Finding scholarships for your child who is going to college

My son is getting ready to apply to colleges, and we're concerned about affording it. What are the best ways to find scholarships that are specific to his skills and interests?

The task of finding scholarships that align with your son's skills and interests can certainly be overwhelming, but there are effective strategies you can consider.

Firstly, your son should reach out to his high school’s guidance office. They often have information about local scholarships which are usually less competitive than national ones and could be closely aligned with your son's interests and abilities. Local businesses, private foundations, and community organizations often sponsor these.

Secondly, he should make a list of all his hobbies, affiliations, interests, and plans for college. There are scholarships for a wide variety of interests and affiliations, like specific academic interests, sports, volunteer work, intended major or career, and memberships. Even hobbies such as writing, art, and music often have corresponding scholarships.

Thirdly, consider using online scholarship databases, one being Appily. It matches students to scholarships based on their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, intended major, and more. The College Board's Scholarship Search tool is also a good option as it lists scholarships and other types of financial aid opportunities from more than 2,200 programs, totaling nearly $6 billion.

Don't forget to look at the colleges your son is applying to. Many have scholarships for incoming freshmen based on academic achievement, talents, declared major, and other factors. You can usually find this information on the college's financial aid webpage.

Lastly, do your research and start early. Many scholarships have deadlines in the fall or early winter. Keep organized with a spreadsheet to track each scholarship's deadline, requirements, and status of the application.

Finding scholarships can be a time-consuming process, but being thorough and diligent could help offset the cost of college significantly. Good luck to your son!