: Benefits of NSHSS Scholarships
Read also: Scholarship Guide
tags: #dosomething #org #scholarships
