Wells Fargo Scholarships
Though often in the business of giving out students loans, Wells Fargo scholarships are available from one of the nation’s largest banks as well. Like many other companies, Wells Fargo has a separate foundation which invests money in many different sources including their Wells Fargo scholarship through particular partnerships. In the past these partnerships have included groups like the Hispanic Scholarship Fund but, similar to some other foundations, Wells Fargo Scholarships are not always long term and may not be renewed. Despite this, students who are interested in a Wells Fargo scholarship will find a diverse amount of offerings in 2011 and 2012. Beyond these years students should always pay close attention to what scholarships are being offered by the organization, and be careful to double check dates. Very often older scholarships will remain on the internet despite no longer being offered. It is important to be able to quickly identify only those bank scholarships which are currently being offered so that students will be able to maximize both their time and their applications.
One of the programs which have been offered for a number of years in the form of a Wells Fargo scholarship is offered directly by the company under their CollegeSTEPS program. The program is limited to those students who are in high school and are interested in enrolling in a four year university. This college scholarship from Wells Fargo works more along the lines of a sweepstakes than a merit based program, but because it offers what is in essence free money for school with very little work on the part of the applicant, students should be incredibly interested in the opportunity. In order to enter the program students simply must enroll in the Wells Fargo CollegeSTEPS program which will provide email updates to individuals on financial aid offerings, study methods and open campus visits. Just by enrolling into the program students will be automatically enrolled for a chance to win $1,000 towards college. Getting useful tips for college and having very little effort on the part of students makes this opportunity worth looking into. Four drawings are made every year and in each drawing five students are selected for awards. As the program operates on a rolling basis, students do not have to be overly concerned about deadlines. However, to better maximize their chances students should enroll before February 4 in order to get a chance in every drawing.
Native Americans will be interested to know that in 2005 a scholarship fund was established in partnership with the American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC) to create a Wells Fargo scholarship at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Applicants must be an enrolled member of a recognized American Indian tribe, as well as be going to school for a degree in banking, resort management, gaming operations or administration. Students must have a 3.0 grade point average and meet Pell Grant eligibility requirements. The award amount for this program varies according to financial need and all materials must be turned in no later than June 1, 2011.
The Pride Foundation has an established partnership with Wells Fargo and gives out Wells Fargo scholarships every year. Though the 2011 scholarship cycle with the Pride Foundation has ended, there are strong indications that the award will be offered again in 2012. The criteria for this Wells Fargo scholarship are pretty basic – students must be enrolled in college and be actively involved in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender movement. Straight allies who are actively involved will be considered for a Wells Fargo scholarship as well. All applicants must be residents of the United States though those students looking to attend school outside of the US can still apply so long as they have residency in the country. Awards can go as high as $10,000 but the average tends to be around $3,300. The deadline for this Wells Fargo scholarship is January 31 of every year, and students would be wise to stay tuned to 2012.