Options for Beyond FIRST Tech Challenge - Choose Your Career Pathway

So you’re thinking about your future after high school. Your participation in FIRST Tech Challenge opens a lot of opportunities to you and has provided you with many skills that you’ll need in the future, whether you’re continuing your education next or pursuing your career! You have learned valuable skills that will serve you for the rest of your life. Whether you’re involved in outreach, communications, robot design and build or programming you’re a step ahead of your peers. 

As a FIRST alum you are part of a huge network of other FIRST alumni across the globe, can apply for scholarships within the FIRST Scholarship Program, and have opportunities to connect with companies looking for talent. There are a lot of options as you move forward toward the workforce. 

What are the educational options available to FIRST Tech Challenge participants looking to use the skills they’ve gained through the program? 

• As a result of participating in FIRST, 74% of students surveyed indicate that they are more prepared in their college course work. 79% of students report that their hands-on experience in FIRST is relevant to their college course work. Colleges, universities, corporations, and associations support the mission of FIRST - and show their confidence that FIRST Alumni have the necessary skills to succeed in college, by making available FIRST Scholarships to FIRST participants and alumni who aim to pursue higher education to advance their careers. High school student participants in FIRST programs are eligible to apply for more than $80 million in scholarship opportunities through the FIRST scholarship Program. 
  

 

• FIRST Scholarships are funded and administered by FIRST Scholarship providers. Scholarship providers are primarily four-year colleges and universities, but also include a dozen community colleges, technical schools, corporations, and associations. Most FIRST Scholarships are merit-based scholarships and may be renewable each year by maintaining an acceptable academic average. There are nearly 200 Scholarship providers and 2,500 opportunities. Each has its own application process and may require an essay and/or recommendation letter from a mentor. Details can be found at firstinspires.org/scholarships. 

Elizabeth McClurg

Program Specialist