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Scholarships are becoming an increasingly crucial way for students from all walks of life to pay for their schooling. Scholarships open up doors and provide opportunities for college education that would otherwise remain out of reach. The hardest part? Getting started and finding the best scholarships for you! The good news? Cappex is here to help you find them.

First and foremost, don’t assume that you won’t qualify for scholarships! They are not just awarded for perfect grades or financial need, although those are certainly great reasons to apply for funding. Don’t give up before you’ve researched your options.

Research

• Scholarships exist everywhere, even in unlikely places.
• Check with local businesses – often they have programs or small scholarships available to students planning to go into business or marketing.
• Churches, synagogues, and other places of worship may offer scholarships to students going into religious studies or those that have completed volunteer work.
• Look into opportunities at the schools to which you are applying. Sometimes scholarships are offered after a student has performed well for several semesters.
• Word of mouth can be a great tool. Let friends and family know you are on the lookout for scholarships. They may know of ones you’d be interested in or have advice where to look.
• Check out these cool essay contests.
• Take the PSAT (Practice SAT)! You can opt to have your scores sent to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which sponsors the PSAT. They offer scholarships to students with excellent scores. Plus, its great practice for the real SAT.
• Visit Cappex for scholarships that align with your interests or major. There is funding available for everything from the arts to engineering!
• Clear up scholarship myths and misconceptions by checking out these Scholarship Myths Debunked.

Planning

• Start early. Give yourself enough time to research, apply, and try again if for some reason your first few attempts are unsuccessful.
• Apply to more than one! Don’t be afraid of utilizing multiple scholarships to pay for your education. Just make sure that they don’t interfere with any Federal Aid you are receiving.
• Scholarships have deadlines. Again, the earlier you begin searching for the scholarship that is right for you, the better your chances are of completing the application on time.
• The PSAT has a sign-up deadline, too! Sign up early in the school year to take it when your high school offers it. Usually, the PSAT is offered in October.
• Set aside a small amount of time each day to do one thing on your scholarship To-Do List. Whether this is “Find One New Scholarship” or “Write INTRO to Scholarship Essay,” make time to do it. Small steps lead you to your big goals.

How to Get a Scholarship: Research and Planning | Choosing and Applying | Results and Your Next Step

Maybe over the last couple of months you’ve heard your teachers, guidance counselors, and parents tell you to apply apply apply, but you’ve just never quite gotten your act together.  Well–now’s the time. And that includes students in any grade in high school and even college students. We’ve included 10 big scholarships that have a range of eligibility.

And for you high school seniors…Even while you’re hustling to get your college applications done and submitted on time, you can/should still be applying for scholarships instead of waiting until spring. They’re a great way to save money on college, and some are fairly easy to apply to. Just schedule some time in your calendar over the weekend (between practice and homework and applications and friends), and apply to a few scholarships. If you take time in the application, you may be pleasantly surprised in the future when you’re awarded a big hunk of cash to help pay for college!

1. Horatio Alger National Scholarships
Deadline: October 30
Average Amount: $20,000
Awards Granted: 104

2. Coca-Cola Scholars
Deadline: October 31
Average Amount: $10,000
Awards Granted: 50

3. Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program
Deadline: November 1
Average Amount: $10,000
Award Range: $1,000-$30,000

4. Intel Science Talent Search
Deadline: November 2
Award Range: $1,000-$100,000
Awards Granted: 300

5. FIRE’s “Freedom in Academia” Essay Contest Scholarships
Deadline: November 5
Award Range: $1,000-$5,000
Awards Granted: 7

6. PBA/NCA Sally Beauty Scholarship
(for cosmetology students)
Deadline: November 15
Average Award: $1,000
Awards Granted: 7

7. Susan G. Komen for the Cure Scholarship Program
(for breast cancer survivors and those who have lost a parent/guardian to breast cancer)
Deadline: November 15
Average Award: $10,000
Renewable

8. Ashley Soule Conroy Foundation Scholarship
(for students planning to study abroad)
Deadline: December 1
Average Award: $2,500

9. Most Valuable Student Award
Deadline: December 2
Award Range: $1,000-$15,000
Awards Granted: 500

10. Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarships
Deadline: December 5
Average Award: $5,000
Awards Granted: 5