Pacific Islander Scholarships for College?

I'm part of the Pacific Islander community and will be applying to colleges soon. Does anyone know about scholarships specifically for Pacific Islander students? Any tips on where to start searching would be appreciated!

Absolutely, there are quite a few scholarships specifically geared toward the Pacific Islander community to help offset the costs of college. Here are a few to consider:

1. Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF): This organization provides scholarships to Asian and Pacific Islander Americans who need financial aid. They have different scholarship programs so you might want to look into the details of each to find which might be a good fit.

2. The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program: While not exclusively for Pacific Islanders, this scholarship program is funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and supports students from various ethnic backgrounds, including Pacific Islanders.

3. The U.S South Pacific Scholarship Program: This scholarship is available to students from South Pacific countries to study in the U.S. This includes students from many Pacific Islander communities.

These scholarships vary in their application requirements, but typically you'll need to submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Start gathering those materials as soon as you can to get a head start on the application process.

To search for more scholarships, you can use scholarship search engines like Fastweb or Appily. They let you create a profile outlining your academic, extracurricular, and demographic information, and they'll match you with suitable scholarships. In the case of Appily, you can even figure out your odds of winning the scholarship.

Remember, though, to ensure that you also make the most of the financial aid available from the colleges you're applying to. Fill out the FAFSA to qualify for federal student aid and consult the financial aid resources of the specific colleges you're considering. Many institutions support their students with scholarships that are awarded based on various factors, including ethnicity.

Good luck with your search! Don't neglect to apply to smaller local scholarships too - they can add up. Every bit helps in making college more affordable.