Here’s 10 scholarships you shouldn’t miss before Christmas—because what better gift to give yourself than free money for college?
Whether you’re a high school senior, a current college student, or planning to return to school, there are scholarships you can apply for right now to lighten the financial load. Here’s 10 scholarships you shouldn’t miss before Christmas—because what better gift to give yourself than free money for college?
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Use the themes of giving, community, and gratitude to craft heartfelt essays. Highlight any acts of kindness, community service, or ways you’ve made a positive impact during the holiday season. Scholarship committees appreciate applicants who demonstrate generosity and perseverance.
The holidays are a busy time, but don’t let scholarship deadlines sneak up on you! Set aside dedicated hours for applications and stick to them. Use a planner or digital calendar to stay on track and avoid last-minute rushing.
If the scholarship allows for creative content like videos or presentations, incorporate subtle holiday elements to stand out. This could be as simple as festive colors, cheerful music, or a seasonal theme that ties into your message.
If you’re volunteering at a toy drive, helping at a soup kitchen, or participating in a charity run, use these experiences to showcase your dedication to your community. These activities not only demonstrate leadership but also align perfectly with many scholarship values.
Before submitting, carefully proofread your applications to catch typos or errors. Once you’re done, treat yourself! Celebrate small victories with some holiday cheer—hot cocoa, a cozy movie night, or decorating the tree. 🎅
With these tips, you can tackle your scholarship applications and still enjoy the magic of the season. Good luck!
🏆 Award: $500
📅 Deadline: Dec 25th 2024
Eligibility: This scholarship opportunity is open to high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students who are U.S. or Canadian citizens (or eligible non-citizens), have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and are pursuing any major or field of study.
Submit: To apply, students must submit an essay, a letter of recommendation, and a photo of themselves.
📍 Apply here
🏆 Award: $1,000 – $25,000
📅 Deadline: Dec 27th 2024
Eligibility: This scholarship is open to high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students worldwide, regardless of demographic, and is available to those pursuing any major or field of study.
Submit: To apply, students must submit an essay, a letter of recommendation, and a photo of themselves.
📍 Apply here
🏆 Award: $2,500
📅 Deadline: Dec 31st 2024
Eligibility: This scholarship is open to undergraduates, graduate students, and medical school students who are enrolled full-time at a U.S. college or university, have a GPA of 3.7 or higher, and are pursuing any major or field of study.
Submit: To apply, students must submit an official or unofficial transcript and an essay of 800–1,000 words.
📍 Apply here
🏆 Award: $1,000
📅 Deadline: Dec 31st 2024
Eligibility: This scholarship is open to high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students of any demographic and pursuing any major or field of study.
Submit: To apply, students only need to complete a short online form—no essay required.
📍 Apply here
🏆 Award: $1,500
📅 Deadline: Dec 31st 2024
Eligibility: This award is open to U.S. students who are legal residents of one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia and are 14 years of age or older at the time of application.
Submit: To apply, students must submit an online written response of 250 words or less, creating a top ten list of the reasons they should receive this scholarship. The winner of the Top Ten List Scholarship will be notified by email or phone on or around March 31st.
📍 Apply here
🏆 Award: $10,000
📅 Deadline: Dec 31st 2024
Eligibility: This award is open to U.S. students who are legal residents of one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia and are 14 years of age or older at the time of application.
Submit: To apply, students must submit an online written response of 250 words or less to the question, "Would you rather be smart, funny, or rich? Why?" The winner of the Unigo $10K Scholarship will be notified by email or phone on or around March 31st.
📍 Apply here
🏆 Award: $1,000
📅 Deadline: Dec 31st 2024
Eligibility: This scholarship is open to undergraduate students from New Jersey who are pursuing a major in nursing
Submit: To apply, students must submit an essay of 400–600 words. Write about the ways you contribute to a team through your studies or at your workplace.
📍 Apply here
🏆 Award: $1,000
📅 Deadline: Dec 31st 2024
Eligibility: Students age 17 years or older who plan to start a program of higher education within the next 12 months or who are currently enrolled in a program of higher education. Applicants may be full- or part-time students and attend a campus-based or online program. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
Submit: To enter, complete the online application. If multiple applications are received, only the most recent will be used as the applicant's official application. All valid entries will be reviewed by a judging committee. Based primarily on the submitted short essay, one winner will be selected. The decision of the judging committee is final.
📍 Apply here
🏆 Award: $500
📅 Deadline: Dec 31st 2024
Eligibility: This scholarship is open to undergraduates and graduate students of any demographic who are studying law or pre-law.
Submit: To apply, students must submit an essay of up to 1,500 words.
📍 Apply here
🏆 Award: $1,000
📅 Deadline: Dec 31st 2024
Eligibility: This scholarship is open to all students of any demographic and pursuing any major or field of study.
Submit: To apply, students must submit an essay of up to 1,500 words.
📍 Apply here
Don’t let the end-of-year hustle distract you from these incredible opportunities! 🌟 Applying for scholarships now could mean starting the new year with more financial freedom and less stress about tuition. Take a moment to explore these 10 scholarships and start submitting your applications today. Need more help? Our Fund Your Future student portal has even more scholarships, tips, and resources to help make college affordable.
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