I’m a junior in high school and want to start looking into scholarships. My parents earn a decent amount, but I’d like to help reduce the cost. I’m not a US citizen, but I do have permanent residency.
Honestly, looking at all these scholarship websites is frustrating. Half of them seem sketchy, like they’re just fishing for your personal information, even the so-called micro-scholarships. My school doesn’t offer much guidance, and getting time with a counselor is nearly impossible because of how packed they are. Any advice on where to start?
I’ve won about $20,000 in private scholarships by applying to smaller, lesser-known ones. I made a list of these low-competition scholarships. I’d recommend looking for scholarships shared in Facebook groups. Those tend to fly under the radar, and not many people apply.
You should look for scholarships tied to your background—stuff like ethnicity, race, gender, or your intended major. There’s usually something for everyone, so cast a wide net.
Check out scholarships directly from universities. A lot of them are very generous with aid, and some schools are even need-blind, covering 100% of demonstrated need. If you’re a permanent resident, you’ll usually be treated like a US citizen for these programs.
Here are a few scholarships to look into: Gates Scholarship (varies), Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation ($20k), Elks National Foundation (varies), Dell Scholars Program ($20k), GE Reagan Foundation Scholarship ($40k), Bank of America Student Leaders ($5k), Jackie Robinson Foundation (up to $35k), and McDonald’s HACER Scholarship (varies). Start as soon as applications open for the best chance.