Still time to apply for scholarships before next school year?

I'm a junior in high school and starting to think ahead about scholarships I can still apply for before senior year rolls around. I know some deadlines are already past, but are there any scholarships with later application deadlines that I should be considering? I worry I might miss out on opportunities if I don't start now. Also, any tips on where to find these opportunities and any advice for a first-time scholarship applicant would be awesome. Thanks!

Absolutely, there are still options available for you to pursue scholarships as a junior in high school. Several scholarships have rolling deadlines or are open to multiple grade levels, including juniors. Furthermore, several larger scholarships start accepting applications in August or September. These scholarships typically have a large applicant pool but also offer substantial awards.

For finding scholarship opportunities, consider using Appily, FastWeb, and the U.S. Department of Labor's Scholarship Search tool. Additionally, don't overlook opportunities that may be available through your school's guidance office, your community, faith-based organizations, local businesses, or even your parents' workplaces.

Applying for scholarships can indeed be a rigorous process, so starting early is an excellent strategy. Here are a few pieces of advice:

1. Personalize your applications: Winning a scholarship often relies heavily on your ability to connect with the scholarship committee.

2. Organize your applications: Keeping track of deadlines and submission requirements can be daunting with multiple scholarships. Consider creating a spreadsheet to keep everything organized.

3. Have someone review your applications: Misspellings or grammatical errors can distract from your application's content, so ask a trusted adult or teacher to review your applications before you submit them.

4. Reuse your essays: Many scholarship applications ask for similar essays, such as your career goals or a significant experience. You can save time by reusing parts of your essays for different scholarships, just be sure to tailor each one to the specific prompt and scholarship.

Remember to start small and expand your search from there. Local scholarships typically have fewer applicants, so you have a higher chance of winning. Good luck!