I'm a high school junior starting to think about college applications and finances. I heard there are scholarships specifically for freshmen that open in October. Do you have recommendations on where to find these scholarships?
Absolutely, scholarships can be a fantastic resource to help cover college costs. There are numerous avenues to find scholarships, including university websites, local organizations, large foundations, state aid programs, and also through online platforms like Appily.
Here's an example of how to find scholarships:
1. School Awards: Many universities offer merit-based and or need-based scholarships for incoming freshmen. Check the university's financial aid webpage or contact the admissions office for accurate, up-to-date information.
2. Local Organizations: Organizations in your local community may offer scholarships. These can range from Rotary Club to local businesses who wish to support local students.
3. Large Foundations: These scholarship foundations provide considerable funds, often with diverse eligibility requirements, including everything from academic merit to extracurricular pursuits. Examples include the Gates Scholarship or the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
4. State Aid Programs: Many states offer grant programs for their residents attending local and, in some instances, out-of-state schools. This can sometimes be found through your state's Department of Education website.
5. Appily: This website provides a searchable database of numerous scholarships. They also allow you to filter by a variety of criteria; income, gpa, residency status, and more. You can customize your search to find scholarships that are applicable to you.
When you find a scholarship that interests you, make sure to check the eligibility requirements and application details. Deadlines, essay requirements, and supporting materials vary, so keep yourself organized. Also, remember to look out for scams. Legitimate scholarships should never request payment of any kind.
Good luck with your scholarship search! It can seem like a daunting task, but every little bit can help when paying for college.
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