Gifted student scholarships for college: what's out there?

I'm identified as a gifted student and starting to explore scholarships that might be a good fit. Are there specific scholarship programs for students identified as gifted?

Definitely, there are scholarship opportunities for gifted students to take advantage of. As you explore your options, you might find a few types of scholarships that could fit your needs:

1. Academic scholarships: Typically, "gifted" often correlates to high academic achievement, meaning there are numerous merit-based scholarships available that aren't specifically for "gifted" students, but you're likely qualified due to your high academic performance. Many universities offer these types of scholarships to attract high-achieving students.

2. National Merit Scholarships: High scores on the PSAT can qualify you as a National Merit Semi-Finalist, leading to potential scholarships.

3. Scholarships for specific talents or interests: If you are gifted in a particular area (like math, writing, art, science, business, etc.), there are many scholarships that target students with specific talents or interests. Based on your specific area of excellence, you might want to look into these.

4. Scholarships from Gifted Organizations: Some organizations, like the Davidson Institute, specifically target gifted students. Davidson Fellows Scholarships, for example, award scholarships to students under the age of 18 based on "significant work" in STEM, literature, music, or philosophy.

Don't forget that investigation at your school and local level could prove fruitful as well. Local clubs, religious organizations, or small businesses occasionally have scholarship funds available.

Lastly, check out tools like Appily. They help streamline the search process by matching you to scholarships based on your specific profile and needs. So, leveraging these tools could save you a lot of time and effort in the scholarship hunt.

Just remember that applying for scholarships can be competitive, but your gifted designation might work in your favor. Show off your unique qualities, achievements, and talents, and you'll increase your chances significantly. Good luck!