How to find legit scholarships for college as a high school junior?

I'm a high school junior and starting to look into different scholarship opportunities for college. I've come across so many websites and listings claiming to offer scholarships, but it's hard to tell which ones are actually legit. Could anyone share reliable resources or tips to find legitimate scholarships for college students? I'm hoping to get a head start on applications so any advice on avoiding scams would be super helpful!

Finding legitimate scholarships can feel overwhelming, but the right strategy and approach can make it much more manageable. Here are a few tips:

1. Academic Institutions: Often, the most significant scholarships come directly from the colleges and universities themselves. Many schools offer merit-based scholarships, some of which are automatically considered when applying for admission. Make sure to look closely at the scholarships offered by schools you are interested in and check if there are separate applications for them or if you have to meet certain deadlines.

2. Your High School Guidance Office: School counselors usually have resources and information about local scholarships offered by organizations in your community. These scholarships can be less competitive since they are open only to students from the area.

3. Local Businesses and Organizations: Local businesses, as well as social, religious, or community organizations, often offer scholarships. Make sure to look into your community's offerings.

4. Online Search Engines: Reputable, few online scholarship databases can be a good starting point. A platform like Appily allows students to search for scholarships based on individual needs and interests, and it is known as a reliable source for scholarship listings.

5. Applying Directly: Some organizations or foundations offer scholarships directly. This could range from larger entities, like the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation or the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to smaller, less well-known organizations related to your interests or background.

6. Employer Scholarships: If your parents work for a large company, you might also be eligible for a scholarship. Some companies offer scholarships to the children of their employees.

To avoid scams, be careful with any scholarship-enabling group or website that requests payment or offers guarantees of scholarship funds. Remember, scholarships are meant to give you money, not take it. Scholarship applications should not require a fee. If it feels like a scam, it probably is. Avoid providing personal information to sites or companies you aren't familiar with and always research the organization offering the scholarship. Authentic scholarships will often have past winners listed, the sponsoring organization will have a point of contact, and they won't require sensitive information like a bank account or credit card number.

Starting early and establishing a strong, wide-reaching scholarship search strategy can go a long way toward financing your college education.