Shoot for These 5 Big Deal College Scholarships

Shoot for These 5 Big Deal College Scholarships

​When it comes to scholarships, every student dreams of getting a full ride from his or her chosen school or a massive award from a well-known company or organization. Unfortunately, these scholarships are few and far between, and receiving one is rare.

However, that doesn't mean you should ignore these prestigious scholarships. Send in your application if you meet the requirements. Shoot for the stars and you may land one of these highly coveted awards.

[Target these quick and easy college scholarship applications.]

Being one of the recipients of the Central Intelligence Agency's undergraduate scholarship program means you've been given a unique opportunity to work for the U.S. government while completing your degree. You'll need to demonstrate financial need in addition to strong academic achievements and commit to working for the CIA every summer before graduation, among other things. In turn, the CIA will pay an annual salary, up to $18,000 annually in tuition expenses, offer benefits and give you some incredible work experience to list on your resume.

If you have expert knowledge in a certain area and are working on a major project to prove it, you could qualify for a Davidson Fellows scholarship.

Applicants need to be 18 or younger on Oct. 1, and must have completed a significant piece of work in one of the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math, or in music, literature or the humanities.

These aren't just any projects – yours should be recognized as exceptional by experts in the field and and demonstrate unique applications of existing knowledge, creative ideas or significant advancements in a certain field. Awards can be enormous and range from $10,000 to $50,000.

[Try talking to these people to find more college scholarships.]

Is the health care field more interesting to you than other careers? The National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program awards students from disadvantaged backgrounds up to $80,000 over the course of four years. 

Applicants have to commit to a career in biomedical, behavioral or social science health-related research, undertake a paid 10-week training each summer after receiving the scholarship and dedicate one year of full-time work after graduation to the NIH for every year they've received the award. A massive scholarship and guaranteed job after graduation don't sound too bad to us.

[Look into scholarships for college degrees that employers want.]

​The Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway requires a little bit of work, but it has the potential to really pay off. Submit a short story about yourself and your goals and encourage everyone you know to vote for it on the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway website. 

Applicants who get enough votes will be allowed to make a short video and have the opportunity to win anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000 to pay for college. Remember to add this scholarship to your list - you could be the next big winner!

Students who have a 2.0 GPA or above, meet financial aid requirements and can demonstrate they've overcome adversity while remaining active in their communities may qualify for one of the many scholarships awarded by the Horatio Alger Association. 

The organization gives away more than $10.5 million in scholarships every year, some of which are worth up to $22,000. Scholarships are awarded on a national and state level, and a few more are targeted to students who plan on attending specific colleges and universities.

With some perseverance, hard work and a little luck, you could be a lucky winner of one of these prestigious scholarships.