Introduction
High school is a time to get excited about your future and start planning for college. But if you’re like most students, you probably have a lot of other things on your mind as well: extracurricular activities, studying for midterms, trying out new hobbies… the list goes on! According to AG Morgan, so it can be easy to let important details slip by while you’re dealing with all that other stuff. For example, did you know there are almost 7 million scholarships available to high school seniors right now? Or that there are scholarships designed specifically for women and minorities? And if you’re planning on going into STEM fields or pursuing an education in arts or humanities—or even law enforcement or social work—there are specific scholarship opportunities for those areas too!
Make the most of your high school career.
It’s never too early to start building your resume. High school is the ideal time to begin participating in extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership, teamwork and other skills that are highly valued by scholarship providers. You should also take advantage of all the resources available to you–from free tutoring programs to online classes offered by universities–to help you get ahead academically.
Plan early and start saving up.
A scholarship is a gift, so it’s important to treat it as such. If you’re awarded a scholarship and accept it, make sure that any money you receive goes directly into your bank account and not into your checking account where it can be used for other expenses. This way, when it comes time to pay tuition or buy books, there won’t be any surprises.
If possible, start saving at least one year before the deadline for applying for scholarships.
Don’t rely on one place for all of your financial aid needs.
When you’re applying for scholarships, don’t rely on one place for all of your financial aid needs. There are many different types of scholarships and you should use a combination of resources to find them. Some places that offer scholarships are:
- Your school’s financial aid office (they may have an online database)
- Scholarship search engines like Fastweb or Cappex (these can be helpful but they tend not to list local scholarships)
- Scholarships offered by specific organizations or companies with which you have an affiliation, such as Rotary International or United Way
Get started with these online tools.
Start by using online tools to search for scholarships and apply.
- Scholarship search engines can help you find potential sources of funding, as well as information on how to apply.
- Scholarship matching tools pair students with scholarships based on their interests and goals. Some matching services also offer tips on how to increase your chances of winning a scholarship by answering questions about yourself or uploading an essay or video application.
- Financial aid calculators allow users to estimate the cost of attending a university or college in their state based on their income level, family size and number of dependents (such as children).
Conclusion
In the end, it’s important to remember that there are many scholarships out there that can provide you with the financial support you need to attend college. You just need to know where they are, how they work and what kinds of qualifications they require before applying. With some planning ahead of time and patience through the process, you can find a scholarship or grant that will help pay for your education expenses so that you don’t have any debt when graduation day comes around!
