I'm currently a high school junior starting to think about college expenses, and I'm a bit overwhelmed by the cost. I've heard there are tons of scholarships out there, but I'm not sure where to begin looking for them. Could someone guide me on what are the best places to search for scholarships? Are there specific databases, websites, or organizations that are particularly good or reliable? Also, any tips on how to stay organized during the application process would be appreciated!
You're definitely on the right track considering scholarships as a means to offset the costs of college. Indeed, there are quite a handful of resources to tap into when looking for scholarships:
- Your School's Counseling Office: Start with your high school counselor. They often have inside information on scholarships offered by local businesses, organizations, and groups in your community.
- Universities and Colleges: Every institution has its own set of scholarships, which can be merit-based, need-based, or a combination of the two. Once you narrow down your college list, visit each school's website or financial aid page to learn about the scholarships they offer.
- Online Databases: There are multiple, reliable online scholarship databases like Fastweb, Chegg, and Cappex that have searchable lists of scholarships. You fill out a profile and they use that information to find scholarships that match your skills, interests, and future career goals.
- Non-Profit Organizations: Many organizations and foundations offer scholarships. For example, the Gates Scholarship, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund are all programs that offer substantial scholarships to students.
On the organizational side, it can be quite helpful to keep a spreadsheet. This could be on Google Sheets or Excel. Include columns for the scholarship name, the award amount, the due date, any specific requirements, and a link to the application page. You can also color-code the scholarships based on where you are in the application process (e.g. researching, drafting, editing, submitting).
Remember to always be cautious of scholarship scams. Never pay money to receive a scholarship or to gain access to scholarship information.
Starting to plan now as a junior gives you plenty of time to research and apply for many scholarships. Best of luck in your scholarship search!
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