Junior year is when high school students really start to kickoff their college admissions process. This is also a great time to begin applying for scholarships to pay for college!
One of the biggest mistakes that students make in the admissions process is waiting until the end of senior year to apply for scholarships. There are plenty of great scholarships for high school juniors to apply. Keep on reading to learn more about the great scholarship opportunities for the class of 2024 including award amounts, deadlines, and eligibility requirements!
Scholarship roundup
As you can see, there are scholarship programs out there for high school juniors from all walks of life. Students interested in submitting a video application may consider the Taco Bell Live Mas scholarship, while students who feel passionately about spending time away from screens could find success with the Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship. If you are a junior who hasn’t turned 18 yet and you have a strong vision for a project you’d like to complete, try checking out the Davidson Institute Fellows Scholarship. And to get custom recommendations from thousands of scholarships matched to your interests and demographics, try signing up for our free scholarship search tool!
Prestigious scholarships for high school juniors
Coolidge Scholarship
The Coolidge Scholarship offers students a full ride to any accredited university or college in the United States. That includes room and board and associated expenses with education. Students must apply during their junior year of high school. It is purely a merit-based scholarship, as it is need-blind and non-partisan. Applicants who demonstrate an interest in public service and volunteer work have an extra advantage.
Hamilton Award
The Hamilton Award is a five-year empowerment program awarded to students in their junior year. It offers them a yearly renewable scholarship to put towards their education, a laptop to use in their studies, and access to a wide network of resources and support over their senior year and throughout college. One of the reasons this award is given out during your junior year is so that it can offer you support through the college admissions process, which is an invaluable resource.
Tips for high school juniors
- Junior year is the most important academic year for both the admissions and college merit scholarship selection process. Make sure that you finish the year strong with a strong set of grades!
- Letters of recommendation are another important part of the admissions process and can be required for scholarships. Asking teachers to write rec letters for you is a must before the end of junior year!
- You can also get a jump start on scholarships for seniors that have fall deadlines. This will put you ahead of the game come back to school time.
- Be sure to stay in contact with your guidance counselor! They can keep you in the loop on local scholarships, opportunities from colleges, and generally on track in the college admissions process.
How to win scholarships for high school juniors
As a high school junior applying for scholarships, it will be important for you to show that you have put some thought into your hopes and ambitions for the future. Spend some time reflecting on what you’d like to accomplish in one, five, and ten years, and come up with some plans to achieve them. Remember, you don’t have to commit to these plans, but it can be helpful to start thinking about them early, and scholarship committees will be impressed by the prospect that you have a plan to execute your vision.
When it comes to completing your applications, remember that clarity is key. Scholarship readers end up reviewing a huge number of applications every day, so it is up to you to write one that stands out. You should make sure that your writing has character and is clear and succinct.
Luckily, we have a whole host of resources to help you out in writing the best possible applications. These include guides on writing a 250 or 500 word essay, writing an essay about yourself, and writing a winning scholarship essay. We can also guide you through crafting an effective beginning and end, and walk you through some of the most common scholarship essay prompts.
Frequently asked questions
When should juniors start applying for scholarships?
One great way to stay up on scholarship opportunities is via our scholarship matching platform. This resource will keep you constantly updated on new opportunities custom-matched to your demographics, skills, and interests.
Can juniors start applying for scholarships?
Is junior year too early to start applying for scholarships?
When do you apply for the Coolidge Scholarship?
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