If you’re a lover of literature, then we’ve got good news for you. There are plenty of scholarship opportunities available that are inspired by authors, books, and the written word. From classics to Shakespeare, there are scholarships for every book lover. Check out a few scholarships for book lovers below!
Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: April 22, 2020 (postmarked by April 15, 2020)
There’s nothing quite like the classics. Each year, Signet and Penguin Random House host this scholarship and highlight a piece of classic literature. One year, it was Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet Jacobs. In a different year, it was The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain.
Students must be either a junior or senior in high school, write a 2-3 page essay on one of five topics related to the book, have an English teacher mail in their submission.
Mary Shelley & HWA Scholarships
Amount: $2,500 each
Deadline: August 1, 2020 (Opens June 1, 2020)
Inspired by the legendary author of Frankenstein, the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley scholarship is open to female students who have an interest in writing horror stories. The award aims to encourage more women writers in the genre of horror, and help them hone their craft and education.
The Horror Writers Association also offers another scholarship, which is open to anyone regardless of gender. Both scholarships award students pursuing a writing-based education. Look on their website to learn about the details.
Hooked to Books Scholarship
Amount: $500; $1,000
Deadline: December 18, 2020 (opens May 4, 2020)
Has a book ever changed your life? Hooked to Books asks that to students who apply to their scholarship. The Hooked to Books scholarship asks students to write an essay on how a book made a huge impact on their life. The goal is to both promote reading and to further students’ education.
To be eligible, students must: submit a 500–2,000-word essay, be enrolled in a two or four-year college program, agree to have their essay published on the website.
National Shakespeare Competition
Amount: Varies
Deadlines: Varies
No list would be complete without the Bard himself. Often considered the greatest wordsmith of all time, William Shakespeare is a staple of the literary and poetry worlds. This national scholarship competition sees students reciting some of Shakespeare’s most iconic monologues and sonnets.
The contest is open to high school students around the country, provided their school registers with the ESU. A minimum of three students per school must be involved, and go through a few regional competitions before being considered to compete on the national scale. Look on their website for further details, and talk to your school about potentially participating.
Want to find more scholarships for book lovers? In that case, look online or through scholarship databases. Otherwise, talk to your high school counselor, college’s financial aid office, or your local library or book businesses. Generally, there are plenty of scholarships for book lovers out there. There’s also no such thing as applying for too many scholarships, so get out there and apply for some scholarships!
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| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
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5.50%-16.12%* Variable
3.99%-15.61%* Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT CITIZENS |
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5.54% - 15.70% Variable
3.99% - 15.49% Fixed
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VISIT SALLIE MAE |
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4.63% - 17.99% Variable
3.49% - 17.99% Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT CREDIBLE |
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6.00% - 13.75% Variable
3.99% - 13.75% Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT LENDKEY |
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5.66% - 14.72% Variable
3.69% - 14.56% Fixed
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VISIT ASCENT |
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3.70% - 8.75% Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT ISL |
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5.62% - 16.85% Variable
3.69% - 16.49% Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT EARNEST |
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5.00% - 14.22% Variable
3.69% - 14.22% Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT ELFI |
