A run down of late-deadline scholarships

Many students overlook scholarship opportunities because they underestimate the true value of even a relatively small grant. Even though a scholarship may only cover a small fraction of your total cost of college, any amount that lowers how much you have to take out in loans will save you more in the long run when you consider interest payments. Not only that, but scholarships are also great resume builders, as they show that you took initiative and were recognized for your efforts, even if the funds only covered a few text books. This will speak volumes when you apply for certain programs at the school or other opportunities that require you to have a competitive edge.

A lot of college students simply don’t realize the benefits of a scholarship until it is too late and the majority of deadlines have already come and gone. There are, however, a number of great scholarships available to students well into the spring that many applicants overlook.

One unique opportunity is the Duck Tape® Brand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest, which awards $3,000 to select couples who make their prom outfits out of duct tape. Applicants have until June 7 to send in a photo from their prom to win the funds.

Another award with a late deadline is the BigSun Scholarship, which gives $500 to a high school athlete who writes a small essay. Although this is a relatively modest award, it will still cover a good chunk of a given semester’s college fees, and accepts applications until June 24.

There are a lot of scholarship opportunities that are available late in the game to students entering a highly specialized field of education. The Jamison Award, for example, is a $2,500 scholarship for a high school student who writes an essay on energy consumption. There are numerous other awards for students pursuing medical degrees that accept applications well into June, too.