As students we spend our whole lives waiting for senior year. We learn, socialize, experience life, and obtain our morals and beliefs. The 12 years of school mold us as humans, so that when we leave for college we have a sense of identity and personality. The last year is spent preparing for those last few steps, by applying for said college. After you figure out what college you want to attend, your next step is to find scholarships to help pay your tuition, and as a senior this year I find that process far more intimidating than finding a university itself. There are millions of universities, trade schools, or community colleges that come with a million more scholarships for each one. In this article I will give you five tips on how to find funds that are the most accessible, so that your senior year may be a little easier.
1st: Communicate with your counselor. I know this first step may sound cheesy, but the best bet for you to find the resources you need will come from your counselor. More often than not the scholarship foundation will give flyers, send emails, or email call the counseling center with their eligibility. Then, they are tasked with making sure you gain that information. But each counselor has a few hundred students they help each day, so you must take responsibility and ask questions when they have some.
2nd: Talk with your teachers. Especially your English teachers. If your counselor isn’t available, most of your teachers will at least know of some websites for you to look out for. If you are working on an essay and want some feedback, most teachers will help you revise and edit your work. This allows a more well rounded effort on what you are providing.
3rd: Notice what interests you. I love to write, so when I started looking for scholarships, I found a creative writing contest that I could enter for money. You would be surprised at the amount of hobbies you could win money off of, and even more surprised at the amount. If you ever think your interest wouldn’t make the cut, think again and research for them anyway. You’re more than likely to find something. Don’t let this deter you from other scholarships though. Branch out and try to connect to others anyway, because the more you apply for, the more you are likely to win.
4th: Contact your University or College. Almost every college offers private scholarships. If you contact your admissions counselor or search the college website, then they can direct you to where the scholarships are linked. You don’t even have to wait to see if you’re accepted. Get ahead of the game and start applying anyway because you don’t want to accidentally miss any deadlines.
5th: Talk to your boss or parents. Your parents will have friends, and those friends will have friends, and those friends will have friends. Bottom line is that we are a community, so we should try to do whatever we can to help each other. Let your parents know that you are looking, and ask if they could reach out to see if they could acquire any more information. This goes for your boss or employer too. Some corporations have their own scholarships that they will give seniors if they meet certain criteria.
Hopefully, this information helps you on your journey for financial aid. Don’t forget to apply for FAFSA, and reach out to any of your senior friends if you need more advice. As a school we are in this together, so connect with your peers and make an effort to fund your future.
