US High Schooler with 4.98 CGPA Earns $9m in Scholarship Offers! A Louisiana high school student has gotten more than $9 million in scholarship offers, which puts him at least within striking distance of setting what is thought to be a US record.
High Schooler with 4.98 CGPA Earns $9m!
Dennis Barnes has received financial assistance offers from 125 colleges and universities after attending International High School in New Orleans and maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 4.98, among other academic achievements.

He is awaiting responses from some of the 200 institutions to which he applied in the hopes of receiving the more than $10 million in scholarships that have been offered, according to school officials.
Barnes’ success in receiving scholarships is comparable to that of Normandie Cormier, another Louisianan. Cormier earned approximately $9 million in scholarship offers from close to 140 institutions in 2019, as she was getting ready to graduate from Lafayette’s Early College School.

Cormier revealed to The Guardian on Tuesday that she applied for certification from Guinness World Records after the aid granted to her eventually increased to $9.4 million. She claimed Guinness informed her that due to regional differences in higher education systems, the company had not been able to find someone in the US with greater scholarship money provided.
According to a Guinness representative, the company doesn’t keep track of the record for the most scholarships given to a single applicant. Officials from the international high school claimed to have gotten in touch with the group to request Barnes’ recognition.
Whatever the case, Cormier claimed that none of that mattered because Barnes, like her, was a prime example of their generation’s fervent enthusiasm in pursuing higher education.
Given that more than 45 million Americans owe a combined $1.7 trillion in college debt, Cormier expressed the hope that news of Barnes’ accomplishment will encourage other high school students to research financial aid options available across the US.
A national record-setting number of schools and universities have extended offers to Dennis Barnes.
In 2019, Normandie Cormier received $9.4 million in scholarship offers. Read Normandie Cormier’s incredible story here.
“I applaud this young man,” Cormier commented. “It’s incredible.”
Barnes is the president of the National Honor Society, and the honorary Spanish consul in New Orleans has recognized his proficiency in Spanish with an award and a diploma from the ministry of education, culture, and sports of Spain. According to school administrators, he has begun pursuing college credits through a dual enrollment program offered by the historically Black Southern University at New Orleans.
Barnes used assistance from his school’s college counselor to start his college application process in August. It sparked what he called a deluge of decision letters.
Barnes stated in the press release from International High School that he would reveal his college choice. He intends to pursue a dual degree in computer science and criminal justice after his graduation ceremony.
Applicants to universities were given the following advice by him: “The road to a successful future is to plan ahead, network with the collegiate partners, and know that if you can see your vision, you can achieve your goal.”
According to Cormier, Louisiana State University is where she is finishing her master’s degree. She claimed to have finished her undergraduate studies in the city at another historically Black university, Xavier University of Louisiana, and that she currently resides in New Orleans.
Cormier is the owner of XollegePass, a business devoted to assisting students in finding scholarships and paying for their education with no debt.
Cormier stated, “I hope [Barnes’s] story, along with mine, inspire students to exceed expectations, reach beyond the stars, and explore all opportunities for a debt-free education,”

