By: Natasha Bright
High school students hear there is going to be a shortage of computer professionals in the near future. They also see advertising about how there are piles of financial aid offers for the taking. Just give the website in question your parent’s credit card number and they will gladly help fill out a FASFA form and get the student a Pell Grant. That is, if what they advertise has any truth to it at all.
There is a lot of aid out there. Beyond the Pell, there’s the National Science Foundation’s team-up with the Board of Education for the STEM program. Another area most students are either too scared to approach or not aware of is the private sector. Many computer corporations offer scholarship and internship programs themselves. They give out thousands of dollars, with the long term goal of finding quality people who will eventually work for them. If you need more information about distance learning course, look on the internet.
Don’t believe yet? Here is a small sampling of companies that do just that:
(1) Apple Computer Scholarship – Home of the iTunes, the iPad, and the Mac. Known for keeping as much as possible in-house, they recruit personnel to achieve that goal. They have the Apple Scholars Program, which gives high school students $2,000, an iPod and a brand new – probably Apple – laptop. All the kids have to do is create a “senior project” with (and applicable to) Apple tech. Whatever it is, it must be done with Apple technology. The student wins and the tech stays within Apple’s ‘keeping it all in house’ motto.
(2) Dell Computer Scholars – Dell also has a very generous program for secondary seniors. All it asks is that the applicant be a US citizen, demonstrate a real financial need, maintain a 2.4 or higher grade point average, and plan to go to school the fall after graduation. In return, they award $20,000 for students to take up to a six year program at an accredited college, online or not, with a new computer, mentoring services and a lot more.
(3) Intel Computer Clubhouse – The #1 microchip manufacturer awarded 26 scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 in 2009 alone. Selection of scholarship recipients is based on scholastic and financial need. It’s also designed to assist both undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of electrical engineering, computer science, and manufacturing worldwide. Intel tailors these programs to each specific country or region in which they are located, insuring that each program offers the greatest benefit to the communities it serves. There is an abundance of information about degree in technology on the web.
(4) Microsoft – Not to be topped by Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and company offer four different programs: General Scholarships, Minority Scholarships, Scholarships for Students with Disabilities, and Women’s Scholarships. Computer scientists receive these, to excel in their chosen field. This provides some definite benefits when they pursue studies in computer science and related technical disciplines.
A little work this way can pay off considerably. Earn accredited degrees and get started in this ever-expanding field. Either a traditional or an online IT degree gets you going and provides the entrance you need.
Article Courtesy of EZINE ARTICLE DIRECTORY Submit & Read
