With the rising costs of college tuition, this guide is intended to help Jewish students find scholarships or other funding sources that may help alleviate the burden of paying those large college tuition bills. Hillel is in no way affiliated with the organizations offering scholarships that are listed and is not responsible for the accuracy of the information.

Applicants should consider the following tips when applying for scholarships and preparing their applications:

• Stand out from the crowd - The key to successfully being awarded scholarships is similar to that of getting into competitive schools, and that is to distinguish oneself from the norm. Students who perform community service or distinguish themselves as Jewish leaders within their communities will most likely stand out from the crowd.  
• Enroll in a Jewish studies program – Not only will you please your parents, but Jewish studies programs often have multiple scholarships for study within their departments. While you may not want to change your intended major for that reason alone, pursuing a dual-degree or a minor may also allow you to qualify.
• Start early - By preparing application materials early, you can be sure you won’t make mistakes or do a rushed job. If you’re missing something crucial, such as a letter of recommendation or verification of enrollment from a school, you won’t be relying on others to provide necessary information last minute. If you start really early, as in a few years early, you will be able to get involved in extracurricular activities to help distinguish yourself.
• Maintain high academic standards - A qualified candidate should be a student with an excellent academic record, not just within the two years of high school.
• Demonstrate financial need - In most cases, financial need is factored into choosing recipients, unless the scholarship specifies that it is merit-based.
• Answer the essay question – Be sure to answer the question they ask. Though it may be easy to recycle another essay, it probably won’t answer the question.
• Proofread - Make sure to proofread your applications. It also helps to have someone else read over them, as the application serves as a representation of yourself.
• Don’t ignore small scholarships – Every little bit counts, and small ones, which may be easier to apply for and receive, add up. Don’t discount the little guy!

This list is far from complete. If you know of a scholarship or loan opportunity available to Jewish students, please email information and a link to freshman@hillel.org.