Scholarships for High School Seniors

Are you a high school senior? Congratulations! Reaching the end of your high school studies is an exciting time. However, it can also be stressful. As you get ready to continue your studies in college, you may be thinking about the financial side of things. College can be very expensive and finding money can be difficult for many families. Luckily, many scholarships for high school seniors exist today.

In this guide, we will explain the different kinds of scholarships available to you. Make sure to read on to learn about different scholarship options.

Diversity Programs

One way you can earn a scholarship is simply by being you! Many schools want to have a diverse student population on campus. This means that they actively seek to accept minority students. You may be eligible for scholarships simply for being female, African American, Hispanic, or another minority. Through these diversity programs, you may have a better chance to be accepted to your school of choice. Also, this is a great (and easy) way to begin when narrowing down your scholarship search. Let’s take a closer look at some of these groups.

African American Scholarships for High School Seniors

There are many scholarships available specifically for African American students. Many organizations provide scholarships to encourage African Americans to get college degrees. According to The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, the percentage of African Americans receiving college degrees has increased significantly in the last two decades. However, the gap with white Americans is still large. Scholarships are helping to bridge this gap. If you are an African American female student with special interests or skills, there are also specific scholarships for you.

Scholarships for Female High School Seniors

Today many women feel equal in school and the workplace. While equality has improved in the last few decades, there is still much more work to do. There are many different types of scholarships available for female students. One area where scholarships are widely available is for fields that are typically dominated by men. These include the sciences, engineering, and computers. There are merit-based scholarships specifically for women as well. For example, The Girl Scouts have a scholarship for outstanding female students. Other scholarships are available for female students attending all-female colleges.

Scholarships for Hispanic High School Seniors

Did you know that Hispanic and Latin American students are the largest minority group on U.S. college campuses? As we talked about above, many schools want a diverse student body. This will help you if you are a Hispanic high school senior.

Many scholarships are available for Hispanic students. The requirements can be different depending on the scholarship. Some require essays or applications. Most importantly, you must have a Hispanic bloodline. If you come from a Hispanic (or other minority background), make sure to check for specific ethnic-related scholarships!

Scholarships by Subject

Another common way to find scholarships is by field of study. Depending on what you’re going to study, you can find many scholarships available. Of course, this means that you’ll need to have an idea of what you want to study. In this section, we will break down some of the most common fields. Pay attention! There are scholarships out there for specific populations who study certain subjects. For example, if you’re a female engineer or an African American music student. If you meet these specific criteria, make sure to apply! Your chances of winning are high because you are in a unique position.

Engineering Scholarships for High School Seniors

Engineering is a very exciting field today. It’s a competitive field and schooling can be long. There are many engineering scholarships available. Many are focused on specific groups such as those attending certain schools, gender or background. Both the government and private organizations sponsor engineering scholarships. This is because they are focused on having the best students as engineers, regardless of the cost! If you’re a science lover and interested in studying engineering, make sure to look for appropriate scholarships.

Music Scholarships for High School Seniors

Studying music is a highly competitive field. As opposed to engineering, career prospects in music can be limited and salaries are often low. However, if you’re passionate about music, a music degree can open amazing doors for your career. There are scholarships available for students looking to fund their music studies. Some of these scholarships can be large such as the John Lennon Scholarship giving away $20,000 in tuition fees. Students often have to submit original work and compositions for these scholarships.

STEM Scholarships for High School Seniors

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are growing fields all over the world. It’s no surprise that so many high school seniors are interested in studying these topics. Career prospects are great, with the potential to earn a high salary. There are many scholarships available for STEM students. Many are merit-based (your GPA and test scores) but not all. These scholarships can be competitive so make sure to submit the best application possible.

Art Scholarships for High School Seniors

Are you passionate about art? There are various art degrees available today including degrees in fine arts or a B.A. in art or art history. Scholarships for the fine arts are based on talent. These require you to submit a portfolio of your work. If you’re applying to one of these scholarships, it’s important to build an impressive portfolio. These scholarships are competitive and a serious portfolio will make you a better candidate. If you are interested in getting a B.A. in art or art history, which are liberal arts degrees, you can also find relevant scholarships.

Marketing Scholarships for High School Seniors

Business is a very popular major in college today. One of the most common areas of interest in marketing. Focusing on marketing can open many doors for future jobs. Students interested in studying marketing-related fields should apply for relevant scholarships. Many schools have marketing related scholarships as well as private funds and organizations. For example, the New York Women in Communications Inc. Foundation Scholarship Program provides up to $10,000 in scholarship money. You must meet the requirements including place of residence and intended major of study.

