Finding Scholarships for College Students in the USA

As a current high school junior, I'm starting to think about college funding in the USA. What are some robust options for scholarships here? Any national organizations or little-known programs I should be aware of?

There are indeed a plentiful number of scholarship options available to high school juniors, and it's excellent that you're thinking ahead. Scholarships come in many shapes and sizes – institutional scholarships are offered directly by the colleges themselves and tend to be quite large, while on the other hand, smaller, private scholarships tend to offer smaller amounts and can come from foundations, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and local groups.

Start with your school: Often, colleges will award merit-based scholarships directly, based on your application materials, so having a strong GPA, SAT/ACT scores (if the school isn't test-blind), and extracurriculars can make a difference. Some schools also have need-based scholarships, which are decided by the financial information you provide with your application.

For outside scholarships, explore well-known programs first. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program, for instance, provides 150 scholarships each year, up to $20,000 each. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation offers the Cooke College Scholarship Program, which can provide up to $55,000 annually. Programs like the Burger King Scholars program and the Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarships also offer thousands of dollars to eligible students.

Community service organizations, such as Kiwanis and Rotary, often present scholarship opportunities that are sometimes only available to local applicants, which might increase your odds. Furthermore, check with any groups or organizations you or your family might belong to. Places like credit unions, labor or trade unions, and even some employers can offer scholarships to members and their children.

Additionally, niche scholarships are available if you fit specific criteria or have particular interests. For instance, the Vegetarian Resource Group offers scholarships exclusively to vegetarian and vegan youth. The American Fire Sprinkler Association offers scholarships to students who take the time to learn about fire sprinklers.

Lastly, there are online platforms that help aggregate information about scholarships. Platforms like Appily and Fastweb let you create a profile and match you to potential scholarships based on your information.

Don't be discouraged by smaller scholarship amounts; many of these can add up to a significant sum. And remember, scholarships are free money for college that you don't have to pay back, so it's definitely worth investing the time in application processes. Good luck!