What are the best scholarships to apply for?

I'm overwhelmed by the number of scholarships out there. Does anyone have recommendations for the best scholarships I should apply for? I'm looking for ones that offer significant financial help to high school students like me.

Sure, there are countless scholarships out there, and it can indeed feel overwhelming. I'm happy to point out some of the most substantial scholarships available for high school students.

1. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program: This program rewards 150 high school graduates with $20,000 scholarship each. It's merit-based, so you need a minimum GPA of 3.0 but they do give special consideration to students with leadership and service experience.

2. The Gates Scholarship: Sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this program provides full scholarships to outstanding minority students with significant financial need.

3. The Regeneron Science Talent Search: If STEM is your domain, this is a top-tier scholarship for you. Top winners of this contest can receive up to $250,000.

4. The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship: This scholarship offers up to $30,000 over four years to minority high school students showing leadership potential, commitment to community service, and financial need.

5. The Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Competition: This one provides scholarships ranging from $4,000 to $50,000 to 500 high school seniors nationwide. Awards are based on academics, leadership and financial need.

6. The Ron Brown Scholarships: This scholarship program awards African-American high school seniors. Scholarship winners receive up to $40,000.

While these are national level scholarships known for providing significant financial help, don't forget to also look into your local scholarships. Local scholarships tend to be less competitive since they're only open to students in a certain city or state. Also remember to look for scholarships specific to your own interests or circumstances – whether that's based on your intended major, a unique talent, or affiliations such as parent's employer.

Applying for scholarships sure takes time and effort, but with the potential financial aid, it can be one of the best investments of your time you could make. Keep at it, and remember: every bit helps!