7 answers
Eshita
Student
Metairie, Louisiana
3
Questions
Asked
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What are some scholarships available that I can apply to as a upcoming junior in highschool?
I am going to be a junior this upcoming school year and I know some of the colleges I am considering will not give me a lot of financial aid. I want to find a few scholarships I can apply to and start saving up the money so I can use it for college. Any suggestions?
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7 answers
Amber Lynn, CFP®, CEPA®, CRPC™
Financial Planner
5
Answers
Woodbridge, California
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hello Eshita,
Your question is indeed excellent and not something you can find easily with a Google search. I've been delving into this topic for my daughter as she prepares for college. I've put together a list of scholarship areas for you to explore. It's a challenging process, but the rewards are worth it. Scholarships are a fantastic opportunity, but selecting the right college for your specific needs could have an even bigger impact on the total cost. I strongly suggest you start a spreadsheet to track different scholarship opportunities, key dates, and college details. You might also consider compiling a "highlight reel" of your achievements to share with several teachers, who can then write recommendation letters for you. Some colleges allow "scholarship stacking," where external scholarships can be added to the financial aid the college provides. Others, however, may reduce their aid if you receive external scholarships. It's important to understand the policy of your chosen school.
The first step is to request a meeting with your high school guidance counselor. You will want to share your career goals, college preferences, hopeful majors, and financial situation. It is their job to help guide you through this process but the reality is that they often have too many students to do it for everyone, so you have to be proactive and ask for the help. AS well, be aware that there is a program that allows LA residents to receive in-state tuition rates at neighboring states. The details can be found here: https://acm.mtsu.edu/
Service groups that you should look at locally to email or call and ask about scholarship opportunities: AAUW, Rotary, Kiwanis, Lyons Club, Soroptimist International, Jefferson Community Foundation, LA Community Foundation.
Next, you will want to look into scholarships from any of your family member's employers or organizations such as military or union. These often can be higher can be high dollar scholarships.
Additionally, you will want to decide what your field of study is, and look for organizations that offer scholarships for students specifically in that field, such as medicine, of STEM, or art, etc. These will often be non-profit organizations that focus on these subjects. We have been able to find some of these using the NICHE website.
Now comes one of the most daunting tasks. Researching the scholarships at the individual colleges. These are most likely the biggest source of financial aid that you will find. The tricky thing is that not all colleges offer the same type of aid. There are public colleges and private colleges and even these are all different from each other. You will first want to determine you and your family's financial situation. If you are a family that shows "financial need" when you run the net price calculator on the individual colleges website, you will want to research colleges that "meet need without loans". These are often the ones that people think are out of their price range such as ivy and highly selective schools like Stanford. These schools have such deep pockets that they can afford to do so. If you are in a situation where your family does not qualify for much needs based financial aid, then you will want to research schools that have "merit based" aid. First search of list of schools and then the details can be found on the individual websites for the colleges about what GPA and other metrics they require. I have found that the smaller to medium sized private colleges often are best in this area.
Your question is indeed excellent and not something you can find easily with a Google search. I've been delving into this topic for my daughter as she prepares for college. I've put together a list of scholarship areas for you to explore. It's a challenging process, but the rewards are worth it. Scholarships are a fantastic opportunity, but selecting the right college for your specific needs could have an even bigger impact on the total cost. I strongly suggest you start a spreadsheet to track different scholarship opportunities, key dates, and college details. You might also consider compiling a "highlight reel" of your achievements to share with several teachers, who can then write recommendation letters for you. Some colleges allow "scholarship stacking," where external scholarships can be added to the financial aid the college provides. Others, however, may reduce their aid if you receive external scholarships. It's important to understand the policy of your chosen school.
Amber recommends the following next steps:
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6175
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Subject: Unlocking Scholarship Opportunities for High School Juniors
Dear Eshita,
There's a wealth of scholarships waiting for you as a high school junior, ready to help you start building your college fund. Here's a practical guide on where to find these scholarships:
1. College Board Scholarship Search: This tool on the College Board website helps you discover scholarships, internships, grants, and other financial aid programs from over 2,200 programs, collectively worth nearly $6 billion. Tailor your search to your personal details, interests, and background to find scholarships that are a perfect fit for you.
2. Fastweb: Fastweb is another excellent scholarship search platform. Create a profile and get matched with suitable scholarship opportunities. With a database of over 1.5 million scholarships valued at over $3.4 billion, Fastweb also offers resources and advice on how to effectively apply for scholarships.
3. Scholarships.com: This is a one-stop-shop for scholarships, grants, and financial aid opportunities. Create a profile and get personalized scholarship matches based on your unique strengths and interests. The website also provides guidance on the application process and strategies to increase your chances of winning scholarships.
4. Local Organizations and Businesses: Don't overlook local organizations, businesses, and community foundations in your area. They often provide scholarships specifically for local students. These scholarships may have less competition than national ones, boosting your chances of receiving financial aid.
5. State-Specific Scholarships: Many states offer scholarships exclusively for residents pursuing higher education within the state. Reach out to your state’s Department of Education or other relevant agencies to discover these unique scholarship opportunities.
6. National Merit Scholarship Program: If you're a high-achieving student, think about participating in the National Merit Scholarship Program. This program rewards top-performing students with various scholarship awards, starting with the PSAT/NMSQT test during your junior year of high school.
7. Essay Contests and Competitions: Stay alert for essay contests and competitions that offer scholarship prizes. Participating in these contests not only gives you a chance to win college funds but also helps hone your writing skills.
