Can you apply for scholarships after submitting your college application?

Is it possible to apply for scholarships once you've already submitted your college applications, or should they be done beforehand? I'm worried I missed a step in the process and could use some guidance.

Absolutely, you can apply for scholarships after you've submitted your college applications! In fact, the scholarship search and application process sometimes run on a different timeline than college admissions. While some scholarships may have deadlines that coincide with college application deadlines, many others offer deadlines throughout the year.

Private scholarships, for example, can have deadlines that span the entire year, so you should definitely keep searching and applying even after your applications are in. Some scholarships are even targeted towards current college students, further demonstrating that the scholarship application period doesn't close with college applications.

Additionally, don't forget to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal, state, and institutional grants and loans. You'll have to do this every year you're in college. The FAFSA opens every year on October 1st, and while the official federal deadline isn't until June 30th, you should aim to complete it as soon as you can, as some funds are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Also remember that many colleges automatically consider you for certain financial awards based on your admission application alone, so submitting your applications could potentially already set you up for some scholarships.

So the short answer to your question is: yes, you can (and should) keep looking and applying for scholarships after you've submitted your college applications. Good luck!