Your Path to Recognition, Scholarship Opportunities, and Success

NSHSS is proud to offer scholarships year-round, catering to scholarships for high school students and college students. To increase your chances of securing financial support, we strongly advise students to apply for the scholarships they are eligible for as soon as possible. 

If a member, sign in to your NSHSS member dashboard to access all scholarship applications.

Select “Set Up Your Password” if it is your first time signing in.

Once you are in your member dashboard, select “Apply for Scholarships” > "View All Current Open Scholarships."

If you are not a member, click on the "Apply Now" button for the scholarship program you are interested in to register an account in our system.

NSHSS scholarships for high school and college students are available year-round. To apply for an NSHSS (National Society of High School Scholars) scholarship, high school or college students should follow a set of steps to ensure a thorough and competitive application. Here’s a guide: 

1) Explore Available Scholarships 

2) Review Eligibility Requirements:

• Be aware that some NSHSS scholarships for high school students are available to members only.

3) Prepare Required Documents: 

• Such as official or unofficial transcript, resume, professional headshot, letter of recommendation(s), and any additional materials

4) Write personal essays: 

• Please follow the listed word count and review your application thoroughly for any grammar or spelling mistakes. 

5) Secure Letters of Recommendation: 

• Students can request up to 2 and cannot submit their own letters of reference. Recommenders will have to submit the letters through the online scholarship platform. 

6) Apply online: 

• Complete the scholarship application online through the NSHSS portal. Ensure that all required information and documents are submitted before the deadline. Once you do, you will receive an email confirming that your application has been successfully submitted. 

NSHSS offers scholarships for all levels of high school and college, providing ample opportunities for students throughout their academic journey. Given the diverse range of available college scholarships for high school students, we highly recommend applying to multiple opportunities to increase the likelihood of receiving financial support. This proactive approach allows students to maximize their chances and explore various avenues of assistance during high school and college.

 Securing scholarship funding can be competitive, but students can take several proactive steps to increase their chances of success. Here are some strategies to help students maximize their efforts in attaining NSHSS scholarship funding:

1) Start early

• Begin the scholarship search and application process early, ideally during your freshman or sophomore year in high school. This allows students to identify and apply for opportunities over an extended period.

2) Research Thoroughly 

• Explore a wide range of scholarship opportunities. Look beyond academic achievements; consider scholarships based on talents, interests, community service, or specific demographics.

3) Create a Plan

• Develop a comprehensive plan with a list of potential scholarships, deadlines, and application requirements. This will help students stay organized and submit applications on time.

4) Tailor Applications

• Customize each scholarship application to align with the specific criteria and values of the scholarship provider. Highlight relevant experiences, achievements, and personal stories.

5) Build a Strong Resume

• Develop a well-crafted resume showcasing academic achievements, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, volunteer work, and relevant skills or talents. Also, use your resume to showcase any unique talents such as artistic abilities, musical skills, or proficiency in a particular subject.

Visit our Scholarships Tips & Advice page for more scholarship tips from former NSHSS Scholarship Director Dr. Susan Thurman.

It's important to note that an "easy" scholarship can vary, and what might be considered easy for one person may not be the same for another. Scholarships for high school students or college students come in diverse forms, and their application processes can range from simple to more involved. Here are a few types of scholarships that are often considered relatively straightforward:

1) No-Essay scholarships

2) Local scholarships

3) Short-response scholarships

4) Social media contests 

While these types of scholarships may be perceived as more accessible, it's essential to approach the application process with care. Remember when applying to scholarships from different organizations that you verify the legitimacy, review the requirements, and apply to those that align with your interests and goals. When you apply to scholarships with this mindset, you may find the application relatively "easy."

We encourage students to apply for any scholarship program that is a good fit and for which they are eligible. There is no limit to how many application you can submit. As a rule, NSHSS does not award more than one scholarship to the same applicant in any calendar year.

NSHSS provides scholarships for high school students. For example, suppose you are a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior year winner and have yet to enroll in a college or university. In that case, your scholarship award will be held. 

When you accept your award and complete the Accept Your Award form, choose “Please hold my award until I graduate high school and have enrolled in a college or university.” Selecting this will notify the scholarship administrator to hold your scholarship award until graduation.

If you are taking a gap year, please notify the scholarship administrator and provide a timeline of your enrollment status.

