How to find scholarships for private colleges in California?

I'm thinking about applying to private colleges in California, but I need financial aid. Does anyone know which scholarships I should be looking at or any organizations that offer funding for students attending these schools?

To find scholarships for attending private colleges in California, you might want to take a multifaceted approach:

1. Individual College Websites: Each college should have a section on their website dedicated to financial aid and scholarships. Be sure to look not only at merit-based scholarships, but also need-based scholarships, discipline-specific scholarships (for specific majors or departments), and unique criteria scholarships. For example, at Stanford University, you can explore the “Stanford Affordability” webpage to find a variety of scholarships.

2. Appily: Formerly known as Cappex, Appily is a platform that allows you to search for scholarships based on where you want to attend college, your academic interests, and other criteria. This can be a useful tool to find scholarships specifically tailored to your needs.

3. Local and State-Based Scholarships: Many local businesses, organizations, and community foundations in California offer scholarships for local students. A good starting point might be to seek out the community foundation in your hometown or county, as they often administer a variety of local scholarships.

4. Your High School’s Counseling Office: High school counseling offices often have resources for local and statewide scholarships specific to their students.

Remember to also file the FAFSA as soon as possible after it opens on October 1, which is crucial for being considered for federal aid as well as many college and state-based aid programs.