Scholarships for Fall 2025 College Students?

I'm starting college in the fall of 2025 and wondering which scholarships I should be looking into. Are there specific ones to prioritize applying for as someone entering college next fall?

Certainly! Looking at scholarships early can be incredibly beneficial. Generally speaking, scholarships fall into a few categories: those based on academic merit, those set aside for students of a particular major, those designed to aid certain demographic groups or those for students who are involved in specific extracurricular activities.

One of the most well-known academic scholarships is the National Merit Scholarship, which high school students can become eligible for if they score high enough on the PSAT. The selection process for this scholarship is quite competitive, but earning it is a considerable financial help and also an impressive achievement.

If you've decided on your academic major or have career interests, you can find scholarships that specifically cater to those fields. For example, the Society of Women Engineers offers many scholarships to female students interested in studying engineering, and the Microsoft Tuition Scholarship is an opportunity for students pursuing a STEM major.

Demographic-based scholarships are also common and can range from scholarships for first-generation college students to ones for students from specific minority groups, or even scholarships for students from certain geographical regions. An example is the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship, which awards scholarships to first-generation college students.

Extracurricular-based scholarships often go to students who have demonstrated considerable leadership or prowess in a particular area, such as athletics, music, or community service. An example is the Prudential Spirit of Community Award for students who have demonstrated exemplary community service.

Remember to look into the scholarship offerings at the schools you're applying to as well. Some schools have generous merit-based scholarships that can significantly offset the cost of tuition.

Lastly, remember to use scholarship search engines like Fastweb and Appily (formerly Cappex) to discover even more opportunities. Start working on these scholarship applications early, as they can be quite time-consuming and often require items like essays, letters of recommendation, and resumes.

Best of luck in your scholarship hunt!