What Are the Best Scholarship Platforms for High School Seniors?

I'm starting my college application journey and want to be proactive about applying for scholarships. I've heard about several platforms where you can search for scholarships, but I'm not sure which ones are the most effective or legitimate.

Could anyone recommend some of the best scholarship platforms they've used, particularly those that cater to high school seniors? I'd love to hear about your experiences with different sites and if they actually helped you find good scholarships or if there's a better approach. Thanks!

There are several reputable platforms where you can search for scholarships. Here are some you might consider:

1. Appily: Formerly known as Cappex, it has a robust search engine for scholarships. Rather than offering its own scholarships, Appily will search for scholarships based on your profile and interests, from a database of thousands of sources.

2. Fastweb: A reliable platform with a large database of scholarships. After you register, Fastweb will send you notifications about scholarships that match your profile.

3. Scholarship.com: This site is user-friendly and great for high school students of all grades. It allows you to manage deadlines efficiently and also provides a variety of filters to narrow down your search to more specific scholarships.

4. College Board Scholarship Search: This is another comprehensive database. Operated by the same organization that runs the SAT, it filters through scholarships based on your personal information and academic achievements.

While these sites are great, remember to also look into scholarships offered by the individual colleges to which you're applying. Some schools offer merit- or need-based scholarships, which can significantly offset the cost. Another approach is to apply for local scholarships, as there may be less competition than national ones.

One thing to note is that you should never have to pay a fee to search for scholarships. If a website is asking for a payment, it's most likely a scam.

Lastly, applying for scholarships is much like applying for college: it takes time and thought, but it's worth putting the effort into your applications. Good luck!