How to Find College Scholarships?

I'm starting to think about college and I'm really curious about how to find scholarships. What are some good ways to look for college scholarships, and are there any platforms or resources I should be using?

Sure, happy to help with the scholarship hunt! Starting early is the right approach.

You can start by checking with your high school counselor who will likely have a list of local and national scholarships. Many scholarships are aimed at local students, and these can be less competitive, so don't miss out on those. Your counselor can also help you with identifying what kind of scholarship might be a good fit based on your strengths and interests.

Many colleges themselves offer merit-based scholarships which you can apply for. These can be a great source of funding, especially if your academic record is strong. Therefore, I encourage you to research the universities you're interested in and check their financial aid websites for information on any institutional scholarships or grants.

In addition to local and college-specific scholarships, there are a ton of national and international scholarships as well. Websites like Scholarship.com, Appily, and Fastweb host databases of millions of scholarships and can be great resources to match you with potential opportunities based on your characteristics and interests. You can also use websites like CollegeBoard’s Big Future, CareerOneStop, or Chegg Scholarships to find scholarships.

Sometimes, the companies where your parents work may offer scholarships for the children of employees. It's worth asking your parents to check their workplaces for such opportunities.

When searching, remember to never pay a fee to access scholarship information. There are plenty of free resources out there, and if a scholarship or scholarship service is asking for a fee, then it could be a red flag for a potential scam.

Finally, start early and be consistent—many scholarships have deadlines in the fall, and missing these deadlines is one of the biggest reasons why students don’t receive scholarships. Good luck with your scholarship search!