How to Get College Scholarships for High School Seniors

As a college admissions counselor, it’s that time of year when my seniors and their families are hit hard by the cost of college because they have to make a final decision soon. As they make those final decisions about where to attend, they ask me more and more questions about how to search for scholarships. Here are my best tips for all families, not just seniors.

• Institutional Scholarships
• National Scholarships
• Local Scholarships
• Additional Resources

Institutional Scholarships

• If paying for college will be particularly difficult for your family, it’s important to build a balanced list of schools that are generous before you even apply.
• Then you should apply for aid using the FAFSA. Note, some schools will ask for an additional form called the CSS profile. These forms open on October 1st of your senior year in high school. Award letters typically come in 4-6 weeks after your acceptance letter to that college. You will need to fill out the FAFSA and CSS profile every year you attend college.
• Every school where you have applied for aid should give you some sort of letter describing what aid you are awarded. Look at those letters very carefully. Create a spreadsheet listing each school, how much it costs (i.e. tuition, housing, meals, books, travel, fees) are at each school, and the aid (i.e. grants, scholarships, loans) you are getting. Then you should be able to figure out how much each college will cost. Keep those comparisons handy.
• Get on the phone with a financial aid officer if you have questions. They may ask for additional information or tell you if there are other scholarships you can apply for at that school. It’s best if this communication is from the student, not the parent. Financial aid officers are often much more receptive to students who are invested in the process and really want to attend that school.
• Be careful if you try to “negotiate” between school offers. Most financial aid officers get a bit weary when parents try to come in tough and negotiate hard. It’s best to say, “I have these 2 similar schools I am thinking about attending. The other one is less expensive than your school. Is there anything we can do to make the cost less?”
• If circumstances have changed for your family so that your incomes are less than you put on the FAFSA, make sure to send updated documentation (usually W2s and tax information) to the college. Swift forms can help you put everything in writing so you are organized.
• Check out the college portals and Google the name of the college with the words “scholarships” to see if there are additional awards.
• See our webinar on scholarships, financial aid and paying for college for even more information about financial aid and awards.

National Scholarships

External national scholarships sound great but are really competitive!

• There are lots of big name scholarships out there which sound great, but remember that many students will apply to these. For instance, the Coca Cola scholarship gives an award of $20,000 over 4 years of college, but 105,000 students applied for 150 awards this past year! Pick and choose carefully because some of these scholarships require lots of time.
• There are many online scholarship databases available to make your search easier. My students tend to like: GoingMerry, Scholarships.com, and Fastweb. For each of these sites, you will fill in some basic information about yourself and they will match you to potential scholarships. You may receive lots of emails. You will also spend more time searching than actually applying.
• Students who are successful in this scholarship search usually make it a job. They spend 30 minutes a day searching and applying. It’s one of those marathons where you have to take this large task and keep chipping away at it every day. It takes patience and persistence. Parents can certainly help with this search.
• Remember: NEVER pay for a scholarship. That’s a sure sign that it’s a scam!
• Many scholarship sites do sell your name. College Board often has money to give, but they get that money by selling your name. Again, you may receive lots of emails. Please be careful about what information you share.
• Some schools may see an outside scholarship as a replacement for money they would give you, especially if you receive a big national external scholarship. This is important to clarify with the college, if/when you receive an external award.

Local Scholarships

Local scholarships are your best bet!

• Many local organizations LOVE to give graduating seniors scholarship money at the graduation ceremony. While these awards may seem small, they can add up quickly and they are often not competitive.
• Ask your teachers and school counselors if they know of any local scholarships. Many schools will post on a bulletin board, on their school counseling website, or school platform (i.e. Naviance, Scoir). You might also look at a neighboring school’s website for information about local scholarships.
• See if you can find the graduation program from the year before. They will often list students who won awards. Most awards are due in the late winter or early spring and are given during graduation time.
• Reach out to local non-profit organizations in your area such as Kiwanis, Lions, and Rotary clubs because they often offer awards.
• Think about the activities you have participated in over the years and reach out to those organizations. For instance, if you’ve been involved in music, reach out to your music teachers because they might know about local music awards.
• Ask your parents’ employers about possible scholarship money and benefits offered through their Human Resources department. Many large companies and/or professional associations have scholarships for employees and their family members.
• Reuse your college application essays as much as possible as you apply. It will make everything easier. At the same time, make sure your essay is addressing whatever prompt they might ask.
• Make a spreadsheet and/or find other ways to keep track of your searches.
• Follow all guidelines from the scholarship.  You do not want to risk a scholarship because you have not filled out required information or missed a deadline!
• Find out if you can/need to reapply in future years for any scholarship you win.

Additional Resources

I hope this post has provided valuable information on how to get scholarships for college as a high school senior. For more info, take a look at some of these additional resources.

• Watch our webinar on scholarships, financial aid and paying for college.
• Check out our previous webinars for all kinds of advice on college admissions.
• Still have questions? Grab a spot at one of our upcoming events and ask our experts directly! We host weekly webinars on a variety of topics.
• Connect with one of our experts for a free 45-min consultation to learn more about how our college counselors can support you in your college admissions journey. 

About Us: With more than twenty years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the student. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for you to be your best self - whether it’s in the classroom, in your applications or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of tools include counseling, test prep, academic tutoring, and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform, leading to a 4x higher than average admissions rates.