Seeking Scholarships for First Generation African American College Students

I'm a first-generation African American high school junior looking to apply for colleges soon. Are there specific scholarships available for someone in my situation? Any advice on where to find them would be super helpful as I plan my applications.

Several scholarships and organizations aim to support first-generation African American students like yourself. Here's a brief list of some possibilities:

1. The United Negro College Fund (UNCF): The UNCF provides numerous scholarships for African American students. While not all of their scholarships cater particularly to first-gen students, their expansive offerings do provide a lot of opportunities.

2. The Ron Brown Scholar Program: This is one of the most prestigious scholarships available for African American students. It offers scholarships to academically talented and highly motivated African American high school seniors.

3. The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship (JRF): This scholarship offers scholarships over four years to minority high school students showing leadership potential, dedication to community service, financial need, and the potential to excel at the college level.

It's also crucial to check with the specific colleges you're considering applying to, as many schools offer their scholarships for first-generation and/or African American students.

When searching for scholarships, Appily and Fastweb are helpful databases. They allow you to create a profile and filter for scholarships that apply to your specific situation, like being a first-generation African American student.

Moreover, local community organizations, churches, and civic groups often offer scholarships as well. It doesn't hurt to reach out to them.

Remember, apply early and often - the more scholarship applications you send out, the better chance you have of receiving some financial aid. Best of luck in your college and scholarship applications!