As a high school junior, I'm getting a head start on looking for scholarships I can apply for before heading to college. Are there any well-known scholarships out there for current high schoolers? Also, are there certain things I should be doing now to make myself stand out as an applicant when applying for these awards? Any websites or resources where I should begin my search would be super helpful!
Sure, here are some scholarships that are open to high school students:
1. Coca-Cola Scholars Program: They award 150 scholarships each year worth $20,000 to high school students.
2. The Gates Scholarship: This is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for exceptional, Pell-eligible, minority, high school seniors.
3. Intel Science Talent Search: This is one of the oldest and most prestigious science research competitions for high school seniors.
4. The Regeneron Science Talent Search: Similar to the Intel Science Talent Search, it's a prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.
For standing out, participation and success in national competitions like the ones listed above can greatly strengthen your application. Showing consistent involvement or leadership in an area you're passionate about is also essential.
Also, it might be helpful to think about how you can demonstrate your abilities and dedication outside of academics. For example, if you're interested in science, you may want to consider participating in science-based extracurricular activities or research opportunities.
Websites like Fastweb and Scholarships.com are good places to start your scholarship search since they have extensive databases of different scholarship opportunities available to high school students. Both will let you filter scholarships by your year in school, your interests, and your personal background. Remember, don't limit yourself to just the popular, well-known scholarships—there are a lot of smaller scholarships out there that can add up!
Lastly, make sure to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible in your senior year. It can qualify you for federal grants and scholarships based on financial need. The FAFSA uses the Student Aid Index or SAI, which is an index that schools use to determine how much non-federal financial aid you may be qualified for.
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