Scholarships for High School Juniors

Scholarships for high school juniors?  Is it too early to think about scholarships when you are a junior?  NO.  In fact, this is the perfect time to think about scholarships.  Why?  Because there is still time to increase your chances.  In today’s world, scholarships can save you and your family a TON of money.  Tuition prices are increasing on a yearly basis, and leaving many college graduates loaded up with debt as they are looking for an entry-level job! 

So how can underclassmen prepare to get scholarships?

One obvious way is to work on your grades and your ACT/SAT test scores.  Many take the ACT one time, and sit on that score, figuring that it’s not possible to do much better.  But the ACT is just a test like any other test.  With preparation, you can significantly improve your score.  ACT and SAT scores can play a LARGE role in getting a scholarship.  So make sure that you take this as serious as possible.

Perhaps NO other factor will contribute MORE to your getting a scholarship, than your ACT and SAT score.  So even if you can just bump it up a few points, it might make the difference.

Also, if you are an underclassmen, you need to buckle down on your grades.  High school is a fun time, and many high schools are full of extra-curricular activities.  But if you want to give yourself an advantage in life, but your studies first.  If you give it 100% effort, you can significantly raise your GPA.  If you GPA is below 3, than you need to really buckle down if you hope to receive a scholarship.

How can a Junior locate a scholarship?

Scholarships for high school juniors are plentiful, but you need to do exhaustive research.  On a positive note, you have plenty of time to look, as you are still a junior.  But use this time wisely.  Many scholarships have deadlines for applications.

Get an Excel spreadsheet, and begin keeping track of as many scholarships as you can find.  Write the deadline application dates on them, and make sure that you have applied weeks in advance.  If you wait until you are a senior to do this, you will likely miss deadlines, and significantly lower your chances of achieving a scholarship.

Check with local businesses and organizations to see what kinds of scholarships for high school juniors are located in your area.  Check with your guidance counselor and express your desire for a scholarship and find out what options your school knows about.

The state has scholarships and grants that they give out on a yearly basis.  Exhaust all your options in looking for these scholarships.  Research, research, research.

Finally, there is nothing wrong with making a list of the college that you would like to attend, calling them, and finding out if they offer any scholarships.  Since you have time on your side, ask them what things that you can do to get yourself in a better position to get a scholarship.

Notable Achievements

Keep track of any notable achievements.  Are you in a special club or organization that has done something truly significant in your school or community?  Remember that in a scholarship application, you are going to want to stand out from the crowd.  So keep track of anything that you have done and keep that list right by you when you are filling out scholarship applications. 

Scholarships for high school juniors are plentiful, and as a junior, you have time on your side.  So make good use of that time, do as much research as possible both locally and on the internet, and if you do, you’ll have a great opportunity to get yourself a scholarship and save you and your family a lot of money.