Below are this year's hyper local scholarships.

Self-Nomination Scholarships--DEADLINE 1/14

PLEASE READ: For all self-nomination scholarships, email Ms. Lowe at heather.lowe@mvla.net by January 14th, 2025. Please list all of the self-nomination scholarships you would like to be considered for. For every self-nomination scholarship, you need to have an updated resume available in Naviance. If you have a resume that is a Google doc, you can simply link the resume into Naviance. For particular scholarships, there may be additional steps to self-nominate, so pay attention to your email for further instructions. And lastly, if you are nominated there will be more application steps in the future, so please be aware of the possible future commitment that you are making. 

 

Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team (BAASST)—Deadline January 14: $5000. Need-aware. For students who display leadership qualities in and outside the classroom, demonstrate the value of education, good work ethic, community outreach and extracurricular activities. Minimum GPA 3.0. Only two male and two female nominees from each high school can be nominated. 
Northern California Scholarship--Deadline January 14: $8000. Renewable for 4 years. Merit and Need-based. US Citizens and Permanent resident only.  For students who have taken a rigorous course load, have excelled academically, are significantly involved in their community, and demonstrate financial need to afford college. 
University Club of Palo Alto--Deadline January 14: Up to $5,000. Renewable for 4 years. Need-based. No citizenship requirements. Strong GPA of A-/B+ average. Students with work experience strongly preferred. Student should also have extracurriculars and volunteering experience. 
Silicon Valley Realtors Scholarship--Deadline January 14: $1,500. Must be attending a four-year college in the fall of 2023. U.S. Citizens and permanent residents only. Students need extensive commitment to community service. It is recommended that students have a GPA of 3.7 and above. 

 

Apply on Your Own Scholarships

PLEASE READ: For the scholarships below, the applications either are open or will soon be open for you to apply independently--no nominations needed, you get to complete the application on your own. Of course if you have questions about the applications, please do ask us in the College and Career Center. 

And don’t forget, fill out the FAFSA or Dream Act application before March 2! It is the best way to access need-based financial aid. 

 

JUNIORS

Questbridge–Deadline, September 2025. Click HERE for eligibility criteria and the application process. And yes, you will be a senior by the time you apply but this is an extensive application that you should know of in advance. 

 

 

DAR Good Citizens Scholarship--Deadline October 6 : $500-5000. Merit-based. For male or female high school seniors. U.S. citizenship not required. $500 for district winner, and up to $5000 for national winner. For students who exemplify the qualities of a good citizen: dependability, service, leadership, patriotism. Finalists  will write a proctored essay with a two-hour time limit (no studying or preparation needed whatsoever). The essay topic is usually related to an aspect of good citizenship, and you are asked to draw examples from personal experience, your observations of society, and/or any academic knowledge you may have gained. 

Immigrants Rising Website - List of Scholarships that don't Require U.S. Citizenship: 

https://immigrantsrising.org/resource/undergraduate-scholarships/