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How can I get a scholarship from my dream college?

I'm a freshman in high school, almost a sophomore, and I recently moved to a new town. Everything here is different, and I want to get a scholarship to help secure my future.

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Doc’s Answer

Emily start with your guidance counselors at your highschool, they are a great resource for finding scholarship opportunities in your area. If your family hasn’t filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), now is the time to do so. Not only is the information on the form used to provide federal loans and grants, but many schools also use the information to offer students scholarships and other forms of financial aid.

SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are gifts. They don't need to be repaid. There are many types of scholarships. Some scholarships for college are merit-based. You earn them by meeting or exceeding certain standards set by the scholarship-giver. Merit scholarships might be awarded based on academic achievement or on a combination of academics and a special talent, trait, or interest.
There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations. As you start your scholarship search, one of your first steps should be to find a dependable and student-centric scholarship website. Your time is valuable, and that’s why you only want to use reliable, intuitive sites with plenty of vetted scholarships to apply for. Since different sites have different opportunities, you’ll often end up browsing a collection of sites. Below are some scholarship websites I recommended.

SCHOLARSHIP.COM
With Scholarships.com, you’ll get a comprehensive database of 3.7 million scholarships worth roughly $19 billion in financial aid. You can search the website’s directory without a profile, but you’ll need to create one to determine if you qualify.

FASTWEB.COM
The Fastweb database includes 1.5 million scholarships worth more than $3.4 billion. Once you create an account, you can log in and discover matches based on the information you’ve shared. The site even allows parents to create separate accounts to maximize potential earnings.

APPLIY.COM
Appily claims to have more than $44 million worth of scholarship options available. Before you sign up, you can search the directory based on deadline, ZIP code, gender, ethnicity, school year and other factors. You can even weed out lower-paying scholarships by setting a minimum dollar amount for your search.

NICHE.COM
The Niche scholarship finder is unique because it rewards you simply for opening an account. As soon as you complete the process, you’ll be entered to win a $2,000 scholarship that doesn’t require an essay. Just provide your name, birth date, email address and year in school.

SCHOLARSHIPOWL.COMP
Paid scholarship finder ScholarshipOwl offers a seven-day free trial, then charges $20 monthly. The website makes up for the cost by streamlining the application process, making it easier and faster to apply for scholarships. The more applications you can submit, the better your chances of getting the aid you need.

I hope this has been helpful Emily
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Paul’s Answer

I would check the college foundation to see what they have available.

Many college have endowments, which are managed by the college foundation. Amongst many of these donations are privately endowed scholarships for students in various majors, occupations, or other areas of support.

So, I would check the college foundation site on the college or university web page, and see what they have available.
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Shreya’s Answer

Hi,

Please find few points which may help you :

Research Scholarships Early

Visit your dream college’s website and look for their scholarship page.
Make a list of scholarships you might qualify for (academic, need-based, major-specific, etc.).

Understand the Requirements

Note the GPA, test scores (SAT/ACT), essays, and deadlines for each scholarship.
Set goals to meet or exceed these requirements.

Prepare Your Application Materials

Practice writing strong essays and gather recommendation letters.
Keep track of your extracurriculars, volunteer work, and achievements.

Apply Early

Many scholarships have early deadlines—apply as soon as applications open.
Double-check that you submit all required documents on time.

Look for Outside Scholarships Too

Search for local, state, and national scholarships that can be used at your dream college.

Tip:
Stay organized with a calendar or checklist so you don’t miss any deadlines!
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Disraeli’s Answer

Hello Emily,

To start with, there are many organizations that give out scholarships. Ones from a college can be used only at that college and outside ones that may be used at whichever post-secondary education you chose. Since you asked about scholarship from your college, I'll go more in depth about that.
First, go to the college's website and find the requirements of the scholarship. They will offer many different types of scholarship: major-based, need-based, how you are enrolling (as a freshman or transfer student), or academic score based.
Second, decide which scholarships you qualify for and make the requirements your goal. Find what SAT or ACT score and GPA you need to achieve and study! Practice writing essays to the prompt!
Third, apply to the college and the scholarship early! Some scholarships are due more than six months before the semester starts and you need to be responsible for getting your application in on time. I know I missed some scholarships when I was in college because they were due a month before I applied.

Good luck with your scholarship search!
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Edwin’s Answer

Hi Emily,

I see many people have shared good scholarship advice with you. I suggest also looking into scholarships and programs that aren't directly tied to your school. These can offer more opportunities.
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Dakota’s Answer

Hi there! That's a great question, and I've been in your shoes, so I understand.

Here are some tips to help you get a scholarship from your dream school:

1. Start early: Many top scholarships have early deadlines, sometimes even before you apply to the college. Check their website as soon as possible.
2. Apply to everything: Don't just focus on big scholarships. Small ones add up and show schools you're committed. Local organizations, community groups, and even your family's workplaces might offer them.
3. Share your story: Whether it's your grades, personal challenges, leadership, or your drive, make sure your essay or application reflects who you are.
4. Ask for help: Guidance counselors or mentors can review your applications or suggest scholarships you might not know about.
5. Keep your grades and activities strong: Dream schools look for students who stand out and show dedication. Volunteering, clubs, or any passion you have can help.

Also, some schools automatically consider you for scholarships when you apply, so always check that option if it's available. You never know!
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sophia’s Answer

Getting a scholarship from your dream college is an exciting goal, and there are steps you can take to make it happen:

Do Your Best in School:
Aim for good grades. Colleges love to reward students who show dedication and effort in their studies.

Get Involved:
Participate in clubs, sports, or community service. Colleges appreciate students who engage in activities beyond academics.

Ask for Help:
Reach out to teachers or your school counselor. They can guide you to scholarships and explain what you need to do.

