I'm starting my college applications for schools in the USA and could really use some guidance on finding scholarships. What are the best places to look or apply for scholarships as an incoming freshman?
When it comes to hunting down scholarships, it's important to remember that they can be found in a variety of places. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1. Start Local: It's often overlooked, but many local organizations, businesses, and groups offer scholarships for local high school students. Reach out to your school's guidance office or even local organizations you're a part of to ask about available scholarships.
2. School-specific Scholarships: Check the websites of all the colleges you're planning to apply to. Many schools offer merit-based scholarships, which are often based on academic performance, leadership, or involvement in extracurricular activities. Some of these are applied to automatically when you submit your college application, but others might need additional steps or separate applications.
3. Larger National Scholarship Programs: National scholarship programs like the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Dell Scholars Program, and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation offer major scholarships to a wide range of students. Remember, these scholarships are very competitive.
4. Appily: Previously known as Cappex, Appily is a website that helps students find scholarships based on their profile and career interests.
5. Fastweb: This is another database that collects scholarship opportunities. You create a profile, and it matches you with potential scholarships.
6. FAFSA: Remember to fill out your FAFSA as early as possible. The data in the FAFSA is used by colleges to determine your eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-study programs.
Remember, applying for scholarships is a numbers game. Don't get discouraged if you get a lot of rejections – every "no" is one step closer to a "yes". Good luck!
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