For most college students, financial aid dollars come from submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA.

The FAFSA helps determine whether students are eligible for government and school loans, grants and work-study programs. It’s recommended that all students file the FASFA, regardless of income or age. However, financial aid options don’t end with the FASFA. For example, there are thousands of scholarships offered by businesses and organizations that lie outside the FASFA’s government and school aid options.

With Halloween just around the cobwebbed corner, let’s explore some outside scholarship opportunities that have a spooky flare.

 

Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship

Award amount: $2,000

If you’re wondering whether this scholarship is real, then wonder no longer — because it is. Everyone knows the walking dead love brains. For this scholarship use yours to tell the scholarship committee your zombie apocalypse survival plan.

 

Puppetry Scholarship

Award amount: $1,000

Puppets are fun and innocent playthings for most of the year, but let’s face it, when Halloween rolls around puppets are seldom toyed with as they can so easily move from “fun” to “fiendish.” This scholarship is offered by UNIMA-USA.

 

Insect Scholarship

Award amount: Varies

Entomology is the scientific study of insects. If flitting moths, burrowing beetles and scuttling spiders fill your intellectual net, then this scholarship’s for you!

 

Funeral Service /Mortuary Science Scholarship

Award amount: $500-$2,500

Wait. Did you hear that? The corpses are beckoning! This scholarship was established to provide financial awards to students enrolled in funeral service or mortuary science programs.

 

Diving-Related Scholarship

Award amount: Up to $25,000

If encountering denizens of the deep like the mighty Kraken, or catching up with the Creature from the Black Lagoon is on your career “to do” list, then by all means apply!

 

Clowns of America International Scholarship

Award amount: varies

For many, the clown’s garish make-up mask and unnatural, ever-smiling face are all it takes to move the clown from silly jester to sinister threat. Add popular culture contexts such as Pennywise from Stephen King’s It, or a certain scene from the movie Poltergeist and one understands how this scholarship made the list. Animal balloon anyone?

 

Scholarships like these are relatively easy to apply for and can help reduce the need for student bones. Did I say bones? I meant to say student loans.

 

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