Are there scholarships for juniors interested in college?

I'm a junior in high school and starting to think about college costs. Are there scholarships specifically for juniors I could apply for now? Any recommendations for where to look or when to apply would be super helpful. Thanks!

Absolutely, there are indeed many scholarships that high school juniors are eligible to apply for. Some of these are nationwide scholarships while others could be local opportunities available in your area.

1. The Coolidge Scholarship: This is a full-ride, four-year scholarship for high school juniors to use at any accredited U.S. college or university. It is a competitive scholarship and students are evaluated on academic excellence, interest in public policy, and service to their communities.

2. The American Legion Oratorical Contest: This scholarship competition is open to high school students under the age 20. Participants need to prepare an oration on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government.

3. The Doodle 4 Google Scholarship: If you're artistically inclined, this contest invites students to redesign the Google logo. The national winner receives a $55,000 scholarship, and the winner's school also receives technology grants.

One good strategy is to create a spreadsheet where you list every scholarship you are eligible for along with the requirements, the reward amount, and the deadline.

Scholarship databases like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and Appily can also be useful for finding more scholarships that may be a good fit for you. Be sure to start your search early and apply for both bigger, national scholarships and smaller, local offerings - these can add up!

Remember that the early bird gets the worm! Applying for scholarships during your junior year not only lessens the stress senior year, but it also gives you more opportunities to win cash for college. Plus, you can start understanding what kind of essays work and get a head start on building a strong scholarship profile. Always make sure to double-check the eligibility criteria and the deadline for each scholarship you consider. Good luck!