When are most scholarship applications usually due?

I'm trying to plan out my schedule for senior year and want to make sure I don't miss any scholarship deadlines! When do most scholarship applications typically close, and should I focus on certain months for deadlines?

It's great that you're planning ahead for scholarship deadlines!

Scholarship application deadlines can vary widely depending on the scholarship, however, many have deadlines that fall between late fall and late spring of your senior year. This corresponds with the typical college application cycle.

A large number of scholarship application deadlines fall in between January and March. This is common for both college-specific scholarships and independent ones. In this period, you would have generally completed your main college applications, so you can invest more time for the scholarship essays and applications.

However, some scholarships have deadlines earlier in the fall, and some have deadlines that extend into the summer. For example, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program has a deadline in October, while the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s College Scholarship Program has its deadline in November. On the other side, the Dell Scholars Program and the Innovation in Education Scholarship both have deadlines that happen multiple times a year, even into the summer.

So, while many scholarships have deadlines in the winter or early spring, it's essential to research potential scholarships as early as possible and note down their specific deadlines.

As an organizational tip, consider using a calendar or a spreadsheet to track your scholarships, their deadlines, and the tasks you need to complete for each application. It's good to aim to have your applications done one to two weeks before the actual deadline where possible, as it gives you some flexibility in case something unexpected occurs. Plus, it never hurts to have some extra time to proofread your applications!

Lastly, remember to balance your scholarship applications with the rest of your schoolwork and college applications. It's important to prioritize your energy and time in a way that is most beneficial to you.