Trying to fund your college education may feel like a full-time job for a while (or at least a part-time job). Be patient and persistent. Apply for as many scholarships and grants as you may be eligible for in order to increase your odds of landing one or more of them.
Evaluate your current schedule and decide how much time you can set aside to search and apply for scholarships without interfering with your current schoolwork and study time. Consider ramping up your efforts during school vacations, especially during the summer.
Remember that applying for scholarships requires an ongoing effort; it’s not just for rising freshmen. You can continue looking and applying for scholarships periodically throughout your college years.
1. Start as Early as Possible
It’s almost never too early to begin looking for college scholarships. Although many high school students wait until their junior or senior years to begin looking for scholarships, others get an early start — as early as elementary school, in fact. There are quite a few scholarship opportunities available for students under the age of 13.
What if you didn’t realize you could have been applying for scholarships all along? Try not to feel discouraged, because plenty of students are in the same boat. Just get started as soon as possible so you can take advantage of as many opportunities as you can.
2. Check Locally Available Scholarships and Grants
In addition to waiting until later in high school to apply for scholarships, another common mistake students make is to focus only on nationally available scholarships. Instead, begin your search locally, where there is less competition for scholarships and grants. How can you find local scholarships? Take the initiative to ask people and organizations, including:
- School counselor
- Teachers
- Chamber of commerce
- Your parents’ or guardians’ employers
- Local civic groups
- Local librarians
As you begin to compile scholarship possibilities, organization will become increasingly important. Maintain a spreadsheet with a list of all your scholarship possibilities and update it regularly. Include columns for all relevant details, such as application deadlines, award amounts and whether you've already applied or whether your application is in progress.
3. Check National Databases
Once you’ve exhausted local possibilities, it’s time to search national databases. There are quite a few scholarship databases online.
Here are a few to try:
These databases can connect you to tens of thousands of scholarships. Of course, you won’t be eligible for all of them. These databases typically allow you to refine your search using various characteristics. Scholarship eligibility can be based on a wide range of characteristics, including:
- Academic merit
- Financial need
- Geographic location
- Athletic activity
- Special interests
- Ethnic heritage
- Minority status
- Foster care students
- Intended major or career
- Military status
These are just a few examples. There is a laundry list of characteristics that may qualify you for certain scholarships. For example, there are scholarships for:6
- Students affected by HIV/AIDS who demonstrate strong academic achievement
- High school juniors and senior National Society of High School Scholar members planning to pursue a degree in a communications-related field
- Students who are currently or have been in foster care between ages 16 and 18
- High school junior or senior females seeking a degree in STEM
4. Contact the Schools on Your Shortlist
Along with searching for local and national scholarships from various organizations, you may qualify for institutional scholarships. Check out scholarship opportunities available from the colleges you’ve been accepted to. If you’re not sure which scholarships you may qualify for, call the school’s financial aid office to request a consult with a financial aid advisor.
5. Don’t Ignore Small Awards
Students often prefer to apply for scholarships that offer large awards. Yet, even if a scholarship offers less than $1,000, it's still worth applying for if you're eligible. These smaller awards often don't receive the large volumes of applicants that larger awards do, so you may have a better chance of winning them.
6. Follow Directions and Adhere to Deadlines
For every single scholarship you apply to, you’ll need to carefully read the application directions — and then read them again to make sure you didn’t miss anything. Follow the directions meticulously, and double-check everything before submitting your application. Aim to submit your application ahead of the deadline, if possible.