OTHER INCREDIBLE SCHOLARSHIP SUCCESSES:
- Teen Received $8 Million in Scholarships and Accepted by 139 Colleges
- This 22-year-old graduated debt-free from Princeton after receiving $2 million scholarships.
- 13-Year-Old Girl Gets Accepted to Medical School sets to become a flight surgeon in space with astronauts
Why am I not Getting Scholarships?
Are you currently submitting your scholarship application materials? Do you think the procedure is simple? It takes some major talent and talents, believe it or not, to get through the difficult elimination rounds and be chosen as a scholarship recipient. Therefore, it’s vital to be aware of some of the most typical errors students have made while applying for scholarships — and avoid them at all costs — if you’re in need of financial aid.
These seven factors could prevent your scholarship applications from being accepted.
1. You don’t meet the Requirements.
The most obvious justification is this. Depending on the type of scholarship it is, every one has a unique set of conditions. Even if it hurts to admit it, there is no purpose in asking for a scholarship if you only have a certain amount of Bs and Cs.
You should be realistic about your scholarship alternatives, and you might try concentrating more on the ones that suit you rather than the ones that don’t. Maybe you’d do better with a scholarship that prioritizes your skills over your academic performance? Otherwise, you might also think about getting loans!
2. Only one Application was Submitted.
You’ve probably heard that sending out too many applications will prevent you from giving each one the attention it needs. Although the adage “quality over quantity” should be followed, this does not imply that you should increase your chances of receiving scholarships.
The same types of credentials and documentation are typically required for all scholarship applications, including proof of identity, certifications, results (trials or actual), and a statement of household income. This implies that you can quickly produce multiple copies of the documents to submit with additional applications. To submit at least three to four applications is not impossible if you start preparing for them early.
3. Your Application was Incomplete
You would believe that the scholarship examiners would ignore little errors like an unanswered question or a missing document, but the truth is that they’ll hunt for any excuse to reject your application, regardless of whether what you missed out was important or not. This is especially true if the scholarship is well-known.
4. You submitted your Application after the Deadline
Although it may seem obvious, many students actually believe that it is acceptable to miss the deadline by a few days. Even though these students may not think it’s a huge deal, it actually speaks poorly of their organization and self-control. It’s a huge no-no in terms of scholarships.
5. You Departed from the Established Format.
Applying for scholarships can be quite time-consuming, and after flipping through page after page, it’s possible that you will miss the short portion describing the requirements for your essay. So make sure to pay attention to any directions on the word limit, writing style, and essay format.
It would be unfortunate to lose out on the possibility to receive a scholarship because of a simple mistake.
6. Your Essay is off Topic/Irrelevant
Both students and authors frequently lose focus while writing an essay. Unfortunately, this leads them to stray far from the subject at hand and confuse readers.
Make sure to prepare your essay and have at least one or two revisions before writing the final draft to avoid this. By doing so, you’ll be able to follow your line of reasoning and avoid making the same points more than once or deviating from the topic at hand. Additionally, you should refrain from adding pointless sentences to your essay only to boost its word count (they will notice).
7. Your Essay was Plagiarized.
Possibly the biggest deal-breaker is this. The judge can always tell if something is off about your application, even if it is a fantastic masterpiece. And you’ll be eliminated right away if they find that the majority of your essay is plagiarized. It merely takes a few minutes to determine whether what you’ve written is original thanks to the various plagiarism detectors that are already available online. Therefore, always be creative!
How to Improve your Chances of Getting a Scholarship
How can I make sure my scholarship application stands out? you may be wondering. Here are few methods to accomplish it.
1. Maintain Organization
When submitting applications for grants and scholarships, organization is essential. Whether it’s an athletic scholarship, a merit scholarship, or a grant for college, you’ll probably have to submit a number of paperwork. Typically, applications for scholarships call for transcripts, letters of recommendation, and even an essay.
Don’t put off finishing your applications until the last minute, and try making a calendar to keep track of scholarship deadlines. When the time comes to apply, be prepared with a list of your volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and transcripts. Throughout the year, keep the list updated to make sure that everything is correct for your scholarship applications.
2. Ask for Recommendation Letters in advance
Make sure to inquire at least four weeks in advance if you need letters of recommendation from professors, mentors, coaches, bosses, classmates, or anybody else. They will have plenty of time to finish it because of this. You should offer them a file with all of your personal details, accomplishments, honors, details about the scholarship, leadership activity, and a résumé to make the process easier for them.
Even if the scholarship doesn’t demand one, you can be given the choice to include additional pertinent documents in your application. Your chances of making a positive impression on the scholarship committee can be increased with a strong letter of recommendation.
3. Pay Close Attention to the Requirements and Details
Many scholarships offer rules for submitting your application, such as formatting requirements for essays, additional submission deadlines, or required attachments. Your application’s chances of being accepted or rejected can depend on how closely you follow instructions and conditions. Make sure you are adhering to the guidelines and conditions of the scholarship by checking them again.
4. Avoid Pasting Copied and Pasted Essays.
Every scholarship essay is unique, as are the prompts. Because of this, it’s crucial that you DON’T reuse your scholarship essays. Essays will need to demonstrate your various objectives and who you are. Even if you make minor edits to previously published pieces, such as changing names and dates, the judges could still be able to discern that you didn’t create a unique piece of writing specifically for them.
5. Recognize Your Sponsor
This is crucial to adding personality to your essay. Do your homework on the scholarship’s sponsor. It could be a corporation, cult, brand, small business, financial aid office, or even a specific person. Learn about their goals, activities, causes, donations, and any other details that can be useful. This foundational information can assist you in tailoring your essay to that organization, creating a more distinctive composition.
Also Read: Best Online Geology Degree : Cost, Requirements.
6. Highlight What Makes You Special
Many scholarships are awarded depending on the uniqueness of the candidate. A remarkable essay will be greatly aided by the expression of your distinctive hobbies and points of view. Share the events and hobbies that make YOU special.
The experiences you share need not be restricted to only your senior year. High school sports are popular, but perhaps you offered to help coach young athletes. Many college students work part-time jobs, but perhaps you established a workplace giving campaign. Think about what you can say about yourself that most people can’t.
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