When to Start Applying for College Scholarships

To get right to the point, it’s never too early to start applying for scholarships. While completing your college application is the first priority, the work likely does not end once you submit that application. The scholarship hunt begins as soon as you are ready– and if that means you want to start applying for scholarships before you apply to colleges, go for it. This can only help you in the long run. But at the end of the day, it takes time to filter through the many pages of scholarships, find relevant ones for you, and work through the applications. There are many ways to approach this process. You could find and apply to scholarships one by one, working through an entire application before moving to the next. Or you can collect a list of all possible scholarships you’d like to apply for, and then work through your list once you’ve found the right number of scholarships for you. Either way, applying is a process, and it’s best to build in time before deadlines arrive.

There is a world of scholarships out there calling your name! Take advantage of the dozens of platforms and websites to make your search easier. When researching what kinds of scholarships to apply for, consider the scale of the scholarship in terms of how many people are applying. For instance, many local communities have rotary clubs or organizations that are giving back to local students through scholarship money. Perhaps you would be more likely to receive a scholarship such as this compared to a national scholarship where tens of thousands of students are applying and there is only one recipient. This is not to say you shouldn’t apply for big scholarships that are open to a broad scope of applicants, just don’t set your hopes too high on winning a grand prize. Small scholarships with fewer applicants can always add up as well. The college you are applying to can have its own list of scholarships, Collegeboard has a scholarship tab that contains thousands of scholarships, your state’s website may have a scholarship list, and your high school, organizations you are involved in, or your school district/county may offer scholarships as well. When you think about your scholarship hunt in terms of what spheres you are involved in, this will help to uncover the more unique areas in which you can search for scholarships.

While applying for scholarships, make a mental note of any restrictions on how the money can be spent. Certain scholarships only apply to tuition, whereas other scholarships can be flexible and can be spent on room and board, books, and other college-related fees. If your scholarship is coming directly from your institution, the amount awarded will likely be applied directly to your tuition, thus reducing the cost. Smaller scholarships from certain organizations may be awarded as a check. If this is the case, your school has a financial aid office to help guide you on how to apply the check to your tuition. If you are awarded a grant (federal money given on a financial need basis and does not need to be repaid such as a loan), this money is given directly to the school to ensure the funds are being used for a tuition reduction.

College can be expensive for everyone. But remember, there is so much scholarship money out there waiting to be gifted. Don’t get overwhelmed by the many pages of scholarships offered. Filter through to find the ones relevant to you. Start small, start local, and expand your circle as you continue to apply. We are rooting for you all the way through!