Get Scholarship! EXPERT ADVICE: INTERVIEW with JEFF HOLLIDAY , Associate Director of Scholarships and Compliance

A student is interested in computer science/STEM and comes to your office seeking financial aid. What’s your first step?

In regard to STEM majors in their sophomore through senior years, the state offers an enhancement to the base merit scholarship. Computer science students could be eligible for an additional $2,500 per year. At Clemson, we offer that enhancement for freshman students through our university funding and then the state picks it up years two through four.

They should be applying for outside scholarships as well. I’ve seen many scholarships designed for students interested in engineering, computer engineering, and computer science, so that’s something computer sciences students should be looking at.

How early do you suggest students and parents begin thinking about scholarships?

As a parent, I would try to grow my student’s interest in computer science, possibly as early a middle school, through science-related clubs or competitions. Participation in those activities often brings scholarship opportunities with them. They can also use that experience when applying to other science-related scholarships. A lot of students don’t think about internships when they’re in high school. If interning for a company that has a scholarship program, students may have those awards made available to them.

When should they begin the actual financial aid process?

I always recommend students start to act no later than the beginning of their senior year of high school. A lot of students can even start applying for outside scholarships late in their junior year. As to financial aid specifically, I would look at applying in the fall of senior year.

Is there any other advice for a high school student who is just beginning to look at paying for college and landing a scholarship?

Two things. The first is to meet all deadlines, and the second is to really apply yourself in high school. If you have the choice between an AP computer science course and a regular computer science course, make sure you are pushing yourself and taking AP work whenever possible.