Many of you ask me about scholarships and financing your education in the USA. This is a question that knows no country or language---everyone wants to know how to pay for school. When it comes to scholarships, especially ones that apply to American universities, you have to start thinking outside of the box. One avenue to explore for scholarships are private companies.

Technology giant, Intel, holds "the world's largest pre-college science fair competition" to encourage young innovators. Every year 7 million science savvy students from around the world compete locally in hopes of being a finalist at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Finalists' projects are evaluated by thousands of science, engineering and technology professionals. The lucky winners might be awarded one of the following prizes...

• Gordon Moore Award

  The top Best In Category winner is awarded USD 75,000.

• Intel Foundation Young Scientists Award

• Two runners-up receive USD 50,000 each.

• Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award

• An all-expenses paid trip to attend the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar (SIYSS), including attendance at the Nobel Prize ceremonies in Sweden, is awarded to three finalists.

• Best of Category Awards

• Best of Category projects, selected from each of the competition’s 17 categories, receive a USD 5,000 award from the Intel Foundation. USD 1,000 grants are also awarded to the winners’ schools and the affiliated fairs they represent. Best of category winners become eligible for the Gordon E. Moore and Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards.

• Grand Awards

• The Intel Foundation provides Grand Awards for first, second, third and fourth places in each category. Awards are USD 3,000, USD 1,500, USD 1,000 and USD 500, respectively.