Finding Scholarships for College Students

I'm currently in high school and starting to prepare for college. Are there any general strategies or websites that have helped others find scholarships for college students, no matter where they're based?

Absolutely! Here are a few strategies that may help you:

1. Start Early: Many scholarships have deadlines, usually a few months to half a year before the academic year you're being funded for, so the earlier you start your search, the better.

2. Utilize Scholarship Search Engines: There are multiple scholarship search engines that you can use to find scholarships suited to your needs. Some popular ones include Fastweb, Scholarship.com, and College Board's Scholarship Search. These platforms can filter and provide scholarships based on your profile, including your intended major, extracurricular activities, demographics, and more.

3. Local Scholarships: Don't overlook those offered by local businesses, non-profits, and community organizations. They usually have a smaller applicant pool, which could increase your chances of winning. Your high school might even have resources available to find these kinds of scholarships.

4. Departmental and College Scholarships: If you have a specific college or universities in mind, do look into scholarships offered by specific departments within the college. These scholarships are often merit-based and require the student to maintain a certain GPA.

5. Look Outside the Box: There are many unique scholarships that are designed for students with very specific hobbies, skills, or experiences. These can range from creative writing contests, projects for environmental conservation, to scholarships for skateboarders!

6. Persistence is Key: It’s essential to keep applying and not feel discouraged. It's a numbers game—the more scholarships you apply for, the better your odds of winning one.

Remember, you should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship. Be wary of any scholarship applications that demand payment as they could be scams. Good luck in your scholarship hunt!