Finding Scholarships Scholarship Spotlight: The NEACAC Annual Essay Contest Written by Robyn Stewarton February 19th, 2017 Prior to joining College Coach, I was a financial aid officer at the College of the Holy Cross and an education advisor at two TRIO program locations. I work with the Massachusetts Education Finance Authority (MEFA) to present paying for college workshops to hundreds of families across the state. I'm a graduate of UMass Amherst and have a master in counseling from Northeastern University. Learn More About Robyn scholarship search, scholarships, There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone. Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another. And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free. It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you. While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier. This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week. Check out the below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier. There are studies that indicate if a scholarship includes an essay, students are less likely to apply. So pssst… here is a secret… you have a better shot of winning scholarships that require an essay—the effort required weeds out a lot of competition! So do you enjoy writing and live in New England? This short essay competition may be right up your alley. Scholarship: The NEACAC Annual Essay Contest Awarding Organization: New England Association for College Admissions Counseling (NEACAC) Amount: $1,000 Number of Scholarships Awarded: 6 awards (1 from each New England State) Eligible Students: High school juniors or seniors in CT, MA, ME, VT, NH, and RI (NEACAC member high schools only. If you are unsure about your school’s membership, check with your Guidance Counselor – you should be talking to them about this stuff anyway!) How to Apply: Fill out the online application and upload your 500 word essay in a Word document or PDF format. Applicants are asked to “describe a counselor, teacher, or coach who has had the greatest influence on your decision to attend college. How has this individual impacted your future? What will you do in college or beyond that will make a difference in your community?” Deadline: April 2017 Website: http://www.neacac.org/essay-contest-information-application Best of luck, and please see the awarding organization’s website for full scholarship details and requirements. Related Resources Read | Posted on September 20th, 2023 Full-Ride Scholarships: Effective Strategy or Fairy Tale? Read | Posted on August 4th, 2023 Identity-Based Scholarship Series: Scholarships for Hispanic Students Read | Posted on February 16th, 2023 Identity-Based Scholarship Series: Gold Star Children and Families
