Finding A Mathematics Scholarship

A Brief Overview

Mathematics is sometimes described as the “ language of the universe” because of the prevalence of mathematical concepts and formulas in practically every field. Numbers, in many ways, control every aspect of your lives. Yet, despite this, most people simply don't have an aptitude for Mathematics. This is probably because of the exact and taxing nature of the subject matter, which demands precision in every step of the calculations. Even the slightest mistake can result in the equation being entirely incorrect. However, even with all the difficulties involved in this, there are still those rare few who excel in the science of numbers.

There aren't that many people seeking out scholarships in such a taxing field, but there are still institutions that can help out a down-on-his-luck aspiring mathematician. The trouble here lies in the fact that most Math-gifted high school graduates often end up in other degrees that have a high requirement for Mathematics. The various fields of Engineering, as well as Architecture, can serve as alternatives.

Where The Scholarships Come From

The scholarship for someone who wants to have a degree in Mathematics can be found in a wide array of places and organizations. Clearly, the obvious source would have to be the university itself that the student is applying to itself. Most educational institutions have programs in place for truly gifted students in all fields. As mentioned earlier, people who actually want to specialize in Mathematics are rare, but most respectable educational institutions have such programs. Each school will have different requirements to be met before an applicant considered for a Mathematics scholarship, such as actual skill in the field, SAT scores, and a genuine lack of financing to pursue education on their own.

The Department of Homeland Security, which has a scholarship support program in place for gifted students, can also be tapped as a potential source. The DHS offers an extensive selection of degrees to choose from for qualified students that seek government aid in furthering their studies, with Mathematics and Math-related sciences among them. The program also provides the qualified students with a stipend, aside from the tuition.

The National Science Foundation also has a well-developed and established program for helping out underprivileged students. The degrees available are generally in more Science-oriented fields, such as Engineering and Physics. However, the foundation does have a scholarship and support program in place for those who want to major in Mathematics.

Another major resource would be the Intel Science Talent Search. This options is more of a contest than a traditional scholarship fund, seeking out the most talented and qualified students in a number of Science and Technology-related fields. Aside from the cash prize, the organization behind the search also has links in a number of major universities and colleges, so successful winners have higher chances of a successful entry into the school of their choice.

Things To Remember

There is a slight chance that applicants will have trouble finding the right scholarship fund for them, particularly in a field such as Mathematics. Indeed, there are only a few organizations outside of universities that offer aid for students in that particular science. Universities themselves are abundant, but scholarship slots are generally reserved for students with incredible potential, which some students might not be gifted enough to achieve.

However, there is a bright spot in this whole situation. The quantity of applicants isn't as large as other degrees of this sort, such as Engineering or one of the difficult sciences. The limited resources an applicant has is most likely circumvented by the low number of applicants to compete against in this regard. Since an aspiring mathematician has a less number of competitors, the chances of him getting approved for a scholarship (as long as he has met the requirements) are relatively high.

Post-Graduate Deals

Aside from that, the choice of career after college can play a role. There are scholarship funds and organizations that are dedicated to providing talented students with tuition money on the condition that those students will then become teachers for their degrees. In other words, scholars who earned degrees in Mathematics would be asked to teach the science of numbers after graduation, either in the collegiate or high school level. This not only provides a potential scholar with financial backing, but also a possible place of employment after graduation.

Another avenue one might consider would be the post-graduate fields. Scholarships for Mathematics, as well as most other fields, are easier to obtain for graduate level education. Organizations that offer the scholarships also tend to include a stipend for living expenses along with the finances for the tuition. These groups tend to take funding from a number of sources, though the most prominent are the private organizations and those from government institutions. Some larger universities also have organizations meant for this particular purpose.