1 answer
Kameron
Student
Leighton, Alabama
1
Question
Updated
132 views
How can I secure a lot of money when most scholarships are given at random?
I’m a senior in high school (12th grade), and I am starting to get worried about my finances once I reach college, now that I’m almost halfway finished with school
Login to comment
1 answer
Andrew Dinh
Consultant
12
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
A lot of scholarships feel random, but getting money for college is honestly more of a volume and strategy game than luck.
First thing: fill out the FAFSA the minute it opens. That is how you get access to federal grants, work-study, and school-based aid. It is free money you do not want to miss.
Then hit scholarships from a few angles:
School-specific scholarships. Once you get accepted, many colleges offer their own awards that are much less competitive than national ones.
Local scholarships. Community organizations, banks, nonprofits, and even small businesses give out money. Fewer applicants means higher odds.
Online scholarship platforms. Niche, Going Merry, Scholarship Owl, Fastweb, and others. It is a numbers game: apply, apply, apply.
Short-essay scholarships. They take effort, but most people skip them, which makes your chances better if you stick with it.
Also, apply early. Fall of senior year is peak scholarship season, especially for students aiming for fall 2025.
It is totally normal to stress about finances, but if you stay consistent and apply broadly, you can stack more money than you expect.
First thing: fill out the FAFSA the minute it opens. That is how you get access to federal grants, work-study, and school-based aid. It is free money you do not want to miss.
Then hit scholarships from a few angles:
School-specific scholarships. Once you get accepted, many colleges offer their own awards that are much less competitive than national ones.
Local scholarships. Community organizations, banks, nonprofits, and even small businesses give out money. Fewer applicants means higher odds.
Online scholarship platforms. Niche, Going Merry, Scholarship Owl, Fastweb, and others. It is a numbers game: apply, apply, apply.
Short-essay scholarships. They take effort, but most people skip them, which makes your chances better if you stick with it.
Also, apply early. Fall of senior year is peak scholarship season, especially for students aiming for fall 2025.
It is totally normal to stress about finances, but if you stay consistent and apply broadly, you can stack more money than you expect.