I'm a high school junior starting to look into scholarships for college. Can anyone suggest the best scholarships I should be applying to right now?
As a junior in high school, you can start applying for numerous scholarships. Here's a list of some scholarships you may want to consider:
1. "The Coolidge": A Full-Ride Scholarship for High-Achieving Students: This scholarship covers tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study. The competition is open to students in the 11th grade.
2. Doodle for Google Contest: If you're artistically inclined, this scholarship might be a good fit. Winners receive a college scholarship, along with their doodle featured on the Google homepage.
3. The National Merit Scholarship Program: Juniors are eligible to win these awards by taking the PSAT/NMSQT. High-scoring students are honored as 'semifinalists,' and can go on to win Finalist awards.
4. The Regeneron Science Talent Search: For those with a passion for STEM, this competition offers significant awards, up to $250,000 for the top winners, and it's open to high school seniors. You can start your research project in your junior year.
5. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship: This is a highly competitive program for high school seniors, but as a junior, you have time to prepare. The scholarship awards $20,000 to each of 150 recipients.
6. The Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology: Again, this competition is for high school seniors, but juniors can start working on their research projects.
7. Future Engineers: This scholarship competition is for students interested in engineering. The competitions change each year, with different themes like 3D printing and outer space. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade can participate and win scholarships for college.
Remember, this list is just a starting point. There are many more scholarships out there—some based on academic performance, others on community service or leadership. There are also scholarships for specific groups of students, like those planning to study a certain major, students from certain locations, first-generation students, and so on. You can use scholarship search platforms like Appily to discover more opportunities tailored to your situation and ambitions. Do make sure to double-check the eligibility criteria and deadlines for each scholarship before you start your application. Good luck!
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