When Your Child Should Start Applying for Scholarships - The Scholarship System (2024)

FAQs

When Your Child Should Start Applying for Scholarships - The Scholarship System? ›

Junior year is the year of test-taking, college visits and so much more! While we don't want to overwhelm you or your child, this is also the year that they should start looking for scholarships and building their scholarship materials.

Some deadlines are as early as a year before college starts, so if you're in high school now, you should be researching and applying for scholarships during the summer between your junior and senior years.

Learners can begin submitting scholarship applications as early as four years of age. (Of course, they are likely to need a little help earlier on from their parents with the application process).

Most applications open August 1, but students don't have to wait until that date to get started. Deadlines and requirements for college applications vary, so experts advise high school students to begin the process by the start of their senior year.

What GPA is needed for most scholarships? For academic scholarships, most require a 3.0 minimum. However, there are scholarships offered for students with other talents, such as for the arts and athletics.

The earlier you begin applying, the more funding you'll get and the less work you'll have your senior year. We've combed through all the scholarships out there and collected the best of the best for you here.

Apply for scholarships early and often. Some scholarship deadlines are as early as a year before you start college. You don't need to wait until you've made your final decision about your school to apply. But don't worry if you missed out on some of the earliest scholarship applications.

How many scholarships should you apply for? The short answer is that you should apply to as many as you can, as early as you can. This means that you need to be looking early, and finding out when deadlines are. But remember, you don't want to make a career out of scholarship searching and application.

There are numerous colleges and private organizations that offer first generation scholarships for students who will be the first in their family to attend college!

Can scholarships expire or be taken away? Yes. Scholarships can expire for a few reasons. If students don't enroll in classes within a certain time period, or if students take a break from school, then the scholarship could expire.

What year of high school should I apply to college? ›

High school students should begin applying to colleges during fall of their senior year. This gives students ample time to gain leadership experience and improve their overall grades.

The summer of 11th grade is typically the optimal time to launch the formal application process, with the month of May being a great starting point. However, early college planning can begin well beforehand with campus visits, list and portfolio development, resume audits, and more.

Another reason why scholarships are hard to obtain is the number of applications submitted for the same scholarship. Many scholarships receive hundreds of applications for an award that only has one winner. This means thousands of people could apply and not even be considered.

Grade 12 is a student's best time to win scholarships. There will never be another time where there are more opportunities and less competition.

Start applying for scholarships as soon as you can. Scholarship money is financial aid that doesn't need to be paid back, which makes it one of the best ways to help pay for college. You'll be eligible for some college scholarships as early as your freshman year of high school.

According to the NCAA rules, college coaches are not allowed to offer scholarships to recruits before August 1 or September 1, depending on the sport, of a student-athlete's junior year. These rules apply to all sports except football, women's and men's basketball, and baseball.

Applying for the early deadline generally does improve your chances compared to the later deadlines. But getting your application in a few extra weeks before one particular deadline makes no difference. Mind you, the aid that the earlier deadlines may qualify you for are merit scholarships.