How do I find junior year scholarships for college?

I'm a junior in high school and I'm starting to think about how to pay for college. Are there any scholarships specifically for high school juniors? How can I find and apply for them?

First off, it's smart of you to start thinking about this early. Yes, there are indeed scholarships that are specifically designed for high school juniors. These scholarships allow you to be proactive and secure some funding for college even before your senior year, which can be quite a relief.

A few examples include the Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition, United States Senate Youth Program, and the Coolidge Scholarship, among many others, which are open to high school juniors.

There are various methods you can use to find scholarships:

1. High School Guidance Office: Start by asking your guidance counselor for help. They can direct you to a database of scholarships, provide insight into local scholarships that might be less competitive, and even help you with your applications.

2. Online Scholarship Search Tools: Appily and Fastweb are valuable resources for finding scholarships. You create a profile and these platforms match you to scholarships for which you qualify. On both platforms, you can filter scholarships by your grade level to find awards open to juniors.

3. Local and Community Scholarships: These scholarships tend to be less competitive because they're only available to students in your area. Check out opportunities from local businesses, foundations, community organizations, or philanthropic groups.

4. National and Major Scholarships: These scholarships are typically more competitive, but the payout can be significant. Examples include the examples I mentioned above.

When it comes to applying for scholarships, the best advice is to start early, stay organized, and apply to as many as possible. Consider utilizing a spreadsheet to keep track of deadlines, requirements, and application statuses. Also, make sure to thoroughly read all requirements and fine-print, so your application doesn’t get disqualified for a simple oversight.

Lastly, remember that every little bit helps. Even smaller scholarships can add up to cover a significant portion of your education costs. Best of luck!