Find Outside Scholarships

Outside Scholarships

With hundreds of helpful sites, the internet can be a wonderful resource in your search for scholarships. When navigating the web, keep a few things in mind:

• Provide yourself with enough time (you may want to set aside an hour or two a day until you feel as though you've found the information that you need). You will find that each site offers a number of links. Be sure to check out any and all leads.
• Revisit sites periodically. Many sites continually update information.
• Be discerning. Not all of the sites and services are as helpful or as valuable as others.
• Use the bulletin boards to post questions. You'll be amazed at what you can learn from others in your same situation!
• If you register for a service on-line, be certain that you are submitting information over a secured site (check the lower left corner of the screen for a small padlock symbol).
• Avoid sites that require a registration fee. With all of the resources available on the internet and elsewhere, it is not necessary to pay for help. All of the information is already at your fingertips!
• Be cautious of guarantees and money-back offers.

You will also want to check with the following resources outside of NIU:

• Your high school guidance counselor or college advisor
• Employers (both yours and your parents')
• Local organizations or affiliations (Kiwanis, 4-H, Lions Club)
• Places of personal volunteerism (local hospitals, clubs, etc.)
• Unions
• Your church
• Chamber of Commerce
• Local library - There are numerous reference books on scholarships and foundations
• The internet
• Newspapers - Watch for firms or organizations offering scholarships as well as listings of local students who have won

Additional Scholarship Resources

• Cappex.com
• College, College Scholarship and Financial Aid Page
• College Connection
• FastWeb
• FinAid! The Smart Guide to Financial Aid
• Financial Aid for Graduate or Professional Students
• Financial Aid Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities and Health Conditions
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund
• Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation
• Illinois Student Assistance Commission
• Minority Students: A Guide to College Affordability
• O'Brien-Vrba Scholarship Trust Program
• Scholarship America
• Scholarship Guidance
• Scholarships.com
• Scholarships and Grants for Asian-American Students
• Scholarships for Black College Students
• Scholarships for Healthcare and Nursing Students of Historically Underrepresented Groups
• Scholarships of Northern Illinois
• Scholly
• Studentscholarships.org
• Study.com
• The Princeton Review

Outside Scholarship Checks

If you have received an outside scholarship, please ask the organization or donor to send a check made payable to NIU, along with your name and student ZID number, to the address below. If the check is made out to you, be sure to endorse the back of the check before sending it to our office.

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