Top 7 scholarships for HS freshmen overall
Our editors chose the following scholarships for high school freshmen based on the strong reputation of their organizations, the value of the awards, and being open to a wide number of students. Apply with confidence to these 7 scholarships for high school freshmen:
- The Paradigm Challenge – For students aged 4 to 18 who create a project that helps solve a real-world issue. Worth between $200 and $100,000
- Breakthrough Junior Challenge – For students aged 13 to 18 who create a video to explain a scientific or mathematical concept. Worth $250,000
- Barbizon College Tuition Scholarship – Sweepstakes competition for high school students, awards $100,000
- Scholastic Art & Writing Awards – For middle and high school students who submit a piece of creative writing or art. Worth up to $12,500
- Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest – For students over 14 years of age who submit a greeting card. Worth $10,000
- Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest – For students in grades 9-12 who submit two-dimensional art displaying patriotism. Awards vary based on the number awarded
- Minecraft Scholarships – For high school and college students who write about the educational benefits of the video game Minecraft. Worth $2,000
How to win scholarships for high school freshmen
Now that you’ve got a list of scholarship opportunities at your disposal, let’s get into how you can win them. As a member of the class of 2026, you’re in a unique position, as you are applying before many of your classmates. You have less experience under your belt, which makes the way you showcase it all the more important.
Make sure to join extracurriculars in high school to bolster your applications. Not only will these look impressive on your scholarship resume, they will also offer great anecdotes to use in your scholarship essays. These essays can be the secret to standing out among the other candidates. There is a specific art to writing a good scholarship essay, and we can help you ace it. Check out these resources for some inspiration:
- How to start a scholarship essay
- How to write an essay about yourself
- “Show, don’t tell” essay primer
- How to write a 500 word essay
- How to write a 250 word essay
Tips for high school freshmen
Prioritize your schoolwork
The absolute best thing you can do as a freshman is establish a solid bedrock of grades. You’ll thank yourself later when you have a strong GPA, which is one of the biggest factors that colleges consider in admissions and scholarships. High school academics are different from middle school, so it may take some getting used to.
If you find yourself struggling, be proactive – meet with teachers, counselors, and go to after-school tutoring if it’s available. Form study groups and learn how to meet the new academic demands of high school. The earlier you get on top of it, the easier it’ll be!
Explore extracurriculars
Extracurriculars are an important part of the high school experience. They give students opportunities to explore their passions in the real world, make friends, and work as a team. Not to mention, they look very impressive on college applications! Now more than ever, colleges look for well-rounded students, and extracurriculars go a long way in demonstrating this.
As a first-year, it’s a good idea to explore lots of different types of extracurriculars, and stick with a couple of them that you are passionate about. Remember – it’s a great time to push your boundaries, so try showing up for some meetings for sports or activities you’re not sure if you’ll like. If you aren’t into it, you can just not keep going!
Keep notes on which classes you enjoy and succeed in
The other biggest thing a high school freshman can do to prepare for the next step is to take notes on their reflections from classes. Try to figure out which classes were tough, easy, rewarding, confusing, et cetera. If you write all of this down as it’s happening, you’ll have a reliable record to look back on later. You can try documenting everything at the end of each semester while it’s fresh in your mind. This could help you decide which advanced courses to take, and maybe even what to major in in college.
Get a picture of your financial situation
It’s never too early to get an idea of what you’ll be able to afford in college. Try sitting down with your parents and entering your current financial data into the FAFSA to get an estimate of the financial aid you may receive when it’s time to apply to college. Find out how much your parents have saved, if any, and consider putting it into a 529 plan to get tax breaks. Don’t wait until you’re a senior to get a picture of the college admissions and financial aid package!
Frequently asked questions
Is freshman year too early to apply for scholarships?
What scholarships are available for high school freshmen?
How do I stand out in a scholarship application as a high school freshman?
What is the earliest age you can apply for scholarships?
You can apply for college scholarships at any age; in fact, we even have a list of scholarships for students in middle school. There are scholarship programs out there for any age of student, and the majority of them are available for high school students.
Now that you are in high school, make sure to check out many different sources of college scholarships. If you are involved in community service, we have a list for that. If you can demonstrate financial need, we have a list for that too. You can also browse scholarships by state and by interest. Good luck!
Also see: High school checklist: freshman through senior year
Explore these other scholarship categories
- Top scholarships for women
- Top scholarships for minority students
- Easy scholarships to apply for
- Top scholarships for students with learning disabilities
- Top scholarships for immigrant students
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