12 Easy Scholarships 'Around The Corner' That Can Fund Your 2026 College Year
The search for college funding often feels like a marathon, but sometimes, the biggest wins are found just "around the corner." As of December 23, 2025, many students are focused on final exams and holiday breaks, overlooking a critical time for scholarship applications: the end of the year and the start of the new one. This period is a goldmine for easy scholarships and no-essay awards that have less competition and fast-approaching deadlines, making them perfect for securing quick financial aid for the 2026 academic year.
The phrase "around the corner from college scholarship" is more than just a catchy term—it's the name of a real, recurring award and a philosophy for finding overlooked funding. It signifies those opportunities that are right within reach, requiring minimal effort but offering substantial rewards. We've researched the specific scholarship and compiled a list of similar, high-value, low-effort awards you can apply for right now to boost your college financial aid package.
The $1,000 'Around the Corner from College Scholarship' and Its Details
The Around the Corner from College Scholarship is a $1,000 award designed to help high school students prepare for their transition to college. It is a prime example of an easy-to-apply-for scholarship that often gets missed because it doesn't require a lengthy essay or a perfect GPA.
- Award Amount: $1,000.
- Host: Access Scholarships.
- Intention: To assist high school students with the costs associated with college preparation, which can include application fees, travel for campus visits, or purchasing supplies.
- Application Requirements: Typically, the application is straightforward, focusing on basic information and a short response, making it one of the most accessible easy college scholarships available.
- Deadlines: This is a recurring award. While past deadlines have been in June, it also appears with a January 31 deadline, making it a crucial opportunity for students planning their 2026 college enrollment.
The key takeaway from this specific scholarship is its simplicity and focus on preparation. It’s a testament to the fact that not all valuable scholarships require a monumental effort. By dedicating a small amount of time, you can secure real funding. This approach is what you should look for when seeking last-minute college funding—quick turnaround, low competition, and immediate impact.
12 Easy and Unconventional Scholarships with Immediate Deadlines
The concept of "around the corner" funding extends far beyond a single award. Many organizations offer unconventional scholarships and no-essay scholarships with monthly or quarterly deadlines, meaning there is always an opportunity "around the corner." These awards are often less competitive because students focus on the larger, more traditional scholarships. Applying for these smaller, frequent awards is a highly effective scholarship strategy for accumulating significant funds.
Here are 12 high-value, easy-to-apply-for scholarships with deadlines in late 2025 and early 2026:
- Appily Easy College Money Scholarship ($1,000): A classic no-essay scholarship with a recurring monthly deadline, often closing on the last day of the month, like December 31, 2025. It's open to high school and college students.
- Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship ($2,000): An incredibly unusual scholarship that asks applicants to write a short 250-word essay on their plan for surviving a zombie apocalypse. It's fun, creative, and has a recurring deadline, making it a perfect low-effort application.
- Scholly Easy Apply Scholarships (Various Amounts): Scholly offers a platform with multiple easy apply scholarships that can be accessed with a single application. Upcoming deadlines are often set for the end of the month, such as December 31, 2025, and January 31, 2026.
- Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship ($10,000): While it requires a creative submission (designing a greeting card), the sheer size of the award and the unique nature of the task make it less competitive than traditional essay contests.
- Bold.org Easy Scholarships (Various Amounts): Bold.org consistently offers hundreds of easy scholarships with monthly rolling deadlines. Many require only a short paragraph or a simple profile entry, making them ideal for students seeking quick funding in December 2025.
- Unigo $10K Award ($10,000): A large award that typically requires a short, simple entry on a specific theme, often with a deadline "around the corner" in the early months of the year.
- Digital Privacy Scholarship ($1,000): Often a short-essay scholarship focusing on a current, relevant topic like online safety. These types of niche topic scholarships have fewer applicants.
- Sweet and Simple Scholarship ($1,500): A straightforward award with minimal requirements, focusing on a brief, sweet thought or idea. It's a classic example of a low-effort scholarship for students on a tight schedule.
- American Red Cross - Leaders Save Lives Scholarship ($2,500): This scholarship is tied to hosting a blood drive, making it a service-based award. It's a unique opportunity that combines community service with securing college tuition funds.
- Superpower Scholarship ($2,500): Another fun, creative scholarship that asks applicants what superpower they would want and why. These awards are excellent for demonstrating personality without the stress of a formal academic essay.
- Scholarship360 No-Essay Scholarship ($1,000): This platform offers its own recurring no-essay scholarship specifically designed to be easy and quick to apply for, with deadlines frequently in December 2025 and January 2026.
- The RISE UP Challenge Scholarship ($1,000 - $2,500): Open to high school seniors and college students, this award often focuses on leadership or personal growth, with deadlines that pop up throughout the year, including in early 2026.
Mastering the 'Around the Corner' Scholarship Strategy
The most successful students don't just apply for scholarships; they adopt a strategic approach. The "Around the Corner" strategy is about maximizing your return on effort by targeting high-probability awards that are often overlooked by the masses. This approach is critical for anyone looking to reduce their reliance on student loans and increase their grant funding.
Focus on Topical Authority and Niche Entities
To stand out in the application pool, even for a no-essay award, you need to show a connection to the scholarship's mission or theme. This is where topical authority comes in. For example, if you apply for the Digital Privacy Scholarship, briefly mentioning your involvement with a school's IT club or your passion for cybersecurity will set you apart. For the American Red Cross award, detail your past community service experience.
Targeting niche scholarship entities is also key. Look beyond national, general awards and search for funding related to:
- Your specific major (e.g., Aerospace Engineering or Nursing).
- Your ethnicity, religion, or gender (e.g., Hispanic Scholarship Fund or Women in STEM).
- Your parent's employer or union (Employer-Sponsored Scholarships).
- Local businesses and community foundations (Local Scholarships).
The Power of Monthly Rolling Deadlines
Many of the easiest awards, like those from Bold.org and Appily, operate on a system of monthly rolling deadlines. This means a new application cycle opens immediately after the previous one closes. This is a massive advantage for two reasons:
- Reduced Competition: Students tend to apply for one big deadline (like the FAFSA or a major university scholarship) and then stop. The continuous nature of these deadlines means the applicant pool is constantly refreshed and typically smaller.
- Immediate Results: You don't have to wait months for a decision. You can apply in December 2025 and potentially hear back and receive funds in early 2026, providing quick financial relief for your upcoming tuition bills.
Key LSI Keywords for Your Next Search
When you're ready to find more "around the corner" opportunities, use these LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords in your search to uncover hidden gems:
- Micro-Scholarships: Small, frequent awards that add up quickly.
- Last-Minute Funding: Scholarships with deadlines in the next 30-60 days.
- Unconventional College Funding: Awards based on unique skills or hobbies (e.g., a Duct Tape Prom Dress Contest or Gaming Scholarships).
- Grants vs. Scholarships: Understanding the difference (grants are typically need-based, scholarships are merit-based) can open up new avenues for funding.
- FAFSA Submission: Always ensure your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is complete, as it's the gateway to many need-based scholarships and grants.
By shifting your focus to these quick-hit, low-effort awards, you transform your scholarship application process from a stressful yearly event into a continuous, high-yield pursuit. Don't wait for the major deadlines; start applying for the opportunities that are right "around the corner."
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