Start researching scholarships in advance. NSHSS scholarship opportunities are listed year-round at https://www.nshss.org/scholarships/. Select the scholarship that interests you to view the essay prompt and begin drafting your essay.​ A resume, transcript, educator recommendation, and a headshot are also typically required. You do not need to submit multiple transcripts, photos, and resumes. All applications and materials are handled through the NSHSS Survey Monkey Apply site. Any specific file formats required are listed within the application. Once these are submitted, they may be used for any NSHSS scholarships you apply for. Once you submit the application online, you will be unable to edit your answers. 

Essay: Word counts generally provide approximate guidelines, but keep your answers close to the number of words requested. If a scholarship response must not go over a certain word or character count, that will be indicated in the instructions.

Educator Recommendation: An educator recommendation supports your reputation as a student, e.g., your academic performance and motivation, demonstrated leadership, emotional maturity, school activity participation, and community awareness and involvement. You only need one educator recommendation per application, but you have the ability to request up to two. For example, you may wish to have a science teacher recommend you for a STEAM scholarship, or a writing teacher recommend you for a literary award. Each NSHSS scholarship application contains the online recommendation link to provide to one of your educators. All educators will need to register on the NSHSS Survey Monkey Apply site in order to upload a recommendation. The application and educator recommendation may be submitted in any order, but both must be submitted before the scholarship deadline. 

If your educator is already registered and has completed a recommendation, they do not need to create a new account. They can re-enter the NSHSS Survey Monkey Apply site here: https://apply.nshss.org/acc/l/. 

Resume: Your resume should contain your contact information, your academic standing (prospective academic titles of success, e.g., valedictorian or salutatorian) awards, leadership activities, extracurricular activities, community service, and references. Do not include activities and awards prior to high school unless your achievement is outstanding, e.g., winning the National Geography Bee or founding a charity at a young age. If you are enrolled in honors, AP, or IB courses, list your cumulative, weighted grade point average. If you are enrolled in regular-level courses, list your cumulative, unweighted grade point average. Transcripts will validate the grade point average and rigor of coursework in either circumstance.

Transcript: You may submit either your official or unofficial transcript—only one—whichever is easiest for you to attain. Your educator recommendation will support your academic reputation along with your cumulative official or unofficial transcript. Official or unofficial transcripts will need to be uploaded to your application, unless specified. 

Headshot: A headshot is a photograph of a person from the neck up. Headshots are required for possible website and social media postings and press releases in case an applicant becomes a scholarship recipient. Scholarship recipients are also featured quarterly in the digital newsletter and the NSHSS Scholar’s Journal.

The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) is known for recognizing and providing opportunities for high-achieving students, including high school scholarships. Membership can demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence and may offer access to exclusive resources, scholarships, and events. Also, including NSHSS on your resume or college application can showcase your academic achievements and involvement in a prestigious organization.

Determining the "best" scholarship for high school students or college students depends on your strengths, interests, and goals. Different scholarships cater to various criteria, such as academic achievement, leadership, community service, specific talents, or intended fields of study. Any scholarship is an achievement when used as financial assistance to further your education at your college or university of choice and brings you one step closer to a brighter future. 

If a teacher has yet to receive a request for a letter of recommendation via email, then the issue might be related to the school's firewall blocking the communication. Here are a few steps that could be taken to address the situation:

1) Direct Communication with the Teacher:

•  Please reach out to the teacher directly and inform them of the situation. Provide details about the scholarship application, the deadline, and any specific instructions for submitting the letter of recommendation.

2) Alternative Email Address:

•  If possible, please ask your teacher if they have an alternative email address (not associated with the school's firewall) where the request can be sent.

3) Check Spam or Junk Folders:

• Teachers should check their spam or junk email folders, as sometimes automated emails may get filtered into these folders.

4) Whitelist the Scholarship Platform:

•  The school's IT department or the teachers themselves may whitelist the email address from the scholarship platform to ensure that future communications are not blocked.

Addressing this issue immediately is vital to keeping the application process smooth sailing. We want to let you know that we can't accept letters of recommendation after the deadline. 

The magic happens when students, teachers, and our scholarship platform team work together. So, please communicate to our team when you and your recommender are experiencing any issues. Your success matters to us; we're here to ensure everything goes seamlessly! 

The difficulty of attaining a National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) scholarship can vary based on several factors, including the specific scholarship, the number of applicants, and the competitiveness of the selection process. NSHSS offers a range of scholarships for high school students and college students, each with its own set of criteria and requirements. You increase your chances of receiving a scholarship by applying to multiple and creating a unique application. 

