FAQs for Applicants

If you do not live within Worcester County, you may apply if you meet any of the following criteria:

• Current high school seniors who live in Medway, MA. Learn more about what you may qualify for.
• Current high school seniors who attend Framingham High School and Natick High School. Learn more about what you may qualify for.
• Relatives of members of the Fitchburg Sportsmen's Club
• Children of members of the Worcester Rugby Football Club
• Relatives of employees of: Christie & Thomson, Cutler Associates, Cutler Design, Feingold Companies, Milford Water Company, Quinsigamond Automotive Warehouse, Rotman's Furniture Company

If you are a current college student pursuing your first Bachelor's degree, you may apply if any of the following criteria:

• Worcester County students transferring from a 2-year college to a 4-year MA state college or university. Learn more 
• Children of members of the Worcester Rugby Football Club
• Relatives of members of the Fitchburg Sportsmen's Club
• Members of Congregation B'nai Shalom (Westborough, MA)
• Members of St. Mary's Assumption Orthodox Albanian Church (Worcester, MA)
• Members of Emmanuel Baptist Church (Worcester, MA)
• Relatives of employees of: Christie & Thomson, Cutler Associates, Cutler Design, Feingold Companies, Milford Water Company, Quinsigamond Automotive Warehouse, R. H. White Companies, Rotman's Furniture Company, Whitinsville Water Company
• Recent high school graduates from Worcester County who have had cancer, or have had a parent with cancer, and are enrolled in a 4-year college
• Worcester County LatinX students who are pursuing degrees in health sciences, neuroscience, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, physical therapy/ kinesiology, sports medicine, biology (pre-med), or biology.
• Adults pursuing their first bachelor's degree after a gap between high school (or GED) and college.

No. Our scholarships are for undergraduate students pursing their first degrees. If you already have a Bachelor's degree, you are not eligible for our scholarships. 

Each GWCF scholarship fund is awarded based on a set of unique criteria established by our donors. By completing a single online application, you will be considered for any of the Foundation's scholarships for which you are eligible. While you do not need to match yourself to potential scholarships, we encourage you to explore our scholarship funds and the opportunities you may be considered for.

Search our Scholarship Fund Directory by keyword - type in your city or town, your high school name, or the field of study you plan to pursue to learn more. 

Each fund description also contains a link to a story about the generous individuals, families, companies, and community groups that make GWCF scholarships possible.

Scholarship Fund Directory

Yes. A small number of our scholarships prioritize merit and do not consider financial need, but to submit a scholarship application through GWCF, students are required to complete FAFSA as well. 

No, all application materials must be collected electronically through our application system. 

We encourage all our applicants to plan ahead. We recommend reserving two weeks to gather the materials you need to apply and complete your application. More information to help you prepare to apply can be found here

Roughly 20% of our applicants receive scholarship awards. 97% of our successful applicants are high school seniors who will attend an accredited college or university in the upcoming academic year.

The number of awards and amount we award each year changes. In 2020, GWCF awarded $700,000 to 400 students beginning or continuing their college education. 

Award sizes are specific to each scholarship fund and range from $300 - $5,000. Nearly half  of all awards we make are renewable for subsequent years of college.

Learn more about the impacts of GWCF's Scholarship Program here

GWCF scholarships can be used at any two or four year accredited college or university within the U.S. or internationally.

No, GWCF scholarships cannot be paid to individual students. Instead, we pay scholarships to directly to each student's college or university. 

Scholarships can be used for any billable college expense including tuition, fees, room, and board. Scholarships can also be used for books, technology purchases, or other related academic expenses.

You will receive an automated email immediately after electronically submitting your application notifying you that it has been received by the Foundation's scholarship team. Our selection committees convene throughout April and May to select recipients. Some of our scholarships require an interview, but most do not. 

All applicants will be notified of their award outcomes by email and/or snail mail in June.