Are there truly easy-to-apply scholarships?

I keep coming across references to 'easy' scholarships, but I'm not sure what qualifies as an easy application process. With so much going on in junior year, it would be perfect to find scholarships that don't require too much time or effort to apply for. Can anyone share experiences or point me toward scholarships that fit this description? What makes them easy – fewer essays, simple forms, just filling out basic info?

It sounds like you're interested in scholarships known as "no-essay" scholarships, or ones that have a straightforward, quick application process. While these exist and may require less time to complete an application, it's essential to know these kinds of scholarships tend to be more competitive due to the large number of applicants.

For example, scholarships like the "$2,000 No Essay College Scholarship" by Niche or the "ScholarshipPoints $10,000 Scholarship" are popular options that simply require you to create an account or complete a brief form. Again, remember that lots of students apply to these because they are relatively easy to complete, so your odds of receiving the scholarship might be lower.

There are also scholarships that involve creative submissions as opposed to traditional essays. For instance, the Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest by the Gallery Collection requires you to design a greeting card, and you could win $10,000 for it.

While these are technically "easier" in terms of effort (compared to writing a lengthy essay or getting letters of recommendation, for example), it's still vital to apply to a mix of scholarship opportunities to optimize your chances. Even the scholarships that require a bit more work often come with the benefit of less competition.

Lastly, remember to always avoid scholarship scams. If a scholarship requires you to pay a fee or doesn’t have a legitimate backing organization, it’s likely not legitimate and should be avoided.