Scholarships for Incoming College Students

I'm an incoming college student looking for scholarships to apply to. Are there particular ones I should focus on before starting school, and how early should I begin the process? I want to make sure I've covered all my bases.

Starting the scholarship search early for incoming college students is a great approach, preferably during your high school junior year if possible, but you can still find scholarships to apply for during your senior year and even after. Let's get into some suggestions of categories you might want to consider.

Firstly, merit-based scholarships are a good place to start. Many colleges provide merit scholarships based on a student's academic achievements, and you might have already received some from your school with your admission offer. If your school fits this bill, consider researching more on this.

Next, look for local scholarships. Your local community, high schools, religious organizations, and even places of business commonly offer scholarships for local students. These scholarships may not be as substantial as large national contests, but competition is typically less fierce, which boosts your chances.

Additionally, you can apply for scholarships based on your unique characteristics. There are scholarships available for students of every background, so consider looking at scholarships tailored towards your race, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, etc.

A good strategy is to focus on scholarships that correspond to your interests or career aspirations. For instance, if you are planning to study engineering, there will be scholarships explicitly for engineering students.

Lastly, be sure to explore nationally recognized scholarships like Coca-Cola Scholars or the Dell Scholars Program, but keep in mind these programs are quite competitive.

There are websites, such as Fastweb and Appily, that allow you to input your information and then match you with scholarships that fit your profile. They will notify you when new scholarships that meet your characteristics become available. This can make your search much easier.

Remember, applying for scholarships is a numbers game, and the more you apply, the better your chances of landing some extra cash for school. Be vigilant about deadlines and make sure your applications are complete and well-crafted. Good luck!