I'm a high school junior trying to get a head start on the scholarship hunt before senior year arrives. I know there are some scholarships specifically targeted toward juniors, but I'm having a hard time figuring out which ones are worth applying to. If you have any recommendations for notable scholarships that offer good financial support and are open to juniors, please let me know. Thanks!
It's a good idea to start looking at scholarships early as they can significantly help with college funds. Here's a short list of some significant scholarships that high school juniors are eligible to apply for:
1. PSAT/NMSQT: The National Merit Scholarship Program starts with the PSAT/NMSQT which juniors typically take. High-scoring test takers are eligible for scholarship opportunities.
2. Coolidge Scholarship: An annually awarded, full-ride presidential scholarship that covers a student's tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study. It's highly competitive and can be used at any accredited U.S. college or university.
3. Doodle 4 Google: This artistic scholarship contest awards varied amounts up to $55,000 based on the winning doodles.
4. The Dream.Us Opportunity Scholarship: A national scholarship program that helps cover the costs of attending a partner college up to a total of $80,000. Available to high school seniors or high school graduates with demonstrated financial need.
5. American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) High School Essay Contest: For students interested in foreign policy and international affairs. The winner receives $2,500, a trip to Washington D.C., and an all-expense paid two-week Seminar on Diplomacy program.
6. The National History Day Contest: Each year more than half a million students participate in the National History Day Contest, creating various history-based projects. Students can win cash prizes.
7. Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS): Students compete for scholarships and recognition by presenting the results of their original research efforts before a panel of judges and an audience of their peers.
Just be sure to verify all details from the relevant websites of each scholarship as they can vary year by year. Start working on your applications early and don't be discouraged by the competitiveness - many students have found success through persistence!
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