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Scholarships

General Scholarship Information

Parents: Check for scholarships at your place of employment, unions, banks/credit unions, professional/club/membership affiliations, places of worship, Greek life affiliations, etc.

College Specific Scholarships: 

Merit Based Scholarships: Most colleges automatically consider applicants for merit-based scholarships when students apply. Many students receive merit-based scholarships - from the top of the class to average students. No special scholarship application is required, but to be considered for a merit-based scholarship, the college application deadline is often November 1st or December 1st.

Other College Specific Scholarships:  Most colleges offer additional scholarships such as presidential scholarships, dean scholarships, major related scholarships, audition-based scholarships, diversity scholarships, first-in college scholarships, etc.  These scholarships usually require an application and possibly letters of recommendation and/or an essay. Be sure to check each college that interests you to see what scholarship opportunities are available and what the deadlines are.  We encourage you to apply to as many as you can.

Scholarship List: See below for a sample list of scholarships that come through the Counseling office and are managed by the College/Career Coordinator. There are more scholarships than we can post. Stop by the College/Career Center for more scholarship opportunities. Scholarships are also posted in the glass case outside the Counseling Office.  Applications are available online or as printable PDF's.  

Scholarships List

College Board Opportunity Scholarships.  Complete six college planning steps for six separate opportunities at $500. When all six steps are finished, students are entered into a drawing for a $40,000 scholarship.  Money can still be earned even if all steps are not completed. For more information, go to: https://opportunity.collegeboard.org/

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR): The expected amount this year is $1000. A student must be a US citizen, be a senior or graduate of an accredited Monroe County, NY school. The applicant must prepare a statement of 1,000 words or less expressing his/her sense of patriotism, career objectives, specifying how college plans relate to future professional goals, and reasons for these choices. Deadline for submission is March 1st. 

EduMed Scholarships & Resources for African American Students: Links to 20 scholarships and other valuable resources helping students achieve rewarding college educations and successful careers.  https://www.edumed.org/financial-aid/ African-American-student-scholarships-resources/

Italian Civic League: For seniors who are of American-Italian lineage (at least one Italian parent) with a GPA of 85% or higher. Some knowledge or study of the Italian language is beneficial but not required.  Two $1,000 scholarships for students in Monroe County. Stop by the College and Career Center for an application. 

New York State Excelsior Scholarship: Tuition-free degree program. In order to apply, students must:

  • Attend a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year degree program
  • Plan to live and work in New York following graduation for the length of time they participate in the scholarship program
  • Adjusted gross family income of $125,000 or less

For more information, please visit:  https://www.ny.gov/programs/tuition-free-degree-program-excelsior-scholarship

New York State Education Department Scholarships for Academic Excellence (SAE): The Scholarships for Academic Excellence (SAE) provide a scholarship to attend an institution of higher education located in New York State for the top high school students, based on specific grading criteria through the end of a student’s junior year.  Students cannot apply directly for the scholarship but will be contacted by their school administration to obtain the required information for the nomination form.  For more information, please see: http://www.nysed.gov/postsecondary-services/scholarships-academic-excellence-sae.

New York State STEM Incentive Program: Provides a full SUNY tuition scholarship to the top 10% of students in each NYS high school if they pursue a STEM degree and agree to live in NYS and work in a STEM field for five years after graduation. Rules and information can be found at: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/nys-grants-scholarships-awards/nys-science-technology-engineering-and-math-incentive-scholarships-service-terms-and-conditions.html

New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP): This program helps NY residents pay for tuition with a grant.  There are specific income requirements.  For more information, please visit:  https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/apply-for-financial-aid/nys-tap.html

OppU Achievers Scholarship: $2500 Scholarship awarded four times a year to Seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0. To apply, students submit a short essay online.  Scholarship decisions are based solely on an applicant’s essay response.  Winners for the OppU Achievers Scholarship are selected four times a year, with submission deadlines on September 30, December 31, March 31, and June 30.  High school applicants should apply during their final semester of high school.  For more information and an application, go to https://www.opploans.com/scholarship/

Polish Heritage Society of Rochester: $4000 Scholarship Award: To be eligible for this scholarship a student must be a senior who is of Polish descent (at least one parent) and lives in Monroe County or one of the surrounding six counties. The student must file an application by the February 1st deadline. The student is required to have an official copy of his/her academic transcripts mailed or emailed to the Polish Heritage Society of Rochester by their High School. Visit the website http://polishheritagerochester.org/

Rochester Area Community Foundation: Various scholarships available for graduating high school seniors and vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students. For more information, please visit: Rochester Area Scholarships and Award Resources - Rochester Area Community Foundation (racf.org)   

Skincare Ox – The Beauty + Wellness Scholarship for Women: Each quarter $1000 + a care package filled with healthy, organic goodies for young women who are striving to maintain their health and wellness as they pursue their higher education goals. Must be a HS senior, a female and a U.S. Citizen/Permanent Resident. All majors and GPA's may apply. Deadlines are January 1, March 31, June 30 and September 30 every year. All applicants must submit a 500 word maximum essay on the essay prompt found online at https://www.skincareox.com/scholarship/.  Student essays will be judged on their originality, creativity, and dedication to healthy lifestyle choices.

UNCF (United Negro College Fund): The UNCF is the nation’s largest and most effective provider of minority scholarship assistance.  Visit the UNCF website https://uncf.org/ and select “Scholarships” to begin the process to determine what scholarship(s) you might be eligible for.  For questions, call 202-810-0300 or text “FUNDS” to 50555.