What scholarships can college students apply for?

I'm a high school junior trying to understand scholarships for college. Are there any scholarships specifically for high school students that I should be applying for now, or is it mostly for current college students? Any advice would be awesome!

Yes, certainly, there are a multitude of scholarships out there for both high school and college students.

For high school students, especially juniors like you, the scholarships you can look out for include both those geared towards high school students and those open to any age or educational level. One of the key scholarships high school students should consider is the National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards, which are based on PSAT scores.

Also, other scholarships exist for high schoolers based on a variety of criteria, such as academic accomplishment, leadership, community service, artistic talent, athletic skill, intended major, and more. For example, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awards 150 scholarships each year to high school seniors who show outstanding leadership in their community and who are committed to making a significant impact on their community and in the world.

College students can also apply to scholarships catered to their needs and interests. Some of these scholarships might require students to be in a particular field of study, have a certain GPA, or display strong community engagement.

Remember to explore local scholarships as well, offered by local businesses, organizations, and philanthropic entities in your area. They may have less competition compared to national scholarships.

And lastly, don't forget to apply for institutional scholarships offered by the colleges you're applying to. Some of them, like merit-based scholarships, may not require a separate application, while others, like need-based scholarships, do require further paperwork.

In either case, start your search early and regularly so you won't miss important deadlines. Good luck with your scholarship search!