I'm a high school senior and super stressed about finding scholarships for college. What are the best places to start looking for scholarships specifically tailored for students currently in their senior year? Any tips or advice would be awesome!
There are multiple avenues you can explore to find scholarships for high school seniors. Here's a mix of resources and suggestions to help guide your quest for scholarships:
1. High School Guidance Department: Many schools compile a list of local and regional scholarships. Your guidance department can be a wealth of information regarding scholarships from your local community organizations, civic groups, or businesses.
2: Appily: This platform offers a comprehensive database of scholarships and allows you to make a profile, where you'll be matched with opportunities that align with your credentials.
3. Online Scholarship Databases: Beyond Appily, there are several other platforms that aggregate scholarships you can peruse. Notable platforms include FastWeb, Scholarships.com, and Chegg Scholarships.
4: College Financial Aid Offices: Check the financial aid pages of the colleges you're applying to. They often list institutional scholarships, need-based grants, or even special merit scholarships that require separate applications.
5: Professional Organizations and Companies: Watch out for scholarship programs managed by professional organizations or corporations in your potential field of study. For instance, if you're considering studying engineering, you might want to explore the National Society of Professional Engineers.
6: Community and Civic Groups: Local community groups, such as Rotary Clubs, Elks Lodges, or the American Legion, often sponsor scholarships and grants.
7: Financial Institutions: Many banks and credit unions offer scholarships for their members, so do ask your family's financial institutions if they have such programs.
It's important as you sift through these sources to begin with larger, more substantial scholarships and then work your way down to smaller ones. Also, apply tactically to both very competitive and less competitive scholarships.
Remember to verify the legitimacy of each scholarship you come across and beware of any organization that requires an application fee. An application fee is usually a red flag that a scholarship may not be legitimate.
Good luck with your scholarship search! It can feel overwhelming at times, but with consistent effort and patience, you'll find options that could help lessen the financial load of college.
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