Big-Ticket Scholarship Deadlines

Below are some of the biggest scholarships you are going to find on the internet or anywhere else. Sure, they are quite competitive, but if you do everything right, follow all the rules and get selected as an awardee, you have made a very large difference in your post-college financial situation.

• Siemens Foundation Competition

  The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology rewards promising high school students for their original research projects by offering scholarship opportunities and national recognition. Any high school student may apply, individually or as part of a team. Scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $100,000 as students advance in the competition. Applications are due October 1 each year.

• Coca-Cola Scholars

  High school seniors carrying a minimum GPA of 3.0 can apply for four-year achievement-based scholarships offered by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Each year, 250 four-year scholarships of $10,000 and $20,000 are awarded through this program. The application deadline is October 31.

• Intel Science Talent Search

  The Intel Science Talent Search is a scholarship contest in which the best and brightest high school seniors can demonstrate their research projects for the chance to win a $100,000 college scholarship. Each year, 40 finalists are selected to present their research at a week-long national conference. Finalists receive $5,000 scholarships and have a chance to compete for the grand prize award. The application deadline is November 18.

• Gates Millennium Scholars

  The Gates Millennium Scholars Program, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, awards scholarships to minority students who are eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants and have achieved academic excellence in high school. The scholarship helps students cover the portion of their college costs not funded by other grant and scholarship awards. Scholarship applicants must be nominated by an educator familiar with their academic backgrounds. Applications are due January 11.

• Dell Scholars Program

  The Dell Scholars Program, sponsored by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, carries an award of $20,000 to help students complete their college educations. High school seniors who have financial need and plan to enroll immediately in bachelor’s degree programs can qualify by enrolling in approved college readiness programs as high school students and completing a Dell Scholars scholarship application online. Applications open on November 1 and the deadline is January 15.