Options for Undergraduate Scholarships for College Freshmen

I’m starting to look into scholarships now, aiming to get some for my first year of college. What kinds of undergraduate scholarships are available specifically for college freshmen? Any tips on starting applications?

There are plenty of scholarships available for incoming college freshmen. They can generally be broken down into three categories:

1. Merit-Based Scholarships: These are typically awarded based on academic, artistic, or athletic achievement. Often, schools will auto-consider you for these when you apply for admission. For example, Vanderbilt University offers a variety of merit-based scholarships like the Ingram Scholars Program that you can apply for alongside your application.

2. Need-Based Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded based on the financial need of the student, determined through information provided on the FAFSA or CSS Profile. An example of this would be the Pell Grant, which is a federal scholarship for students with a sufficiently low Student Aid Index (SAI).

3. Special Interest Scholarships: These are scholarships awarded to students who meet specific criteria, like being a member of a certain ethnicity, having a specific major, being a first-generation college student, etc. An example would be the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, which awards scholarships to high-achieving students demonstrated leadership and service.

When starting your scholarship applications, here are a few tips:

- Start Early: Scholarship applications can be quite involved, requiring essays, letters of recommendation, and sometimes even interviews. Starting early will give you ample time to gather all of these materials and submit your application before the deadline.

- Stay Organized: Keep track of all the scholarships you are applying for, their requirements, and their deadlines. Using a spreadsheet or a tool like Appily (formerly Cappex) can be really helpful for this.

- Tailor Your Applications: Every scholarship is different and what the committee is looking for can vary widely. Make sure each application is tailored to the specific scholarship you're applying for. Read up on what the scholarship value and try to show how you align with those values in your application materials.

- Don't Forget About Local Scholarships: Oftentimes, local scholarships have smaller applicant pools which could mean less competition. Check with local businesses, community organizations, and even your high school's counseling office for these opportunities.

So, consider all these types, start early, be organized, and make your application unique to the particular scholarship requirements. Good luck with your scholarship hunting!