National scholarships typically have more applicants and tougher competition than local, state, and major- or organization-specific scholarships. Generally, its a good idea to fill out a personalized scholarship profile or search for scholarships using keywords and phrases that describe the student’s unique characteristics, but these national scholarships can often offer awards that are much higher and the winners attract a lot more attention and publicity. Winning a large national award can help you with more than just a huge chunk of free money for college, it can also be a great way to get accepted into the college or graduate program – or even job – that you want most of all.

Anyway, with that said, let’s get to some of the big national scholarships with applications due in January 2009:

  • Gates Millennium Scholars – Due January 12, 2009The Gates Millennium Scholars program was established in 1999 to provide a college education for minority students with strong academic scores and significant financial need. Students who will be entering college in fall 2009 will need to apply before January 19, 2009 to be considered. The award will pay for an undergraduate degree in any major – and it can even be extended to fund a graduate degree, in full, if the student pursues one of the listed majors.
  • CampusDiscovery.com – Due January 15, 2009
    One student will win up to $10,000 – and all you have to do is fill out a survey about your experience on campus. As a side benefit to future students, CampusDiscovery will anonymously use the data to provide information about the schools online.
  • Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship Program – Due January 15, 2009The Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship provides funding for students in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $7,500. Current college sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply, and applicants must submit: “an essay of 500 to 750 words describing their backgrounds, career objectives and scope of participation in leadership activities promoting freedom, American values and constitutional principles.” Selection is primarily merit-based, but financial need may be considered as well. Make sure to read all the details at the sponsor’s site!
  • Sam Walton Community Scholarship – Due January 31, 2009This award is available for current high school students graduating during the 2008 – 2009 academic year. Selected scholars will receive a one-time cash payment of $3,000 to apply toward college expenses as needed – unless another source of funding completely pays the students’ costs or the student becomes ineligible due to a business / employment relationship with WalMart stores.

18 Responses to “National Scholarships – Applications Due in January 2009”

  1. pls i need help
    i need to further my aducation but no money pls one should offer me a help
    i beg in the name of God

  2. Sir/Madam,
    I’m a Nigerian underprevilaged and wishes to get a scholarship to/in any part of the globe.
    Please come to my aid else I’ll die in penury and frustration if I don’t go to college/higher institution.
    Thank you and God bless.
    Mobile:+2348061638473

  3. Sir/Madam
    Am a Kenyan student looking for a scholarship to join college.
    Having completed my high school education,I feel obliged to
    further my studies abroad.

    I would appreciate if I got a scholarship,so as to join a college
    anywhere in the world.Am looking forward to hear from you.

    With regards,
    Kelvin
    +254726093480

  4. please im lookin help beung the last of my siblins i was robed of my childhood growin up wothout a mother nor father in the hard streets of jamaica im the only 1 who can make a change for my family i do not hav any money for college in askin please for som help any 1 interested please let me know please help me in the name of god
    me goin to college will definately help my situation i hav finished my high school years an is lookin to further my self please some one help
    *mobile 18764594997

  5. Dear sir /madam,
    I am kenyan underprivelleged and I wish to continue with universty programmeupon completing my
    secondary education.The major hinderance is the financial instability.Please it is
    my humble request that you offer an aid so as to upkeep my academic standards
    and experience as well.It will be a greatest tribution for me towards you if you will
    grant my request and provide me with a scholarship to accomplish my goals.

  6. sir
    i m a poor student i have 69% marks in intermediate i want 2 get admission in bsc electrical engineering in china plz give me admission

  7. Get off it. Quit trying to scam on the comment page.

  8. It’s quite intresting that such open oportunities exsist in this world of discovery. I therefore express my gratitudes to the foundres of this great ideas geared towards enforsing human capital in the world of which i desire to secure one. currently am in Masinde Muliro University of science and technology/Kenya. congratulations.

  9. I take this opotunity to ask this group of well wishers for a chance to further my studies in any part of the globe.I have intrests in law,human medicine and accounts.It will be a privilage if you will give me this awsome oppotunity.I come from a humble backgroud and thanks in advance.

  10. steven ndiema kimirei
    January 21st, 2009 at 6:00 am

    am a Kenyan aged 20 and interested in becoming an accounts intellectual. an opportunity for a scholarship and subsequent success is all i require right now because my heart is yearning for such an opportunity.about $1000 is all i require from well wishers.gratitude in advance to all those offering scholarships

  11. please im looking Scholar ship engineering feild i was robed of my childhood growing up wothout a mother nor father in the hard Hiv Aids im the only 1 who can make a change for my family i do not have any money for college in asking please for some help any 1 interested please let me know please help me in the name of god
    Thank you and God bless.

  12. Am a Kenyan aged 21, a first year student at Kenyatta University. Am needy and humbly require financial assistance. Please help

  13. Dear sir/madam, I would like to appreciate what this group is doing.Anyway I’m seeking for a wellwisher who can support my college education be it on a loan or through any other means in any part of the world.Otherwise i would like to suggest that you should be giving out support in form of loans rather than grants to enable the money to support other underpriviledge students who may be willing to further there education. I would welcome and appreciate heatedly anyone that would come to my support.Otherwise God bless you people.

  14. Out there are wasted brains never to reach this privellage.Secondary bursary was a good idea but sees many only on the fourth year.it clears all the outstanding bills for the past terms not in class and gets you an average certificate that can never have you noticed.much more efforts are needed to reach the real needy.

  15. Sir/Madam,

    Iam a Ugandan in my last year in high school . am doing physics chemistry biology and agriculture.
    I would like to do human medicine but iam afraid imay not be able because of monetary problems. I can also send you my results if you show interest.
    Iam also playing basketball in our local league.
    thank you very much.
    25673384523

  16. Am from Kenya and waiting to join Kenyatta university Bsc of nursing.Am from poor family and without income.My family cannot afford university fees.Please can you help me?
    please my phono number is 0719165848

  17. I have been into running a blog for quite some time and this is positively an incredible post. I signed up to your newsletter, so please keep up the informative posts!

    Good luck on your weblog, and be at liberty to check out Spartan Scholarship, to get a scholarship for MSU students!

  18. I find it interesting that SO MANY scholarships have minority as an eligibility requirement. What happened to the FOCUS being on grades, extra curricular activity and community service?

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