When are most scholarship deadlines?

I'm a junior right now and trying to get a handle on when I should think about applying for scholarships. I know that deadlines can vary, but is there an average timeline that I should be aiming to follow? It seems like some are due pretty early, even before senior year starts, while others have dates throughout the year. I don't want to miss out on any opportunities by not having my stuff together in time. Any advice on how to keep track of deadlines without getting overwhelmed?

Scholarship deadlines indeed vary greatly. Some scholarships are available as early as your junior year of high school, while others can be applied for during various times in your senior year and even during your undergraduate career.

Generally, you'll find that a significant number of scholarship applications are due in the fall/winter of your senior year, aligning with typical college application deadlines. Deadlines around the end of the year or in the early months of the new year are quite common, but there are also plenty of scholarships with deadlines throughout the year.

Here's a rough timeline you can consider. In your junior year, you should start your scholarship search and note down any deadlines. During the summer before senior year, grab hold of the opportunities that ask for applications before the school year starts. Throughout your senior year, keep applying and especially keep an eye out for the ones with deadlines between October to January. March and April can be a peak time for many local scholarships. Even after high school graduation, you should still look for opportunities as some are available to currently enrolled college students.

To manage the application process without getting overwhelmed, be sure to stay organized. Make a spreadsheet that includes the name of the scholarship, the deadline, the requirements, and the application link. Update it frequently and check off the ones you've completed. Prioritize scholarships with looming deadlines and those you have a better chance of winning. Apps like Appily can also assist you in managing your applications. Applying for scholarships can consume time, but the potential financial aid is worth it! Just pace yourself and do a little each week.