I’m a high school senior and I’ve been struggling to find scholarships. I haven’t received any responses from the applications I’ve submitted. Can anyone recommend reliable scholarship apps or websites? I’ve tried bold.org, Niche, and Scholarship360, but I’m not sure if I’m missing something. I’m planning to major in STEM and have already taken college classes while in high school.
I applied for a few scholarships on Bold.org and ended up winning one!
Everything mentioned about mailing lists is helpful (I found several great opportunities from generic lists), but you’ll have the most success with local scholarships. Search on Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google Gemini using terms related to your city, county, region, state, and major. The more specific your search, the better. Check your school’s website, as well as those of nearby schools, local junior colleges, and universities, for lists of outside scholarships.
Get organized by compiling all your essays into a document, categorizing them by topic, and noting the word count. Also, list or paste in all your activities and awards for easy reference. It’s a lot of work!
While some scholarships will become available now, most good ones have deadlines between January and March of your senior year. You’ll likely hear back between March and June, so be prepared for a long wait.
Focus on crafting strong essays, following instructions carefully, and marketing yourself effectively. Research the sponsoring organization and tailor your application to align with their mission. Don’t forget to secure a few reference letters if you haven’t already.
My son had some success with scholarships, and I’d like to share a few suggestions based on our experience. Keep in mind that not all scholarship databases are created equal. Here’s a list of resources that I personally used to assist my son:
- Scholarships.com
- Scholarship360
- Fastweb
- Scholarship America
- Kaleidescope
- JLV Counseling Scholarships
- Discover (which has a comprehensive list)
- Going Merry
- TUN Scholarships
For email resources, consider:
- Monica Matthews: She offers a monthly list and an excellent eBook on the scholarship process.
- Dave the Scholarship Coach: He provides a daily scholarship list, essay reviews, and a valuable video course through Scholarship GPS.
Also, explore professional organizations related to your major. Many offer significant discounts to students and exclusive scholarships for members. My son won one such scholarship and received additional benefits like mentorship, networking opportunities, and support throughout college.
My son started applying in August and didn’t win anything until March, so be patient as the process can take time. Many scholarships won’t notify you if you didn’t win, so persistence is key.
Obtain them from the colleges to which you apply.
I’m in the exact same situation—I’ve tried all of these as well. Of course, patience is important, but it’s tough not to get anxious when there’s no sign of progress.