Hey everyone, I'm currently a junior in high school, and I'm trying to get a head start on applying for scholarships. I'm looking for any advice or recommendations on scholarships that are currently open for applications. I've heard that starting early can really help, so I'm hoping to find some good ones that I can apply for now.
I'm open to any type of scholarship, whether they're based on academics, extracurriculars, or anything else. Are there any specific websites or resources you guys use to find current scholarship opportunities? Any tips or personal experiences would be super helpful!
Hello! It's wonderful that you're being proactive about scholarship applications; your initiative will definitely serve you well in this process.
One of the main avenues to find scholarship opportunities is online research. Multiple websites aggregate scholarship information and allow you select filters based on your specific information and interests. Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and now Appily, after it rebranded from Cappex, are all popular options.
When using these websites, you'll want to create a profile with as thorough and accurate information as possible, because scholarships are often very specific. They might be for people from a particular state, or people pursuing a specific major, or people who fall into a minority category. The goal is to match you with scholarships which you're most likely to win.
For finding scholarships that are currently open for applications, you can typically filter by deadline on these databases. That way, you can prioritize the ones you need to apply to sooner.
Another less obvious source is local organizations and businesses. These types of scholarships, often categorized as "local scholarships", will typically have less competition because fewer students fit the criteria. Think about groups like Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, women's clubs, sports organizations, local businesses, etc.
Lastly, if you currently have a part-time job or if your parents are employed by larger companies, check to see if these businesses offer scholarships for students. Many companies have programs like this, but they're often underutilized because students simply aren't aware they exist.
Remember that every dollar counts when it comes to scholarships, so don't skip over the smaller ones—those can add up, and often have fewer applicants because of their smaller size. Happy scholarship hunting!
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