A 20,000 dollar flexible scholarship from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation that can be applied to tuition or housing and is paired with a laptop, book credits and an emergency fund, which is the part that matters most for students in long lab-heavy degree programmes. Applicants must be high school seniors participating in an approved college readiness programme, planning full-time enrolment at an accredited four-year university, Pell Grant eligible, and holding at least a 2.4 GPA; selection favours clear goals, career focus and demonstrated persistence rather than top grades alone. Scholars also receive academic advising, career coaching, free teletherapy and discounted professional services. Roughly 500 students are selected nationally each year, and the foundation has supported over 6,000 scholars with more than 4,500 graduates since 2004.