Outside Scholarships
The Financial Aid Services Office does its best to ensure that Northwest University students have access to information regarding the best outside scholarships available. However, due to the quantity and frequency of scholarships postings from outside organizations, the Financial Aid Services Office cannot guarantee the accuracy or quality of the various programs and hpyerlinks.
Searching for Your Scholarships?
Did you know that there are hundreds, thousands, even millions of dollars that businesses and organizations designate for college scholarship funding every year?
Financial Aid Services knows that finding all the free money you can for education is important. That is why we have provided these pages full of links and resources to help you on your scholarship search. There are opportunities available, but you must be willing to do the research to find scholarships, then the work to apply for them.
Don’t Get Scammed!
Did you know that thousands of people are cheated by scholarship scams every year? Hard to believe, isn’t it? But in all reality, it is easy to be scammed since phony scholarships and organizations make their deals sound better and bigger than anyone else.
Here are a few phrases you may see or hear that can hint that it is a scam:
“The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.”
“You can’t get this information anywhere else.”
“I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship.”
“We’ll do all the work.”
“The scholarship will cost money.”
“You’ve been selected” by a “national foundation” to receive a scholarship or “You’re a finalist.”
For even more information on scams and how to avoid them, visit the FinAid.org Website.
Additional Resources
In addition to the organizations on this site, there may be some local organizations that may offer scholarships and grants for your education. Sometimes, it may be easier for you to qualify for a scholarship through these local organizations, especially if they know you personally and/or if you have made a contribution to their cause:
- Your Church
- A/G District Offices
- Banks
- Clubs
- Community Foundations
- Local Businesses
- You or Your Parent’s Employer
Disbursement Notice
When receiving an outside scholarship, funds are distributed evenly between both semesters unless the donor specifically requests the funds to be used for one semester. If you feel that the funds given to you were meant for one semester only, please contact your donor and have them contact us to make the change.
For information regarding Outside Scholarships or the receipt of your Outside Scholarship, please contact Amy Weller, at 425.889.5243 or amy.weller@northwestu.edu.
Helpful Tips
1. Start your search NOW! There are THOUSANDS of resources available.
2. Be aware of common myths about financial aid. There is aid available for people of all backgrounds, abilities, and achievement levels. There is something for everyone…you just have to be willing to do the research, and thoroughly complete the application packages.
3. Involvement in extra-curricular activities and volunteer work is looked upon favorably by many scholarship committees. Look for ways to get involved now.
4. Many scholarship applications will require a written personal statement or a reflective essay. Keep copies of your essays to use for multiple applications.
Your scholarship search will take time and effort, but when the scholarships come, it is well worth the effort.
Top 10 Tips for Writing Effective Scholarship Essays
When you start researching scholarship opportunities, you will quickly find out that many of the scholarship programs for which you qualify involve writing a scholarship-worthy essay. A winning scholarship essay is one that truly sets a particular applicant apart from the others. If you tell your story clearly and persuasively, you just might find yourself receiving a congratulatory letter from the scholarship committee! Click Here for tips!
General Outside Scholarship Search Sites
- FastWeb*
- Scholarships.com*
- College Answer* by Sallie Mae
- Fin Aid!*
- Mach 25*
- Scholarship Experts
- Scholarship Hunter
- Student Scholarship Search
- Thomson Peterson’s*
- Next Student*
- College Board
- US Department of Education
- theWashBoard.org
- College Funds
- Fresch
* Many scholarship search sites will require you to create a login name and profile to help find the scholarships that best match your criteria.
Visit City of College Dreams for more helpful hints.
Featured Scholarships
Seattle Youth for Christ Scholarship
Youth for Christ in the Seattle Metro area is now interviewing undergrad students from Northwest University for paid/scholarship internship positions for the next NU school year. In addition to compensation, these internship opportunities provide NU students with excellent ministry training. Students in all majors are encouraged to apply. To arrange an on-campus interview time please go online and fill out a short application at http://yfcseattlemetro.com/get_involved/staff_and_internship/.
