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Many colleges and universities offer computer science scholarships, as well as national scholarships, such as the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. Academic performance, extracurricular activities, financial need, gender, and ethnicity are all factors that may be considered. Planning and preparation are key when applying.
If you are interested in computer science careers, don’t let the cost of a college education stop you from pursuing your dream. Many colleges and universities offer computer science scholarships to major departments. There are also many national scholarships, including the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. Applicants for this scholarship must be full-time students, in their sophomore or sophomore year of high school, who plan to pursue a career in computer science, mathematics, or engineering. Some companies, like Microsoft, even award computer science scholarships that come with paid internships to help you gain related work experience.
As you might expect, most computer science scholarships will have certain criteria for academic performance. This could mean you need to have a specific overall GPA, a specific GPA in your major, or a certain ACT or SAT score. If the scholarship is for multiple semesters, you may also agree to meet certain academic requirements to continue receiving funds.
Closely linked to academic performance, extracurricular activities are another important factor often used to award computer science scholarships. This includes internship experience in the field of computer science, as well as active involvement in professional organizations such as the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) or the American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T). Even science and technology-related volunteer work, such as helping run a summer computer skills workshop for low-income elementary school students, can be used to show that you are passionate about your future career.
Financial need, while not considered for all awards, does come into play for some computer science scholarships. Financial need is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the form that all students must complete if they wish to receive grants or loans to pay for their education. It requests information about last year’s assets and income. Parent and student information must be reported unless the student is married, parent, veteran, ward of court, or over the age of 24.
Another criterion sometimes used to award computer scholarships is gender or ethnicity. Women and minorities have historically been underrepresented in the field of computer science. Therefore, awards such as the Gates Millennium Scholars Program and the Google Scholarship Program seek to encourage talented women and minorities to enter this field in hopes of eventually filling the gap.
When applying for computer science scholarships, planning and preparation is key. Carefully research all award opportunities to determine which scholarships you are best qualified to receive. Pay close attention to program deadlines and have a trusted academic advisor review the application materials to ensure you are presenting yourself in the best possible light.
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