Scholarship Applications for High School Seniors

Many high school seniors apply for scholarships each year. There is a lot of competition and it is important to stand out. How do you do this? Through your scholarship application.

It is very important that your application is organized and impressive. Each scholarship application is different and has different requirements. Most require an essay (or several). Take your time to write the best essay possible. We recommend having a few people look over your essay to make sure it’s perfect (both grammar and content).

It’s important to present yourself well in the application and make sure it’s complete. You should always tell the truth in your application! Even if you think something isn’t so impressive, it’s important to be yourself.  These applications can be time-consuming and annoying, but it’s crucial to take your time and do your best.

Easy/Weird Scholarships for High School Seniors

Not all scholarships have difficult applications or hard requirements. There are a surprising number of easy scholarships out there. One of the easiest types of scholarships available are those without an essay. These are great because they are much simpler to apply for! They will also save you lots of time so you can apply for more scholarships. Some no-essay scholarships ask you to complete a quiz, write a few sentences or give information about your future plans.

Another type of easy scholarship is social media scholarships. These require you to post information on social media in order to apply. This could mean making a commercial or just answering a question on a social media platform of choice.

In addition to easy scholarships, there are many weird scholarships out there. These are perfect if you have a less common hobby or interest, or exceptional knowledge on a particular subject. If this is you, make sure to make the most of your experience and knowledge!

Local Scholarships for High School Seniors

Another great way to find scholarships is through your local community. You may be surprised by how many scholarships you can find this way. Cities and towns have an interest that their residents will succeed in life and in college. Therefore, they are often prepared to help fund your studies.

Local scholarships can be found on the town, city, or state level. For example, the AAA South Jersey Scholarship Program is a scholarship for students in South Jersey with a $5,000 prize.

You can also look for information in local libraries and colleges.

Corporate Scholarships for High School Seniors

Believe it or not, many large corporations provide scholarships for high school seniors. They are interested in helping the best students enter the workforce and even their own companies. Some major companies that provide scholarships include Home Depot, Verizon, KFC and more. These scholarships are often merit-based. In some situations, they are given to students with specific interests that relate to the company.

Fraternity/Sorority Scholarships

Joining a fraternity or sorority is very popular today on college campuses. Joining Greek life has many advantages both socially and in the long-term (such as alumni relations). Many fraternities and sororities have scholarships for their members. Some even have for non-members that fit certain criteria. These may include the subject of study, religion or general interests.

One well-known scholarship is the Omega Phi Phi scholarship. This fraternity offers scholarships to members and encourages the highest academic achievements. This award has strict requirements including attending a leadership conference. The rewards are generous.  The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority also offers big scholarships for high school students. Multiple scholarships are available in varying amounts.

Scholarships for High School Students with Learning Disabilities

There are many scholarships available for students who suffer from learning disabilities. The goal of these scholarships is to give learning disabled students equal opportunities to attend college. Whether you have dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD or something else, there is a scholarship available for you. Many will require you to provide proof of diagnosis. They may also ask for an essay in which you describe how your disability has affected your life and studies.

Community Service Scholarships for High School Seniors

Have you completed community service during high school? These activities will certainly help you be accepted to college. Many schools value seeing community service on applications.  Additionally, doing community means that there might be additional scholarships available for you!

Community service scholarships come from a variety of sources. These include charities, schools themselves, governments and more. It’s also smart to ask the places that you volunteer at if they have scholarships available.

Marine Corps Scholarships for High School Seniors

If you come from a Marine Corp family, you’re in luck! Scholarships are available for children of active, reserve or veteran Marines. There are various scholarships available for those who are eligible. These include scholarships for those whose family members were tragically killed in the line of duty or on September 11. There are also academic requirements as well as family income limits. Check out more information here.

2019 Scholarships

If you’re planning to start school in Fall 2019, now is the time to start looking for scholarships! It’s important to start your search as early as possible so you won’t miss deadlines for important 2019 scholarships. Most deadlines are between January and May but some may be as late as the summer. If you apply early, you may have a better chance of being accepted. Many students wait until the last minute and may miss deadlines. You’ll find out if you’ve been accepted according to the specific scholarship schedule.

Final Thoughts

As you reach the end of high school, thinking about financing your college education can be overwhelming. It’s important to recognize all of the potential sources of scholarship money out there. In this guide, we have given you ideas on how you might find relevant scholarships. There is plenty of scholarship money out there, now it’s time to go and get it. Good luck!

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