With your college applications submitted and your gratitude expressed, now is the time to apply for scholarships. Identifying, applying for, and receiving scholarships ensures that you will not be burdened with student loan debt upon graduation. Scholarships are also crucial for bridging the gap between the rising cost of tuition and what you and your family can afford to pay.

The SEEDS Guidance department will be sending out a manual full of scholarship opportunities this week. While waiting for the manual, you should also be researching scholarship opportunities on your own. The College Board and FastWeb are two great places to begin your search.

Students interested in studying physics in college should also look into the following scholarship prospect. Please note that the deadline is coming up.

What: American Physical Society Scholarship for Minority Undergraduate Physics Majors

Eligibility: Any African American, Hispanic American, or Native American U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is majoring or planning to major in physics, and who is a high school senior, college freshman, or sophomore is eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Deadline: February 7, 2014

Application Requirements: You will need to create an APS account and apply for the APS Minority Scholarship online. You must fill out all five parts of the application and have all of the required documentation sent to the APS office.

Award: The award is $2,000 per year for new minority scholars. You must re-apply each year, and upon renewal the award is $3,000 per year.

In addition, each student is paired with both a local mentor at their institution and an APS mentor. These physicist mentors provide support and assistance to the students as they navigate their education and plan for future careers.

Make sure you check your email for the 2014 Scholarship Manual for opportunities similar to the American Physical Society Scholarship for Minority Undergraduate Physics Majors. Best of luck, Scholars!