College Scholarships 101: Burgers and Donuts?


Tips from an Irvine College Consultant: College Scholarships 101

There are dozens of scholarships out there that students don’t even think about. Most of these scholarships offer relatively small amounts of money but there’s no reason why a student can’t apply for, and receive, 50 $1,000 scholarships. Most students think that scholarships are very hard to obtain and should provide a large amount of money, making it a black-and-white situation. However, there’s a huge gray area where students can find tons of micro scholarships (scholarships under $1000 or so) to help them pay for their university studies (READ: “Tips From an Irvine College Admissions Consultant: Online College Courses”).

1. Dunkin’ Donuts

That’s right, Dunkin’ Donuts offers college scholarships! Students can apply for a scholarship if they can demonstrate that they are “well-rounded”, have a good academic record and are currently working part-time. $1,000 from Dunkin’ Donuts certainly wouldn’t hurt! Learn more here: Dunkin’ Donuts Scholarship

2. Burger King

Burger King offers large scholarships for high school seniors and smaller, $1000, scholarships offered by franchisees. The Burger King Scholars Program judges students based on their academic record and participation in their community environment. The minimum GPA for the scholarship is 2.5, which makes it a lot easier to obtain then some merit scholarships. Learn more here: Burger King Scholarship

3. McDonald’s

The Ronald McDonald House Charities and Scholars Program offers a maximum award of $5,000 to be given to high school seniors who are in need of financial assistance. Applicants need to demonstrate leadership and community involvement but also have a decent academic background. Learn more here: McDonald’s Scholarship

4. Denny’s

Denny’s offers more than just pancakes to potential college students. The Denny’s Hungry for Education Scholarship advertises itself as being multicultural and assists students from elementary through college to help them with their academic endeavors. There could be as much as $200,000 going to multiple students from elementary school all the way through college so this is a great opportunity for students looking for financial help. To be eligible, an applicant must be a citizen or current resident of the US and they can use the money for tuition, fees, and other school supplies. They must also have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA. Additionally, students need to write a 300 word essay in high school or a 500 word essay in college about how Denny’s can impact childhood hunger in their communities. Learn more here: Denny’s Scholarship

5. Carl’s Jr.

Carl’s Jr. formed the Carl N. and Margaret Karcher Founders’ Scholarship, which offers a maximum award of $1000 and is offered to high school seniors. The catch is that applicants must reside in one of the states that Carl’s Jr. operates; California is included. Applicants will be judged based on their academic achievements, community involvement, current work experience, and goals for future education. Carl’s Jr. will also consider financial need and personal family situations. Winners of the scholarship can use the money at any accredited two-year or four-year college or vocational program. Learn more here: Carl’s Jr. Scholarship

Who would’ve thought burgers and donuts could help somebody pay their way through college? But the reality is there are so many scholarships out there that students just don’t think about. Some of them are based on merit and others on financial need but there’s more than enough money out there to go around for students who take the time to invest in a short essay or online application.

Check out even more food-related scholarships here: ScholarshipMentor

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