I'm a high school junior starting my search for college scholarships. What are some good resources or sites to find scholarships specifically for seniors? I'd love to hear any tips or personal experiences if you've been through this.
There are numerous resources to find scholarships for high school seniors. Here are a few methods that you can consider:
1. High School Guidance Counselor: Your high school guidance counselor might be your first point of contact. They often have information about local scholarships which typically have fewer applicants, boosting your chances of success.
2. College Financial Aid Pages: Every college usually lists scholarship opportunities on their financial aid pages. Check the websites of colleges you're applying to for information.
3. Online Databases: There are many online scholarship databases like CollegeBoard, Chegg, or Appily, which allow you to filter by various categories like need-based, merit-based, or specific fields of study. Note that you'll need to set up a profile to access the full scholarship directory on most of these sites.
4. Professional Associations and Employer-Based Scholarships: Some professional associations or companies offer scholarships for dependents of their employees. So, it's worth checking if your parents' employers offer such opportunities.
5. Community Service Organizations and Clubs: Local community service organizations, clubs, and religious groups often sponsor scholarships for local students.
Remember, the key to success in securing scholarships is to start early and apply often because many scholarships have limited numbers and high competition. Prioritize scholarships that you are uniquely qualified for, since those tend to have fewer competitors. Also, be sure to pay attention to the application requirements and deadlines, and customize your application to cater to the organization's goals or values.
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