External Scholarship Opportunities

Helpful Tips on Finding External Scholarship Opportunities

External scholarship money is available to students of all qualifications, abilities, and interests. These external scholarships may be provided by private donors, foundations, businesses, and many other sources outside of Mississippi State University. Here are a few helpful tips for finding scholarships that are right for you:

1. Contact your high school guidance counselor: If you’re a high school student, speak to your high school guidance counselor about options that are specific to your interests and intended major.
2. Avoid paying for scholarship services: External scholarship applications should be free for students to complete. Should you have any questions, reach out to your high school guidance counselor or the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at MSU.
3. Think Outside the Box: Search for scholarships that may be offered by a parent or legal guardian’s employer, civic clubs, and local community. Corporations may also offer scholarships to children of their employees.
4. Contact the MSU Sponsored Students Office: All external scholarships should be sent to the Sponsored Students Office.
5. Use scholarship search and matching websites: Other scholarship resources can be found by using scholarship search and matching websites. A list of these resources is below
   • Appily
   • Ascent
   • Big Future
   • Cancer for College
   • Cappex
   • CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder
   • Citizens Bank
   • College Board
   • Dollars for Scholars
   • DCTAG
   • Fastweb
   • Get2College
   • Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
   • Niche
   • PNC Bank
   • The Princeton Review
   • Sallie Mae
   • Scholarship America
   • Scholarships.com
   • ScholarshipPoints
   • Scholarships for Students with Health Conditions
   • Scholly
   • Student Scholarships
   • Study.com
   • Unigo

Understanding Scholarships and Avoiding Scams

1. Read the fine print and understand all terms and conditions before accepting any award
2. Avoid companies or organizations that "guarantee" you a scholarship
3. Never provide confidential or personally identifiable information such as social security number until you have been award a scholarship
4. Talk to the MSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships if you are unsure about a scholarship
5. Check the privacy policy of scholarship websites to make sure your information is protected
6. Learn more about scholarship scams at the Federal Trade Commission website - Click Here

External Scholarship Application Tips

1. Start your search early and conduct as much research as you can. Apply for every scholarship that you are eligible for
2. Follow all directions and provide everything that is requested, but no more than is required. Pay attention to specific instructions on the application
3. Make note of any deadlines and mark your calendar. Missing a deadline immediately takes you out of the running for scholarships!
4. Be neat when applying for scholarships. Be sure to prepare your application carefully and review it thoroughly before submitting
5. Make a list of all activities and honors and be sure to highlight those accomplishments that are relevant to the scholarship
6. Never be afraid to ask for help! Unless the scholarship organization prohibits it, you should ask questions if there's something you need clarified
7. Make a strong impression in your essays. Tell a story and use personal examples and be sure to explain how the scholarship will help you
8. Select references that know you well and give them plenty of time to write a recommendation
9. Review your application and ask someone else to proof and edit it to catch any typos or missing words