Uncovering unknown college scholarships?

I'm trying to find scholarships that might not be well-publicized or widely known. Besides the typical ones, how can I discover these hidden gems for financial aid? Would love some tips or resources to dive into.

Sure, there are quite a few strategies that you can use to uncover lesser-known scholarship opportunities. Here are a few that come to mind:

1. Local Opportunities: Often, scholarships provided by local businesses, community organizations, and nonprofit groups may be less competitive simply due to a smaller pool of applicants. Check in with your high school counselor to see if they have a list of local scholarships. Additionally, you could reach out to local businesses or look at community boards in libraries or community centers.

2. Hobby-based Scholarships: There are quite a few scholarships that are centered around specific hobbies or unique interests. For instance, there might be a scholarship for students who excel in knitting, bird watching, or even making peanut butter sandwiches! Appily (formerly Cappex) is a good resource for finding these kind of scholarships.

3. Employer Scholarships: Some companies offer scholarships to the children of their employees. If your parents work for a large corporation, it might be worth asking them to talk to their HR departments to see if any such opportunities exist.

4. Professional and Industry Associations: Professional groups often offer scholarships to students planning to enter their field. If you know what you want to study, try looking for associations related to that interest and see if they offer scholarships.

5. Your Future College’s Financial Aid Office: Universities themselves often offer a number of scholarships. Be sure to stay in touch with the financial aid office at the universities you've applied to so you don't miss out on those opportunities.

Remember, when you’re researching these scholarships, it can be easy to fall prey to scholarship scams. Be cautious of any scholarship that requires a fee to apply, guarantees you’ll win, or needs sensitive personal information. Always conduct your own research about the scholarship and the organization before applying.