ฅ՞•ﻌ•՞ฅ Hi, girlies!

Is college worth it? It can be, especially for low-income and first-generation students, but earning a degree alone does not automatically lead to a job.

College gives you access to internships, alumni, professors, career fairs, student organizations, research, and employers that may be difficult to reach on your own. The key is learning how to use those resources before graduation.

This week, we are breaking down what to do during college to build experience, make connections, and increase your chances of graduating with a full-time offer. You will also find scholarships, paid programs, internships, fellowships, and funded experiences sorted by deadline so you can apply to the most urgent opportunities first. 🎀

_{✩ Final days to apply for these opportunities ✩}

For students from low-income or first-generation backgrounds, college can provide access to careers, professional networks, and opportunities that may not have been available through family connections. It can create real economic mobility, especially when scholarships and financial aid keep the cost manageable.

However, college is not automatically a good investment simply because you graduate. The value comes from what you earn, learn, build, and access while you are there.

Your goal should be to leave college with four things:

Do not wait until junior or senior year to apply for opportunities. Your first experience does not need to be a prestigious internship at a major company.

Campus jobs, volunteer positions, research projects, nonprofit work, student organizations, virtual programs, and part-time roles can all help you build transferable skills. Employers care about what you contributed, improved, created, or learned.

If you cannot find a formal internship, help a small business with social media, assist a professor with research, manage a student organization’s budget, or create an independent project related to your field.

Many students pay for resources they never use. Visit your career center before senior year and ask about:

Professors can also recommend you for research, campus jobs, scholarships, fellowships, and internships, but they need to know who you are. Attend office hours, participate in class, and let them know what you hope to pursue.

Joining five organizations is less useful than making a meaningful contribution to one or two.

Look for positions where you can manage a budget, organize an event, lead a project, analyze data, recruit members, design materials, or work with an outside organization. These experiences give you specific accomplishments to discuss during interviews.

Instead of writing “Member of the Finance Club,” you may be able to say, “Helped organize a career panel for 75 students and coordinated outreach to six finance professionals.”

Many large companies begin recruiting for summer internships almost a year in advance. A Summer 2028 internship may open during Summer or Fall 2027.

Do not assume applications will still be available in the spring. Create a list of companies, programs, and deadlines early. Check career pages regularly and prepare your resume before recruiting season begins.

Applying early is especially important because some companies review candidates and fill interview slots before the official deadline.

Completing your assignments is only the minimum. Ask thoughtful questions, request feedback, volunteer for projects, document your results, and build relationships beyond your immediate supervisor.

Before the internship ends, ask:

If the company does not offer you a position, you should still leave with measurable experience, professional references, and people who may recommend you elsewhere.

Employers should not have to rely only on your grades. Create something that demonstrates what you can do.

Depending on your field, this could include:

Class projects can become portfolio pieces after you remove private information and improve the final version.

Save job descriptions, positive feedback, presentations, awards, project results, and performance reviews. Record numbers whenever possible, including how many people participated, how much money you managed, or how much time your work saved.

Updating your resume is much easier when you document your accomplishments as they happen.

College can be especially valuable for students who are low-income, first-generation, immigrants, or entering industries where a degree is required. It can provide access to financial aid, mentors, internships, alumni, and employers that might otherwise be difficult to reach.

But the answer also depends on the cost, the amount of debt required, the quality of the program, and your career goals. A college charging $80,000 per year is not automatically more valuable than an affordable public university or community-college transfer pathway.

Before choosing a school, compare the net price after grants and scholarships, not only the advertised tuition. Also research graduation rates, internship access, career outcomes, and average debt.

GOC Tip: Do not measure the value of college only by the diploma. Measure it by the debt you avoid, the skills you build, the people you meet, the experiences you gain, and the opportunities available to you after graduation.

✨ We usually don’t promote no-essay scholarships, but I personally spoke with the ScholarshipOwl team and they were really kind. They actually have 4 real winners every month, and students have used the funds for college, food, and even vet school! The $50,000 ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship is open now and super easy to apply for — no GPA, no essay, just a quick form.

