I'm a high school junior who loves building things and creating projects from scratch. I thrive on making stuff through woodworking, electronics, or even sewing. Are there scholarships for students like me who have a passion for creating or engineering? I'd love to hear about specific scholarships or how to highlight my projects on applications.
Several scholarships cater to students with your interests and talents!
1. The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the world's largest pre-college science competition. High school students from around the world showcase their independent research and compete for grand awards in categories spanning from mathematics to systems software.
2. The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and Tech Challenge (FTC) both offer scholarships to students who participate in these programs. The scholarships are varied, with some awarded by FIRST itself and others by universities or companies.
3. The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology is another highly prestigious science research competition where students submit original research in math, engineering, or sciences.
4. The SME Education Foundation offers scholarships to students interested in manufacturing and engineering, who have been active in related school programs.
To highlight your projects on applications, consider incorporating a description of these projects in your essays. Discuss the problem-solving skills and technical abilities you exercised to complete the projects, as well as any innovative methods you devised along the way. If you created any of these projects as part of a team, make sure to emphasize your teamwork and leadership skills as well. Furthermore, if any of your projects had a significant impact or accomplishment, make sure to mention that - for example, if your project won a competition, or if it was used in a real-world application. Remember, the goal is to showcase your ability to apply what you've learned to create something extraordinary.
You should also consider creating an online portfolio or website with photos and/or videos of your projects. This can be linked to your college application for admission officers to view. Colleges love to see students who have taken initiative and have tangible results to show from their efforts. Best of luck with your applications!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.