By actively seeking out these opportunities and exploring these channels, you can significantly improve your chances of securing financial aid for college as a high school junior.
Top 3 Trusted Sources Used:
College Board Scholarship Search
Fastweb
Scholarships.com
These sources are highly regarded and trusted platforms, offering extensive scholarship databases and invaluable resources for students seeking financial aid for their educational journey.
Best wishes,
JC.
Dear Eshita,
There's a wealth of scholarships waiting for you as a high school junior, ready to help you start building your college fund. Here's a practical guide on where to find these scholarships:
1. College Board Scholarship Search: This tool on the College Board website helps you discover scholarships, internships, grants, and other financial aid programs from over 2,200 programs, collectively worth nearly $6 billion. Tailor your search to your personal details, interests, and background to find scholarships that are a perfect fit for you.
2. Fastweb: Fastweb is another excellent scholarship search platform. Create a profile and get matched with suitable scholarship opportunities. With a database of over 1.5 million scholarships valued at over $3.4 billion, Fastweb also offers resources and advice on how to effectively apply for scholarships.
3. Scholarships.com: This is a one-stop-shop for scholarships, grants, and financial aid opportunities. Create a profile and get personalized scholarship matches based on your unique strengths and interests. The website also provides guidance on the application process and strategies to increase your chances of winning scholarships.
4. Local Organizations and Businesses: Don't overlook local organizations, businesses, and community foundations in your area. They often provide scholarships specifically for local students. These scholarships may have less competition than national ones, boosting your chances of receiving financial aid.
5. State-Specific Scholarships: Many states offer scholarships exclusively for residents pursuing higher education within the state. Reach out to your state’s Department of Education or other relevant agencies to discover these unique scholarship opportunities.
6. National Merit Scholarship Program: If you're a high-achieving student, think about participating in the National Merit Scholarship Program. This program rewards top-performing students with various scholarship awards, starting with the PSAT/NMSQT test during your junior year of high school.
7. Essay Contests and Competitions: Stay alert for essay contests and competitions that offer scholarship prizes. Participating in these contests not only gives you a chance to win college funds but also helps hone your writing skills.
By actively seeking out these opportunities and exploring these channels, you can significantly improve your chances of securing financial aid for college as a high school junior.
Top 3 Trusted Sources Used:
College Board Scholarship Search
Fastweb
Scholarships.com
These sources are highly regarded and trusted platforms, offering extensive scholarship databases and invaluable resources for students seeking financial aid for their educational journey.
Best wishes,
JC.
Thank you so much for the advice.
Eshita
Adna Tipura
Tax Consultant
4
Answers
Parker, Colorado
Updated
Adna’s Answer
Hi Eshita! I would add one more website: RaiseMe. I ended up getting a few thousand dollars yearly through a simple scholarship website. I would also ask your counselors at your high school; they will know about any bigger scholarships you apply for/ prepare for.
Jason White
Lead Product Manager- Network Security
68
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Jason’s Answer
Hi Eshita,
great job being proactive looking for scholarships. A few ideas might be to first check with your guidance counselor to see if there are any school specific scholarships available for your school or district. Sometimes families and faculty will provide scholarships to students at a specific school. The same can be true for a school district so always great to ask.
Another choice would be to check with your local or surrounding chamber of commerce in a similar fashion to above. There are sometimes community organizations and businesses that offer scholarships to high school students. Some organizations like the local rotary club, American legion, and various fraternal organizations.
great job being proactive looking for scholarships. A few ideas might be to first check with your guidance counselor to see if there are any school specific scholarships available for your school or district. Sometimes families and faculty will provide scholarships to students at a specific school. The same can be true for a school district so always great to ask.
Another choice would be to check with your local or surrounding chamber of commerce in a similar fashion to above. There are sometimes community organizations and businesses that offer scholarships to high school students. Some organizations like the local rotary club, American legion, and various fraternal organizations.
Emily Moss
Senior Consultant
3
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Emily’s Answer
I think it's great you're starting to prepare this early! There's a lot of research and preparation work you can do, which lots of people have highlighted, but in my experience scholarship organizations are typically looking for students at the end of their junior year and beginning of their senior year: they don't want to sit on the money for over a year before you begin college. Many of them have the same requirements year over year, so you can begin preparing essays and other pieces of information, but I don't want you to get discouraged if you see a lot of scholarships you don't qualify for yet!
Violetta Voronina
Business Fin Ops/Program management
7
Answers
Pasadena, Maryland
Updated
Violetta’s Answer
It's always a fantastic idea to get a head start! Quite frequently, your hard-earned academic successes catch the attention of your state and school leaders, such as senators, who might present you with scholarship offers. If you visit the website of a particular university, you'll often find links to scholarships, some of which might even be tailored to your major or the state you reside in. A good starting point would be to search for "scholarship finder" on Google and explore a few websites to spot any recurring opportunities. Best of luck on your journey!
Ankita Pimple
Currently Student pursuing MS in Management Information System
18
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Ankita’s Answer
As a junior in high school, it's the perfect time to begin your search for scholarships to assist with the cost of college. Look into local scholarships offered by community groups, as well as national scholarships such as the Coca-Cola Scholars Program. Don't forget to explore scholarships specific to your chosen college, and use online resources like Fastweb to broaden your search. Essay contests can also be a great source of scholarship funds. Start your search early, keep everything organized, and remember, fortune favors the prepared. Good luck!