How can I find scholarships that I'm eligible for when applying to college?

I'm starting to look at my college options, and I want to know which scholarships I might be eligible for. How do I find scholarships that fit my profile and college application?

In the quest for scholarships, start by listing your interests, hobbies, and attributes that make you unique along with your academic achievements. This way, you can quickly direct your search toward scholarships targeting students with similar profiles. Here are some suggestions for you to go about this:

1. High School Guidance Office: Often, local scholarships are shared through high school guidance departments. So, it would be beneficial to ask your school counselor about the scholarships that past students have applied for, or they may have some specifically in mind that suit your profile.

2. Online Scholarship Platforms: There are various online platforms where you can input details about your GPA, intended major, ethnicity, and interests, and these sites will generate a list of scholarships that align with your profile. Some popular platforms include Chegg, Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and BigFuture by the College Board. There's also Appily, which has a scholarship feature.

3. Colleges and Universities: Check the financial aid page of every college you are interested in. Many colleges offer scholarships—both merit-based and need-based—and these are automatically considered when you apply. However, some might require separate applications, so be mindful of that.

4. Community Organizations: Frequently, local businesses, clubs, and special interest groups in your community offer scholarships for local students. These might not be as large as some national scholarships, but they typically have fewer applicants, so they're worth considering.

5. Employers: Some companies provide scholarships to the children of their employees, or even part-time employees who are students. So ask your parents if their employer offers any tuition assistance programs. Many businesses also offer scholarships as part of their community outreach programs.

Remember, the key to winning scholarships is volume but also quality. Prepare solid essays and applications catered to each specific scholarship. And definitely, be proactive! Scholarships won't fall into your lap. You'll need to take the initiative in your search. Best of luck!