I'm currently 17 and will be starting college soon. Are there scholarships available for students who are under 18, or do I need to be 18 to qualify for most?
Yes, there are definitely scholarships available to students under the age of 18, so you can absolutely start applying now. Age is typically not a limiting factor when it comes to scholarships, especially those that are geared towards high school students.
For instance, there are numerous local, national, and college-specific scholarships that aim to support high school students as they transition to college. These can range from merit-based scholarships that take into account your GPA and test scores, to extracurricular and leadership scholarships, to those that deserve recognition for community service.
Additionally, there are also essay and creative contests that award scholarships based on the quality of submissions, such as the Ayn Rand essay contests or the Doodle for Google contest.
Remember to also fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as early as possible as it opens the doors to federal, state and some institutional aid based on financial need.
Make sure to carefully read the eligibility requirements for each scholarship before you apply, and remember that you should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship. This is a common scam tactic.
As an under 18 year old, you might need a parent's or guardian's consent to apply to some scholarships, but this is typically a small hurdle in the process.
Good luck with your scholarship search! It’s never too early to start.
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