I Won A $40,000 Scholarship: Fund Your Future
Most people think scholarships are only available to certain students, like those with the best grades. But BigFuture Scholarships are different. And no one knows that better than the students who have won.
More than 21,000 students across the country have been awarded a BigFuture Scholarship, totaling almost $19 million since 2018, and Carrington and E’Lyssia told us all the reasons why students need to know about this program.
During BigFuture Scholarship Week on December 5, about 8,300 people registered for Real Talk, a series of community events for Black students and families to get their questions answered. Attendees had the chance to learn more about funding your future with BigFuture Scholarships.
- BigFuture Scholarships put the FUN in Fund Your Future.
E’lyssia Brown, now a student at Xavier University, was cheering at a high school pep rally when she got a big surprise. "They asked me to tell them about BigFuture. And next thing I know they told me I won a [$40,000] scholarship. And I was like ‘Oh snap! It’s going down!’ It was like winning a car. I was like I can't believe this is happening to me. And the best part is watching your mom be shocked and the love from your school.”
BigFuture recognizes that taking planning steps in high school is key, so it rewards students for taking action as they plan for what’s next. When students complete steps in the college and career planning process on BigFuture, they qualify for a financial reward through BigFuture Scholarships. Students in the class of 2024, 2025, and 2026 can qualify, with two $40,000 scholarships and hundreds of $500 scholarship winners announced every single month.
- Scholarship search is not a short game. It’s a long game.
Scholarships are an investment in your future self, and the options cover a wide range of criteria from major, nationality, location, interests, and more. Students just have to be willing to make the time to discover what is out there. Diseree Clay, a coach at Louisiana Tech University says, “This is challenging. And you can get discouraged. You’re only going to go as far as your mindset allows you to go. Assess where YOU are. Self-evaluate to see where YOU want to be. Then create your plan and execute. You have to keep your momentum going so you can feel confident in yourself again. Then evaluate and push past your quit.”
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With BigFuture Scholarships, students have a plan to follow, with no essay or application, no minimum GPA or test score requirement, and no citizenship requirement. Students don’t even have to have life after high school all figured out to qualify. Students just need to take at least one of six steps. And like with all scholarships, “No matter how far you push, you always have to push farther than what you see others pushing,” says Nicholas McDermott, a student at Huston-Tillotson University. “Ask your teachers for help. If you’re an athlete, ask your coaches.” As we like to say, your vibe can attract your tribe.
- #DethronetheLoan. Scholarship search starts with understanding who you are.
Normandie Comier, a $9.4 Million dollar scholar, shares a practical tip for students looking for scholarships. “Vomit on paper. It’s a method I created to find scholarships. I wrote down who I was as a student. Then searched for opportunities that meet those. For example, I was a neuroscience major, so I searched for scholarships that met that.” The scholarship database on BigFuture offers more than 24,000 scholarships totaling $1.5 billion. Students can learn more about the criteria, when the scholarship opens, and guidance on next steps.
Someone who knows a lot about how Black students and families can dethrone the loan is Enjelica Reid of the United Negro College Fund. “I left a lot of opportunities on the table because I counted myself out, so apply for every opportunity out there. Every year we give away more than 400 scholarships for high school seniors or students that are already at a 4-year or 2-year college. We also have career opportunities with major companies like American Express and Macy’s.”
- These 6 steps can increase your chances of winning.
Students can complete six steps on BigFuture to qualify for BigFuture Scholarships. These are critical steps in the planning process for college and a career, so even if students don’t win, they benefit from completing the qualifying actions: Start Your Career List, Start Your College List, Start Your Scholarship List, Strengthen Your College List, Complete the FAFSA, and Apply to Colleges. The more steps students complete, and the earlier they start, the more chances they have to win.
Mrs. Clay’s daughter Carrington Clark, a BigFuture Scholarship winner and student at Prairie View A&M University, reflects on her experience and gives her younger self advice. “We were asked to do this [steps on BigFuture] and I could’ve said I didn’t want to do it. But this is an opportunity. It can get stressful when you’re constantly applying and the same questions over and over. Being strong in the head can help you stay focused and keep trying until you get it.”
Students in the class of 2026 are now eligible for BigFuture Scholarship drawings. To ensure the scholarships support those with the most need, students whose families earn less than $60,000 per year earn two entries per drawing, doubling their chances of winning.