High School Scholarships

Why wait until you are in college to start earning money to help pay for your education? There are plenty of high school scholarships out there for you to apply to, and best of all, many do not even require you to be a high senior! It is never too early to start searching and applying for scholarships for high school seniors because with the ever increasing demand for individuals with college degrees, getting a college education has never been more important. That being said, earning a college degree can also be extremely expensive. So, how are you going to pay for it? If you have never thought about this question until now, that is perfectly okay because you are only in high school! You are way ahead of the game by beginning this process sooner, rather than later.

If you are like the majority of students out there and do not have a college fund set up, you will probably need to rely on grants, loans, scholarships and money out of your own or your parent’s pockets. The main difference between taking out loans versus receiving a scholarship or grant is that you have to pay back every dollar you borrowed, typically with a hefty interest added on. Another major downside is that most loans provide borrowers with a very small window, after they have graduated, before they must begin making payments. Thus, unless you have very wealthy parents who are able to pay for your entire college education, earning grants and scholarships is by far your best option.

Where to Find Scholarships in High School?

It has never been easier to find scholarships, even high school scholarships; you simply need to know where to start looking. In today’s world the Internet can be one of your greatest resources when searching for scholarships; within seconds you can be connected to thousands of scholarship opportunities. Due to the high volume of scholarships made available through the Internet you may need to wade through lots of scholarships you may not qualify for or ones that simply are not credible, but with some dedication and a keen eye, you will find that a little research is well worth the effort. Another resource that you should always take advantage of is your high school by seeking advice and guidance from your teachers, faculty members, and your school counsellor. Also, visiting your local library and researching if there are any scholarships or grants available to you based on the state in which you reside or plan to attend college in. Finally, when in doubt, network! Ask your friends and family for help or if they know of any scholarships or grants you may be able to apply to.

High School Students Rejoice!

The Discus Award does not judge applicants based on their academic achievements alone, but aims to award students that are well rounded by providing them with an opportunity to demonstrate more personality than many other scholarships and allowing applicants to choose from ten different categories to better explain their talents and abilities. These categories are academics, arts, athletics, faith, government, green, service, technology, work, and other.

The entire process is fairly simple, easy to complete, and user friendly. All you have to do is pick three of the ten categories provided, write a short blurb for each one, and then include at least one reference. After doing this you will get the opportunity to enhance your information by including pictures and videos illustrating your talents. However, do not worry if you are one of the many who fear the camera because this is not a requirement for nomination. Finally, after answering a few simple questions, nominees will be entered to win a 2,000 dollar scholarship. If you are selected as a Discus Award winner, you will immediately be considered for the following month’s scholarship and the scholarship for each of the remaining months in the Discus Awards program year. The final deadline to submit an application for each program year is May 31st.

Another high school scholarship is the 2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship, which as its name suggests, does not even require you to write an essay. When it comes to applying for scholarships, this is as easy as it gets. In a matter of minutes, maybe even seconds, you will be on your way to being entered to win a 2,000 dollar scholarship. All you have to do is fill out a short entry form and you’re in! Not too shabby for a few moments of your time, right?

The $2,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all current students and those planning on enrolling within 12 months. The monthly winner is determined by a random drawing and then contacted directly and announced on their Facebook page.

Why bother?

The process of searching and applying for scholarships can often seem like a daunting task. Especially when searching for a wide variety of high school scholarships and balancing a busy work load. However, as most college students soon realize, every dollar counts when you are trying to pay for books, tuition, food, fines, etc. and scholarships are a fantastic way to give yourself a bit of breathing room when it comes to paying for your education, and all of the expenses that come along the way. So, what are you waiting you for? Get out there, and start searching!