Women in STEM scholarships: How to find and apply?

As a female student who is passionate about pursuing a degree in engineering, I'm interested in finding scholarships specifically for women in STEM fields. I've heard there are various opportunities available, but I don't know where to start looking. Does anyone have recommendations on where to find scholarships targeted at empowering women in science, technology, engineering, and math? Also, any tips on how to make my application stand out would be greatly appreciated!

Finding scholarships geared towards women in STEM may seem challenging at first, but there are actually several online resources and databases available. A good place to start could be websites such as Scholarships.com or Fastweb, where you can find scholarship databases that allow you to search based on your field of interest and demographics.

In terms of specific women in STEM scholarships, some widely recognized ones include:

- The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Scholarships: they offer over 200 scholarships for female students in engineering, engineering technology, and computer science.

- The Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) Essay Contest: this scholarship is for helping students to explore the contributions of women to the STEM field. Writing an essay about a woman mathematician could secure you a scholarship.

- The Microsoft Research Women’s Fellowship: this is awarded to women in computer science and related STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields who are early in their research careers.

To make your application stand out, consider the following tips:

1. Showcase Your Passion: Try to narrate in your essay what draws you to your chosen field of study in STEM, whether it's a love for problem-solving, the ability to innovate, or the drive to make a real-world impact. Be authentic and enthusiastic.

2. Highlight Leadership and Initiative: Show them that you're not just passionate about learning, but also about contributing. This can be through any leadership roles you've taken on in STEM clubs or initiatives, research projects, or innovations you've partaken in.

3. Past Success and Future Potential: If you have a strong academic record, particularly in STEM subjects, highlight that. Simultaneously, illustrate your future goals in STEM and explain how the scholarship will assist you in achieving those objectives.

4. Tailor Your Application: When you are writing your essay or completing your application form, make sure you tailor your responses to the specific scholarship. Research the organization providing the scholarship to learn about their values and mission, and then highlight experiences or goals that align with them.

Remember, the key to any successful scholarship application is to start early, research thoroughly, and apply to as many scholarships as you qualify for. Good luck!