Consider each scholarship essay prompt and only apply for scholarships for which you would be a strong candidate. Some scholarships support students with interest in STEAM fields, students with extensive community service experience, students who will be first generation college students, etc. Most NSHSS scholarships are merit-based.

Of course! If a student receives a scholarship, they can apply it to any college or university, whether national or international. However, it's always a good idea to check your school's policies and procedures when reporting scholarships and let our scholarship administrator know if any specific information should be included in the scholarship letter.

NSHSS scholarship funds are sent directly to the recipient’s college or university, unless specified. NSHSS scholarship funds may be used at any accredited college or university internationally. If you are still in high school or are putting college plans on hold, NSHSS will hold your funds for you until you are enrolled, but you must select to hold the award when completing your Accept Your Award form. Any additional questions about disbursement should be sent to scholarships@nshss.org directly.

Numerous colleges and universities offer various scholarships, and what might be considered the "best" depends on individual preferences, academic goals, and financial considerations. Some universities are known for their generous financial aid packages and scholarship opportunities. 

For example, Harvard is renowned for its generous financial aid program, which includes need-based grants rather than loans. They are committed to making education accessible for all admitted students, regardless of financial background. We are proud to report that as of 2023, twelve NSHSS high school scholarship recipients attend Harvard University. 

No, if you unsubscribe from any NSHSS emails, you will no longer receive scholarship email invitations. Be sure to set your NSHSS contact preferences to “allow” to receive scholarship notifications. To edit your contact preferences, sign in to your member dashboard, and select “My Profile.”

When applying for scholarships, kindly ask your preferred recommender for a recommendation at least three weeks prior to the scholarship deadline.

If the scholarship application specifies online submissions only (no printed or mailed copies), it's important to stick to those guidelines. NSHSS uses an online platform to streamline the application process, manage submissions efficiently, and ensure a fair and standardized review.

Following these submission guidelines ensures a fair evaluation process and keeps things aligned with our procedures. Your success is our priority!

Qualifying for college scholarships involves a combination of academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, leadership, community service, and sometimes financial need. Below are some general steps to increase your chances of qualifying for college scholarships: 

1) Maintain a strong academic record 

2) Participate in extracurriculars 

3) Demonstrate leadership skills 

4) Engage in community service 

5) Pursue your passion

6) Research and stay informed

7) Be aware of financial need requirements 

8) Meet application deadlines 

NSHSS scholarship applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on the deadline date. Upon submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email acknowledging your submission. Should you not receive a confirmation email, please contact scholarships@nshss.org.

Review for applications does not begin until after the program closes. Applicants are typically notified roughly 6-8 weeks following each scholarship deadline. This may vary for each scholarship as we may rely on internal and/or external scholarship committees. All applicants are notified of the results via the email utilized to create their applications on their member dashboard. Please be sure to provide a valid email address to ensure you receive scholarship updates.

We're thrilled to welcome international students into our scholarship community. It's an exciting journey, and we want to ensure you have all the details you need.

Each scholarship has its own set of eligibility requirements. So, take a moment to review those specifics for each scholarship you're eyeing. 

We appreciate your commitment to the application process. It's important to note that we cannot make any edits once the application deadline has passed. Our deadlines are carefully set to ensure a fair and organized review process for all applicants.

We highly recommend thoroughly reviewing your information before hitting that submit button to avoid errors or inaccuracies. However, we understand that sometimes unforeseen circumstances can arise, leading to critical mistakes or the need for additional information. If this happens, we have specific procedures in place to handle these scenarios and can guide us on how to proceed.

At NSHSS, we are proud to foster diversity and inclusivity by offering a range of scholarships tailored to the experience of our members. Here are some of the minority scholarships available: 

1) NSHSS First Generation Scholarship 

• Eligibility: Open to first generation college students of all levels
• Award Amount: $1,000

2) Claes Nobel Future Female Leader Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to high school female seniors 
• Award Amount: $1,000

3) NSHSS Diversity Scholarship 

• Eligibility: Open to NSHSS members in their sophomore, junior, or senior year in high school
• Award Amount: $2,000

These scholarships reflect our commitment to empowering students from diverse backgrounds. We believe in the potential of every NSHSS member to make a positive impact on the world.