Salient Features of Scholarships for Hispanic Students

Hispanics have been under-represented in institutions of higher education throughout American history. In order to uplift this community, many universities and colleges provide opportunities to access numerous scholarships and grants that can help them pursue a graduate degree. There are a variety of scholarships for Hispanics and once you have selected the one most suitable as per your requirements, you can proceed with the application process.

What is the eligibility?

To be eligible for Hispanic Scholarships, the applicants must be of a Hispanic heritage. This Hispanic descent needs to be proven with authentic documentation and a minimum ¼ Hispanic proportion is necessary. Another requirement is that the student must plan to enroll full-time in any accredited university or institution only and he or she must be a United States citizen. Moreover, the applicant should also be a permanent legal resident or an individual of the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals. The student should also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. It is important note that these scholarships are open to students considering all types of majors, but there is a strong emphasis on STEM fields which comprise of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This is because representation of the Hispanic community in these fields is relatively lower as compared to other academic streams.

Key parameters of judgement

The scholarship for Hispanic students is judged on certain criteria and we have elaborated the same below. Do ensure that you take note of these while filling your application for your prospective scholarship.

• Academic Achievement : Scholarships are granted to academically sound students. Participation in debates, Science Olympiads, math quizzes and other intellectual events gives an impressive appeal to your overall profile. The panel does not only scrutinize whether you’ve won any competitions, rather they are more interested to assess your level of participation throughout your high school or graduate school. A high degree of participation reflects a keen sense of curiosity in the candidate, an attribute that judges often seek.
• Personal Strengths: Although awards are not the only achievements that are accounted for, but they do play a chief role. Any honors, accolades or awards you’ve won at city, state, national or international level do impact your application immensely.
• Leadership: A bold, strong and effective person greatly impresses others. So, if you’ve had any leadership experience, be it of any volunteer organization or your own nature club, it shall definitely demonstrate your credibility as a good leader.
• Commitment to the Community: A desire to give back to the community is assessed to understand an individual’s responsibility to his or her nation. This can be demonstrated via volunteering in any school-related activity.

Which documents are required to be submitted?

For any Hispanic Grant or Scholarship, there are a few basic documents which need to be furnished before the concerned authorities. Following are the standard requirements: –

• FAFSA and Student Aid Report
• School transcripts
• Verification of enrollment from your chosen school

Letter of Recommendation from your work place, school or any other relevant organization can be useful. Please note that this is a basic list of documents, you shall be required to submit more applications, academic records or documents to prove your Hispanic ancestry as per the type of scholarship you choose.

Tips to avail your dream scholarship

Apart from providing accurate documents, availing the best suitable grants for you and abiding by deadlines, you should ensure to submit excellent Scholarship Essays and Letters of Recommendation. The essay should be precise, clear and must convey your motive to apply for the scholarship. Avoid being emotional or using extra fancy language.

Hispanic scholarships are available in plenty; all that’s needed is careful speculation and step-by-step preparation to avail them. Financial-aid can increase your chances of enrolling in top universities or institutions, so we encourage you to look for prospective grants to work your way towards a bright future!