Scholarships: find them, win them, stay safe
The biggest scholarships usually come from the college itself and from New York State. Local awards add up too. Real scholarships never ask you to pay.
- Start a resume and activity log in grade 9.
- Ask your counselor for the school's local scholarship list.
- Apply to 2 scholarships a month in grade 12.
- Never pay a fee to apply or to "find" money.
🔎 Where real scholarships come from
| Source | What to know | How to start |
|---|---|---|
| Federal government | Federal aid is mostly need-based (Pell, work-study), not merit scholarships. | File the FAFSA. See Financial aid. |
| New York State (HESC) | Grants and scholarships for New York students, some based on grades, some on service or family situation. | The HESC list on this page. |
| Colleges (merit and need aid) | Often the largest awards. Some are automatic with admission; some need a separate form or the CSS Profile. | Read each college's scholarships page and run its net price calculator. |
| National Merit | Entry through the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 11. | PSAT and National Merit. |
| Local (school, community, employers) | Smaller amounts, fewer applicants: your odds can be better. | Your school counseling office's scholarship list; parents' employers and unions; places of worship; local clubs. |
| Contests and programs | Some competitions give scholarships. | Student contests and Opportunities. |
🗽 New York State scholarships and awards (HESC)
These are the programs on HESC's grants and scholarships page today. Details and deadlines are on each HESC page.
NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence
$500 or $1,500 a year, based on grades on certain Regents exams. Your high school nominates you: ask your counselor. File FAFSA and TAP (or the DREAM Act application) each year to be paid.
NYS STEM Incentive Program
For students in the top 10% of their NY high school class who study an approved STEM program full-time at SUNY or CUNY right after high school. Covers tuition up to SUNY's average resident tuition (TAP counts first). No income limit. You must live in NY 5 years and work in an approved STEM job, or it turns into a loan. 2027-28 deadline: August 16, 2027.
NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive Program
For students preparing to teach math or science in secondary schools.
Excelsior Scholarship and Enhanced Tuition Award
Family income $125,000 or less. See Financial aid.
Memorial and military awards
NYS Memorial Scholarship (families of public safety and EMS workers who died in the line of duty); World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship; Flight 3407 Memorial Scholarship; MERIT Scholarship (military); NYS Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans; Veterans Tuition Award.
More on the HESC list
Aid to Native Americans; Segal AmeriCorps Education Award; NYS Child Welfare Worker Incentive Scholarship; Masters in Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship; Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship.
🌟 National Merit and college merit aid
- National Merit: take the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 11. Your Selection Index (48-228) is the first screen. Read the current rules on nationalmerit.org and ask your counselor about New York's cutoff for your year.
- College merit aid: many colleges give awards for grades, test scores or talents. Some SUNY merit scholarships may still look at test scores even though SUNY is test-optional for admission.
- Ask each college: "Is merit aid automatic, or is there a separate application or deadline? Is it renewable?"
🏝️ Long Island options
Your high school counseling office
Ask whether your high school keeps a list of local scholarships (for example from PTAs, booster clubs, local businesses or memorial funds). Ask in September of grade 12 and again in January.
Long Island Community Foundation
LICF lists scholarship funds set up by donors for specific purposes, schools or communities. Its applications are by invitation only (usually through a school). LICF is merging into The New York Community Trust; check both sites.
Suffolk CCC and Nassau CC
Community colleges have their own foundation scholarships for their students. Ask the college's financial aid or foundation office after you apply.
🛡️ Scholarship scams: the warning signs (FTC)
🚩 "Guaranteed or your money back."
No real scholarship is guaranteed.
🚩 "You can't get this anywhere else."
Scholarship lists are free from your counselor, HESC and colleges.
🚩 "We need your card or bank number to hold it."
Never give bank or card numbers, or your StudentAid.gov password.
🚩 "We'll do the FAFSA. Just pay a fee."
The FAFSA is free at studentaid.gov.
🚩 "You're a finalist!"
For a contest you never entered.
🚩 "Pay now or lose it."
Pressure to pay fast is a scam sign.
🌱 The start-early plan (grade 9 to 12)
- Grade 9: start two files.A one-page resume and an activity log (activity, grades 9-12, hours per week, weeks per year, role, awards). Update every June.
- Grade 10: go deeper.Take on a role. Service hours count for many local awards. Save certificates.
- Grade 11: aim for grade-based awards.PSAT/NMSQT, strong Regents scores (Scholarships for Academic Excellence), class rank (STEM Incentive). Draft a "story bank" of 5 moments that shaped you.
- Summer before grade 12: build the kit.Resume, activity list, 2 recommendation letters, a personal essay and a short "why this goal" answer (check each word limit). Most scholarship essays are a version of these.
- Grade 12: apply on a schedule.2 applications a month, September to April. Keep a tracker: name, amount, deadline, what to send, done.
- After you win: tell the college.Outside scholarships can change a college's aid. Ask how they will apply it.
✍️ Scholarship essay basics
1. Answer the exact question
Underline every part of the prompt. Answer each part.
2. One true story
A specific moment beats a list of awards. Show what you did and what you learned.
3. Connect to the goal
End with how this award helps your next step.
4. Your words
Use AI only for ideas or spelling checks, if the rules permit; write the essay yourself. Many applications ask you to confirm the work is your own.
5. Proofread twice
Read it aloud. Ask a teacher or counselor to read it.
🔗 Official sources (checked Nov 8, 2026)
- HESC, New York State grants and scholarships (full list): hesc.ny.gov
- HESC, NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence: hesc.ny.gov/SAE
- HESC, NYS STEM Incentive Program: hesc.ny.gov
- College Board, National Merit entry and Selection Index: Understanding Scores (PDF); nationalmerit.org
- SUNY, Testing requirements (merit scholarships may need scores): suny.edu
- Long Island Community Foundation (now part of The New York Community Trust): licf.org; The New York Community Trust, Long Island: thenytrust.org/long-island
- FTC, How to avoid scholarship and financial aid scams: consumer.ftc.gov; report: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Federal Student Aid, Avoiding scams: studentaid.gov/resources/scams