50 winners in total |$1000 each | 🗓️ Deadline: September 29, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT
👉 Apply here

Award: Funding for the full cost of attendance not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution. For: Outstanding, Pell-eligible high school seniors from African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American backgrounds. Deadline: September 15, 2026. Apply: https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/scholarship/

Open to students seeking financial assistance for their education and committed to advancing their academic goals. The application is free.

Award: $1,000
Deadline: September 7, 2026
Apply: link

Write about three steps you plan to take in the next year toward a career you love, including an interview with a professional in your field.

Deadline: September 10, 2026
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a U.S. college or university
Apply: Love Your Career Scholarship

Current community-college and university students nationwide can submit a 300-word-or-longer essay about overcoming a traumatic experience. Include a résumé with your current GPA and school.
Deadline: September 15, 2026
Eligibility: Students attending an accredited U.S. community college or university
Apply: The May Firm Scholarship

Fifty first-generation students experiencing financial hardship will receive $1,000 in direct-relief funding. Award recipients will be announced on National First-Generation College Celebration Day.
Deadline: September 16, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET
Eligibility: First-generation students who meet the financial-hardship and enrollment requirements
Apply: First Gen Fellowship

One application considers eligible students for several study-abroad scholarships. Some partner awards provide up to $5,000, with priority given to students traditionally underrepresented in education abroad.
Deadline: September 16, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Eligibility: U.S. undergraduate students age 18 or older with financial need; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients may apply
Apply: Fund for Education Abroad

Here is the a list for high school students and undergraduates, sorted by deadline:

Undergraduates interested in communications, journalism, fundraising, or human rights can work remotely for at least 15 hours weekly. Intermediate-to-advanced Spanish is required. Applicants from Latin America may participate if they can work East Coast hours.
Deadline: September 8, 2026
Format: Fully remote; optional Washington, D.C., office access
Apply: WOLA Fall 2026 Internship

Law students who have completed at least one semester of legal study can apply for paid Summer 2027 placements with participating DOJ offices. Selection considers public-service commitment, academics, leadership, clinics, and related experience.
Deadline: September 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Format: Location varies by participating DOJ component
Apply: DOJ Summer Law Intern Program

Fellows meet primarily through Zoom approximately eight times each academic year for two years, with occasional Los Angeles meetings.
Deadline: September 14, 2026
Eligibility: Full-time associate or bachelor’s students who attend college in or permanently reside in Los Angeles County; eligible DACA recipients may apply
Format: Mostly remote with occasional in-person activities
Apply: Skirball Museum Fellowship

High school students from all 50 states can participate in twice-monthly virtual STEM-and-agriculture sessions followed by a three-week Summer 2027 program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Housing, program transportation, and a food allowance are provided.
Deadline: September 15, 2026
Eligibility: Students who will be at least 14 by July 2027, have a 3.2 GPA, have completed a high-school science course, and are authorized to work in the United States
Format: Hybrid—virtual academic-year sessions and an in-person Maryland summer program
Apply: ASTEMA STEM Internship

Two law students will complete a ten-week internship involving environmental litigation, legislation, nonprofit law, and coastal policy. Applicants must finish their second year of law school before the internship begins.
Deadline: September 15, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. PT
Format: Fully remote
Apply: Surfrider Summer 2027 Legal Internship

Here is the a list for high school students and undergraduates, sorted by deadline:

Apply here: https://ussenateyouth.org/selection_process_apply/
(You apply through your state — that page lists every state's contact and deadline)

Apply here: https://www.bu.edu/admissions/boston-overnight
Open to high school seniors in greater Boston or partner programs in NYC/Philadelphia, with transportation to BU provided for students traveling from those cities — deadline is typically late September, so check the page for this year's exact date.

U.S. students enrolled in a two-year college, four-year college or university, or accredited trade or vocational program can receive a $1,500 scholarship, financial education, leadership development, and an invitation to a Marsai Martin Resolution Brunch in Atlanta.

Deadline: September 21, 2026
Apply: FICO Financial Empowerment Fellowship

Women, transgender, and gender-expansive students can explore software engineering, trading and research, or strategy and product at Jane Street’s New York office. No prior finance knowledge is required.

Deadline: October 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Program: January 4–9, 2027
Apply: Jane Street INSIGHT