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Financial Aid

Scholarships

Foothill-De Anza (FHDA) offers numerous need- and merit-based scholarships for part-time and full-time students in most academic majors. Scholarships are dollars that you do not repay and can be used for school-related expenses. Applying for FHDA scholarships is free.

Application Deadline & Support

How to Apply

 

Log in to Academic Works, our Scholarship System

  1. Log in to  MyPortal
  2. Click on "Apps" on the left-hand side of the page.
  3. Click on the AcademicWorks app.
  4. If needed, click on the "Sign In” button in the upper right-hand corner.
  5. If needed, click on the "Sign In" With Your Institution" button.

If you have not already, create a general application in Academic Works

  1. If this is your first time logging in to AcademicWorks, you will automatically be redirected to the general application page. If you've logged in to AcademicWorksbefore, though, click on the My Applications tab and then on the General Application box to, if needed, return to your general application to complete it or make updates.
  2. Once you've filled out the general application, click on the "Finish and Submit" button. *Note: You can always go back and make changes to your general application up until the deadline for a scholarship 

Apply for Foothill Scholarships

  1. Under the Opportunities tab, click on "Ours". Click on the name of the scholarship or use the search bar to search for it by name.
  2. Review the details of the scholarship posting. If you meet the minimum qualifications for the scholarship, click on the "Apply" button at the bottom of the page.
  3. Complete the supplemental questions.
  4. Click on the "Finish and Submit" button at the bottom of the page.

What to Expect After You Apply

 

 

Information & Resources

Scholarship Timeline

The majority of Foothill scholarships have a deadline of mid-February. See what to expect by month throughout the the academic year to prepare to apply.

MONTH ACTION
October The majority of Foothill scholarships will be posted in early October.
February The majority of Foothill scholarships will close for review on Friday Feburary 2, 2024.
March Round one of the scholarship review process begins. Scholarship finalists are selected.
April Round two of the scholarship review process begins. Scholarship winners are selected.
May The majority of scholarship winners are announced. 
June A few scholarships with late deadlines will close for review. Winners will be selected and notified by the end of the month.
July The scholarship system will shut down to archive the prior academic year's information. 
August The scholarship system will re-open for the new academic year. Now is a great time to start working on the general scholarship application that is required for all Foothill scholarships. A few scholarships with early deadlines will be posted.
   

 

Important Notes

  • Applying for scholarships is a competitive process. Please be aware that not every student who applies for scholarships will win.
  • If you don't meet the minimum criteria for a scholarship that you apply for, your application will not be considered for that scholarship.
  • If you fail to attach a legible copy of any of the required documents for a scholarship, such as your Foothill College transcript, resume, etc., your application for that scholarship will be incomplete and it will not be considered.
  • All required documents must be submitted online. The Financial Aid Office does not accept any documents, such as letters of recommendation, on a student’s behalf.
  • You can go to the Foothill College Teaching & Learning Center in Building 3600 to scan your academic transcripts for FREE.
  • Once you’ve applied for Foothill scholarships, you can monitor the status of those applications in AcademicWorks by going to the Applications tab and clicking on “Active”.
  • There is no limit to how many scholarships you can apply for. However, please be sure to review and verify you meet the minimum qualifications for a scholarship prior to applying.
  • Most scholarships disburse during Spring or Fall quarters of each academic year. Please note that in order for the Foothill College system to disburse your scholarship funds, you must be enrolled in at least six units for the term, unless otherwise stated in the scholarship posting.

Tips for Writing Your "My Story" Essay

Outside Scholarship Opportunities

Periodically, the Financial Aid Office is asked by an outside agency to advertise a scholarship they offer to undergraduate students.

If we feel the scholarship is legitimate and a good fit for our students, we will post it on the 'External Opportunities' section of our scholarship system, AcademicWorks.

Please be sure to review all information posted for an outside scholarship since scholarship requirements and application processes vary from one opportunity to another.

If you have questions about the application process for a particular outside scholarship, please contact the agency listed on that scholarship's web page.


Outside Scholarship Listing

Finding and Researching Scholarships Online

All scholarship search engines and resources provided below are FREE to use.

https://www.edumed.org/financial-aid/scholarships-resources-for-women/is a resource guide that focuses on scholarships, grants, and a variety of resources specifically for women interested in all higher education majors, including healthcare.

https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/student-life/scholarships-minority-students/  is a resource that highlights over 45 regularly updated minority scholarship opportunities to further assist in offsetting the cost of education. The guide also provides a list of things to know while applying for scholarships to make the process easier and information on where to find the scholarships and grants.

https://www.bestcolleges.com/financial-aid/lgbtq-scholarships/ is a scholarship resource guide established for LGBTQ+ college students. Scholarships are available from several public and private organizations, as well as individual donors. Some welcome all LGBTQ+ applicants, while others may focus on specific subgroups. Check out our list of LGBTQ+ scholarships link for more details.


https://www.edumed.org/financial-aid/scholarships-resources-for-women/ is a resource guide that focuses on scholarships, grants, and a variety of resources speifically for students in the publich healthcare field. 

https://www.reviews.com/best-scholarship-search-platforms/ is a useful guide that reviews the best scholarship search engines and instructs students on how to use them effectively to find as many opportunities as possible.

http://www.fastweb.com is a highly recommended online resource that provides a free matching service for scholarships. Once you complete a profile, you'll have access to a database of more than 1.5 million scholarships.

https://www.scholarships.com is a widely used online resource for students of all ages to search for college scholarships and other financial aid information

http://www.college-scholarships.com/ is an all purpose college and scholarship information site which includes links to nine free internet scholarship search data bases, links to college websites and online applications, college admissions office email addresses and (mostly toll free) phone numbers, ACT and SAT prep information, and much, much more. The site has been the recipient of more than 25 internet awards and receives more than 150,000 visits each month.

https://immigrantsrising.org/resources/ Immigrants Rising has developed resources to help undocumented students across the United States find scholarships to pay for college.

Scholarships and Grants Free US College Scholarships, Grants, Competitions and Awards Resources.

SuperCollege.com is a website where you can find valuable information and resources about how to get into and pay for college.
 
More Scholarship Links (PDF)

Volunteer for a Scholarship Review Committee

Once the application period for most scholarships close in mid February, it's time to recruit scholarship reader volunteers. We welcome all faculty and staff participation!

If you would like to volunteer, email Karima Karim in Financial Aid Outreach at fhfinancialaidoffice@fhda.edu

Here are some reminders about the process: 

  • The scholarship reading process is an online process. This means that you can read scholarship applications anywhere you have internet access
  • You can review and rate scholarship applications on your own schedule within a given time frame of several weeks.  
  • There are no meetings to attend
  • If you are Classified Staff, you can use the hours you serve for Professional Growth Award (PGA) credit. If you are Faculty, you may be able to use the hours you serve for Professional Achievement Service. Please check with the Academic Senate for more information. 
  • Serving as a reader is a very enlightening and rewarding experience!

 

Scholarship Giving at Foothill College

Thank you to our Scholarship Donors!

Take a moment to visit the Foothil-De Anza Foundation website to read stories about our donors!

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