Tips for finding scholarships for high school seniors?

As a high school senior, I'm gearing up for college and looking for scholarships to help out with costs. Are there any specific tips or places to look for scholarships that other seniors or recent graduates have had success with?

Sure, finding scholarships can certainly help lessen the financial burden of college! Here are some strategies you might find useful:

1. Start with Local Scholarships: Local community organizations, clubs, churches, and businesses often offer scholarships for graduating high school seniors. While these scholarships might not be as substantial as national ones, the applicant pool is smaller which increases your chance of winning.

2. Look for Scholarships at the School You're Planning to Attend: Your college or university's financial aid office and department pages are excellent places to start. Sometimes, schools offer scholarships specifically for incoming first-year students. Always check the school's website or get in contact with the financial aid office to know what's available and how you can apply.

3. Utilize Online Scholarship Platforms: Various online databases and platforms like Appily, Scholarship.com, or Fastweb can help you find scholarships you're eligible for. Once you create a profile with these resources, they can match you with potential scholarships based on your academic interests, demographics, and extracurricular activities.

4. Check with Your High School Counselor: Often, your school counselors may have information on scholarships from past students or specific resources for your local area. Make an appointment to see your counselor and ask them about scholarship opportunities they may know about.

5. Consider Your Unique Characteristics: There are countless scholarships out there for students with specific characteristics—such as those intended for first-generation college students, students with specific ethnic backgrounds, children of veterans, etc. Reflect on what makes you unique and search for scholarships in those areas.

6. Remember to Apply to both Small and Large Scholarships: Don't dismiss smaller, less lucrative scholarships in favor of only applying for large, highly competitive ones. The smaller ones can add up and are often less competitive.

7. Keep an eye out for Essay Contests: Many organizations run essay contests with cash prizes that can be used toward college expenses. These can often be found on the same scholarship platforms mentioned earlier.

Remember, legitimate scholarships should never require a fee to apply and they should never guarantee that you'll win. You might also need letters of recommendation for some scholarships, so consider asking a teacher, coach, or counselor if they’d be willing to write one for you. Good luck with your scholarship hunt!