9 life saving scholarships you should check out.
The panic is starting to set in. The Fall 2025 semester is wrapping up, and the bill for Spring 2026 has either just arrived or is on its way. For millions of students, the realization is hitting hard: “I don’t have enough money for January.”
Most students think scholarship season is over. They believe the window closed back in August. They are wrong.
There is a “Secondary Season” for scholarships that peaks right now, in late November and December. These are the awards designed to help students bridge the gap for the second half of the academic year. If you are searching for scholarships for spring 2026 semester or emergency tuition assistance, you need to stop scrolling and start applying.
Here are nine high-value opportunities with deadlines fast approaching.
1. The Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship
Status: Opening Soon / Active (Watch closely)
This is the “anti-scholarship.” They do not care about your GPA. They do not care about your SAT score. They care about your passion.
You submit a two-minute video. That is it. You talk about what you love—whether it is coding, painting, or horses—and how you will use that passion to change the world. The awards range from $5,000 to $25,000. It is one of the highest ROI (Return on Investment) scholarships because it relies on creativity, not academic grinding.
2. The Burger King Scholars Program
Deadline: Mid-December 2025
You do not have to flip burgers to win, though employees do get a special track. The general track is open to high school seniors and current college students.
The application is straightforward. It focuses on community service and leadership. If you have done any volunteer work this year, you qualify. The awards start at $1,000, which is enough to cover books and fees for the Spring semester.
3. The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program
Deadline: Late December / Early January
This is not just for varsity captains. It is for anyone who demonstrates “sportsmanship” in their daily life.
They are looking for leaders. If you organized a club, captained a team, or even led a group project in class, you can spin that experience for this application. The scholarship is substantial, often $20,000 distributed over four years.
4. The “Equitable Excellence” Scholarship
Deadline: Rolling (Until 10,000 applications received)
This acts like a “Flash Sale.” The application portal usually opens in the fall and closes the second they hit their application cap.
As of late November, there are likely still spots, but you must move today. This scholarship prioritizes students who have made a positive impact on their community. It is a “first come, first served” race. Do not wait for the official deadline; the real deadline is whenever the 10,000th person hits submit.
5. Dell Scholars Program
Deadline: December 1, 2025
This is for the fighters. The Dell Scholars program is specifically for students who have overcome significant adversity.
It provides $20,000, a laptop, and textbook credits. It also offers a support network. If you are a Pell Grant eligible student and you have a story of resilience—whether it is family struggles, health issues, or financial hardship—this is your best shot at a full-ride experience.
6. The “Science Ambassador” Scholarship
Deadline: Mid-December 2025
Calling all women in STEM. Funded by the creators of Cards Against Humanity, this offers a full tuition scholarship.
You have to make a three-minute video explaining a scientific concept. It needs to be accurate, but more importantly, it needs to be entertaining. They want communicators. If you can explain “Quantum Entanglement” using apples and oranges, you can win your entire tuition.
7. Thurgood Marshall College Fund (Various)
Deadline: Varying (Many in December)
If you attend an HBCU (Historically Black College or University), the TMCF is your best friend.
They have dozens of corporate-sponsored scholarships (Wells Fargo, Boeing, etc.) that have deadlines leading up to the Spring semester. These are often less competitive than national scholarships because they are restricted to the HBCU network. Check their “Open Scholarships” page daily.
8. The “Unigo $10K” Scholarship
Deadline: December 31, 2025
This is the lottery ticket of the scholarship world. The prompt is usually short, fun, and creative.
Because it is so easy, thousands apply. However, the $10,000 prize makes it worth the lottery ticket. Treat this as a “dessert” application. Do it after you have finished the harder, more serious applications.
9. State-Specific “Spring Transfer” Scholarships
Many universities have specific scholarships for students transferring in the Spring semester. They are desperate to fill seats left empty by students who dropped out in the Fall.
Search for “[Your University Name] Spring Transfer Scholarship.” You will often find unadvertised grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 designed specifically to entice new enrollments for January.
The “Thanksgiving Break” Protocol
You have a few days off coming up for Thanksgiving. Do not spend the whole time watching football.
Block Out 4 Hours.
Friday morning, while everyone else is shopping, sit down at your computer.
Gather Your Materials.
Get your transcript, your FAFSA login, and a generic “Why I need money” essay ready.
The “Modding” Technique.
Write one solid 500-word essay about a challenge you overcame. You can cut and paste this essay for the Burger King, Equitable, and Dell applications with only minor tweaks.
You can earn more money in four hours of scholarship writing than you can in four months of a part-time job. The Spring semester bill is coming. Be ready for it. https://job.gterahub.com/scholarships-oppurtunity/