Look for Scholarships:
Check your dream college’s website for scholarship opportunities. Some focus on academics, others on sports or community service.

Apply on Time:
Complete all forms and submit them before the deadline. Don’t hesitate to ask an adult for help if you need it.

Write a Great Essay:
If required, write an essay about yourself. Be honest and express your excitement about college.
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Stefanie’s Answer

Hi there! I'm excited to help you with some advice. It's wonderful to dream about attending a specific college or university. Start by researching the school you're interested in, especially to find out about grants or scholarships you might qualify for.

Each school has its own process, which might include sending your current GPA and previous school records, and confirming your citizenship status. This is important because rules are changing in the U.S., affecting visa applications. The same applies if you're a U.S. citizen planning to study abroad.

As an academic advisor, I suggest making your application essay sincere and focused on your goals, showing your eagerness to learn.

If you need to submit a CV, highlight your achievements, leadership skills, and any relevant experience. This should give a clear picture of who you are, your studies, interests, and what you can bring to the program.

I don't want to overwhelm you with too many details, as requirements vary by school. Feel free to ask me more questions.

Wishing you success on your educational journey!
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Mirella’s Answer

Hello Emily!

So great that you are already thinking ahead and preparing yourself for college. While college is not cheap, there are many scholarships out there that are available for you to apply to. Whether the scholarship is from the college/university or another organization, it is important to stay at the top of your game. I would recommend taking Honors and AP courses for the remainder of your high school career. Taking prep courses and prep books for ACT/SAT is also important to achieve the highest score possible. I found that having after-school activities such as National Honors Societies, Key clubs, school/club sports can also look great on an application.

Good luck with finding scholarships!
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Jennifer’s Answer

Hi Emily,

What an important question to ask! I'm glad you're thinking ahead. I've read through the advice you've already been given. It's good advice, so I won't repeat it.

If your dream school is a state university, and you don't live in that state in order to qualify for in-state rates, here's something I've known people have done.

Approach 1) Don't assume you don't qualify for in-state rates. Ask the school or research the state board of regent's requirements for in-state tuition. Some people qualify if they leave nearby across state lines, just moved, etc.

Approach 2) A lot of states have a minimum number of months a person has to live there in order to qualify for that state's residency. Dorms generally don't count because the assumption is that students will return home during the summer and extended breaks. I've known people who lived in the dorm their freshman year (some colleges/universities require it) but then starting in the summer after their freshman year, they have gotten roommates and leased an apartment. After signing the lease, they actually then live in that apartment for a year and get a summer job and/or part time year round job to pay their share of rent. That way, they meet the 1 year residency requirement by the end of their sophomore year. They continued living in an apartment for their junior and senior years too. That way, their junior and senior years, they qualify for in-state tuition rates.

Approach 3) If you know for sure what you want your major to be, contact the head of that department at the college/university and ask if there are any major-specific scholarships that you'll qualify for once you've declared your major. That sometimes works with private colleges/universities. An alumnus donates money to the school but specifies it as to go to someone with an education major , chemistry major, etc.

Approach 4) Once you get to know your local community and get a part time job, ask if they offer any tuition assistance if you work a certain number of hours each week or if they offer any scholarships. Sometimes the corporate entity over a franchisee will have scholarships or offer tuition assistance.

Approach 5) If you are affiliated with any particular organization, religion, etc., sometimes they give out scholarships.

Approach 6) Some unions offer scholarships to the child(ren) of a union member.

Approach 7) Some states offer free community college. If you live in one of those states, get your general education requirements (sometimes called Gen Eds) knocked out for the first year or two and then transfer to your dream school. The only disadvantage I've known people to have who got their first 2 years for free is that trying to make friends at the 4 year school is harder. A good percentage of people make friends their freshman year when no one knows anyone, and then they stay in that friend group. As a 2nd semester sophomore or junior, they had to try a little harder to break into friend groups.

Approach 8) If your dream school is a very small, private college, you might nudge one of your parents to work at the school. The college I went to offered (not sure if they still do) free college to employee's children. They didn't need to be professors. Cafeteria workers, administrative staff, janitors, mailroom staff, etc. all sent their kids to school for free there. This is likely an approach that only works in very specific circumstances because not everybody has a parent that could work at a school that offers it, but those arrangements do exist in some places. In fact, the kids of those employees could send their kids to a bunch of other small colleges that had reciprocal agreements to go for free.

I think one of the most important thing about searching for scholarships is to realize that if a person had nothing other to do in life, they could probably fill out scholarship applications/write essays for the applications and do it as a full-time job. They require time and effort. It's not going to be possible to do that for some people because they have other things going on in their life such as school work/studying, extracurriculars, social life, family time, part-time jobs, etc. It's easy to get burned out trying to do everything. There is one piece of advice I have that contradicts something one other person wrote in their answer to you. That person said to (in my words) apply to all the scholarships you can. That's good advice from the perspective that you can't get a scholarship that you didn't apply for (in most cases). So, it's a numbers game when you use that approach. It works for some people. I get burned out easily, so my advice is once you find a bunch of scholarships that you could apply to, pick a percentage of those that you think you have the best chance of obtaining and do those. You can always do other ones if you get free time, but if you find you're close to being at your limit of all the things going on in your life, then prioritize in a way that doesn't exhaust you.

My last suggestion is that once you identify the scholarships to which you want to apply, put the due date and reminders on your physical or phone calendar. Missing deadlines for really promising scholarships is a huge bummer.

I wish you the best!
Jennifer
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Michael’s Answer

Hi Emily:

When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:

- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral

There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.

College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.

You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and to gain entry to the college of your choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.

Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:

https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/websites-to-kick-off-your-scholarship-search

Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.

There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.

Best wishes for your education and future career goals!
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