DegreeDirectory.org’s Student Saver Scholarship
Deadline: May 16, 2012 (noon)
Award: $1,000
Website: http://degreedirectory.org/articles/Student_Saver_Scholarship.html
Students fill out a short form and answer the scholarship question of the month: When selecting a college major, what sort of impact should potential earnings after college have on the decision? Why do you feel that way? Visit the website for more details.
Big Dig Scholarship
Deadline: June 1, 2012
Award: $3,000
Website: http://www.antiquetrader.tv/studentscholarship.php
The Big Dig Scholarship is available to high school seniors, college freshmen, and college sophomores. With 500-1000 words you must submit an essay that addresses the following issue: “In 200 years, one of your relatives is going to be digging in what is now your backyard. They are going to find something that you buried in 2012, and it is going to put any financial worries they have to rest. Your job today is to decide what to bury. Your goal is to find something that will have immense value in the future.”
Major Specific Scholarships
Arts
Business/Accounting
Communications
Education
- BrainTrack Teaching Scholarship
- DegreeDirectory.org Education and Teaching Master’s Degree Scholarship
- Edward G. and Helen A. Borgens Elementary and Secondary Teacher Education Scholarships
Environmental Science
- Alfred G. and Elma M. Milotte Scholarship Trust Fund
- Bob & Eleanor Grant Trust
- Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
History
Mathematics
Ministry
Nursing
- Army Nurse Corps Association Scholarships
- BrainTrack Nursing Scholarship
- CampusRN Scholarship Program (search)
- Johnson & Johnson Discover Nursing.com
- King County Nurses Association
- Medical Assistant Schools Healthcare Scholarship
- Nursing Scholarship Program
- Nursing Scholarships (search)
- Nursing School Scholarships
- The Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association, Inc.
- Tylenol Scholarship
- Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
Political Science
- DegreeDirectory.org Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Scholarship
- Enid Hall Griswold Memorial Scholarship
Psychology
- DegreeDirectory.org Psychology and Counseling Master’s Degree Scholarship
- National Honor Society in Psychology
Other Specific Scholarships
Ethnic
- American Indian Scholarship
- Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting
- Association on American Indian Affairs
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
- Frances Crawford Marvin American Indian Scholarship
- Gates Millennium Scholars
- Hispanic College Fund
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund
- Lagrant Foundation
- NASA-MUST Scholarship Application
- National Italian American Foundation
- United Negro College Fund
Graduate
- American Indian Endowed Scholarship
- Association on American Indian Affairs
- BrainTrack Business Scholarship
- DegreeDirectory.org Education and Teaching Master’s Degree Scholarship
- DegreeDirectory.org Psychology and Counseling Master’s Degree Scholarship
- Education-Portal.com Business Administration Degrees-Graduate Level Academic Award
- James Madison Fellowship
- John Gyles Education Awards
- Officers Association
Foster Care
Miscellaneous
- $1,000 CableTV.com Scholarship
- Abbott & Fenner Scholarship
- Americorps
- Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest
- BECU Foundation Scholarships
- BG Scholarship
- CampusDiscovery
- Cancer for College Scholarship
- College Success Foundation Scholarships
- Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
- Edmond F. Maxwell Foundation
- Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics
- Focused on the Future Scholarship
- John Gyles Education Awards
- Journey Scholarships
- Kate Herzog Writing Scholarship
- Liberal Arts and General Studies Degrees-Undergraduate Academic Award
- Lillian and Arthur Dunn Scholarship
- National Federation of the Blind Scholarships
- New Beginning Scholarship
- TwinStar Credit Union Higher Education Scholarship
Washington Residents
- Scottish Rite Scholarship Foundation of Washington
- The Edmund F. Maxwell Foundation Scholarship
- Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
Women