Scholarship Talk

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With the cost of college tuition continuing to rise each year, many students are left wondering how they can afford to pay for their college education. Most parents don’t have that much extra cash around to fund their child’s education expenses, so college loans are becoming commonplace.

However, ending up with enormous amounts of debt can almost make a college education seem worthless! In order to minimize the debt you’ll accumulate, you need to start preparing for college as early as your junior year of high school in order to find and obtain scholarship opportunities you’re eligible for.

The following guide aims to direct high school juniors and seniors how they can maximize their time and search for scholarship opportunities that are right for them. Additionally, you’ll find useful tips and a checklist of things you need to do in order to prepare for this exciting time in your life!

High School Juniors

As a junior in high school, it’s tempting to think you can leave all of your college planning to when you’re in your senior year. However, your senior year will be bogged down with college applications, schoolwork and other activities that will significantly decrease the time you have to apply towards college planning.

Granted, there are many things you can do in your senior year of high school to help prepare you for college, but getting a head start while you’re a junior can help you get on top of things and remain a step ahead of the game.

1.    Take the SAT/ACT

While the SAT’s are by far the most common, many colleges now require incoming students to have taken both the SAT and ACT. Various scholarships might also require one or the other, so it’s best to get those taken and out of the way your junior year of high school so you’re prepared for senior year. Even if you discover you didn’t need to take them, it’s a good idea just in case.

2.    Don’t Let Your Grades Drop

It’s easy to goof off when you feel so close to graduation, but that’s not going to do anything but hinder your chances of being accepted into a good college. Even if you’re going to a community college, many scholarship opportunities require you to have a certain GPA to be eligible. While there are scholarships that award money to students based on other factors besides academic standing, the better your GPA, the better your chances of finding funding for college.

3.    Consider Your Options
Right now is the opportune time to begin looking at various colleges you want to attend and how much money you’ll need to cover tuition, books and other supplies. That way, you have a better idea of how much money you’ll need to try to obtain from financial aid, scholarships and other sources of funding.

4.    Scholarship Information

Begin researching various scholarship opportunities you can take advantage of, and send away for applications that have early deadlines. While you may only be in your junior year, it’s never too early to begin planning for college and look at all available resources to fund your college education. By researching now, you’ll save a lot of time and headaches in the long run.

5.    Consider Extracurricular Activities

While you don’t have to be Superman (or woman) during high school, it might not be a bad idea to consider joining an after school club, doing some volunteer work, or another activity that sets you apart from other students. Many scholarship applications ask you to demonstrate your leadership abilities and commitment to projects, so it’s a good idea to have a well-rounded life after school that can easily translate into more funding for college.

High School Seniors

It’s tempting to goof off this year – don’t. Now more than ever is a time to take college planning seriously, and you can’t do that if you let your grades drop or your scholarship opportunities pass you by.

1.    Retake the SAT/ACT

Believe it or not, re-taking these tests can help improve your scores, giving you a better score all around that will look better on your scholarship applications.

2.    Attend a Presentation

Many high schools or community colleges offer financial aid presentations to prospective college students and their parents. These meetings are usually very helpful if you need some clarification about the financial aid process and can give you additional places to look for scholarship money.

3.    Submit the FAFSA

After January 1st, complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You can fill this out directly online, and many scholarships and grants require you to fill this out before you can be eligible for monetary awards.

4.    Get Organized

Now, you’ll want to double check that you’ve sent all the required forms, financial aid documents, and scholarship applications to the correct sources. Make sure you send them in on time – submitting a late application almost always disqualifies you from obtaining aid, or at least lessens the amount you receive. Continue looking for scholarships during this time, and make sure you apply to every one you’re eligible for.

Finally, you’ll be able to finalize your decision and sign each financial aid form/scholarship application to the college you plan to attend. Make sure to notify other colleges that you won’t be accepting their aid package.

While this may seem like a lot of work, the earlier you start to plan for college, the better your chances of obtaining funding for your college education. Your junior year of high school is the opportune time to look for scholarship opportunities and decide which college(s) you may want to attend once you graduate.

By planning ahead, you’ll be able to emerge a step ahead of the competition. You don’t want to leave all of your college planning to your senior year of high school – that’s just asking for headaches! But if you take the time to plan for college as early as possible, you’ll be on your way to being a college student in no time.

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