Students studying in the field of computer science or engineering may be eligible for engineering scholarships. Many students apply for and receive financial a college or university. Loans, however must be repaid in a timely manner. Some loans also include compounding interest rates the longer it takes to repay them. Another option students can utilize is grants or scholarships. Awarded grants and scholarships usually do not have to be repaid. In the state of Pennsylvania, one such scholarship is the NETS (New Economy Technology Scholarship). Requirements for this scholarship include maintaining academic excellence in the field (as determined by GPA or grade point average) and agreeing to work in the field after graduation.
Students must agree to one year of in-state work for every semester the scholarship is accepted. Jobs in the field may include, but are not limited to, engineering, computer programming, networking, and systems maintenance and repair. Failure to work after graduation will cause a default in the terms of the scholarship. Funds received will become loans, which must be repaid. Scholarship amounts may be up to $1500 per semester, not to exceed $6000 total per student. Proof of GPA must be provided in the form of an official school transcript each semester. Proof of employment in the form of a letter from the employer describing key job responsibilities must be provided annually until the conditions of the scholarship have been met (i.e. acceptance of the scholarship for two semesters requires two years of employment verification.) Paid or unpaid internships or co-op positions that a student is working while still in an undergraduate program will not satisfy the work requirements of the NETS scholarship.
Only post-graduate work in the state of Pennsylvania will be accepted to satisfy the terms. Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the college or university where the student is enrolled and administered by financial services at the institution. Currently, no new funding is available for the NETS scholarship. Only students who have received a NETS scholarship in the past may re-apply, granted the student has not exceeded the lifetime maximum funding. The process for applying for NETS funding varies from one institute of higher learning to another. Students should contact financial aid services for more information. While NETS funding is not currently available, other engineering scholarships may be an option for students studying in the field. The Next Generataion Scholarship Fund a one-time grant of up to $5000 to college students studying fields related to electric power generation. Eligibility is also determined using grade point average. AES Engineering scholarships are also available to high school seniors and college students, but these funds are not based on grade point average. Instead, AES Engineering scholarships are granted based on character, as determined by the content of a required essay. Students applying for AES Engineering students may be studying fields other than engineering. Information on these and other scholarships are readily available on the internet. A quick Google search can produce numerous results linking students to funding available in any and all disciplines. To improve the chances of receiving funding for further education, students should review the specific requirements of each scholarship for which they wish to apply. When an essay is required, review sample essays (when available) and write several “practice” essays before applying. Also, make sure all necessary documentation, including transcripts are prepared before beginning an application. Engineering is one of many rapidly growing fields with a need for trained individuals entering the field. A college degree (Associates or Bachelor’s) is required for almost all positions in the field of engineering. Since skilled workers are needed, new options for educational funding may be available. Students interested in a career in engineering should search for engineering scholarships.
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