Scholarships for High School Juniors
Finding scholarships for high school juniors seems like a daunting task at first, but there are simply more options than meets the eye. As college tuition continues to arise in the nation, many students even question whether or not they will be able to afford a higher education. This is a commonality between all prospecting college students. Fret not, though. With the abundance of scholarships available, just about anyone has a chance at getting one. Here are some of the sources you may be able to look to for high school junior scholarships, in 2012.
CollegeBoard Scholarships for High School Juniors
The CollegeBoard helps coordinate many different academic tests, including the Advanced Placement and SAT exams. The exam of relevancy, though, is the PSAT. Your PSAT score will not be sent to colleges, but it is very important to take it regardless. Being in 11th grade or higher and placing high on the PSAT gives you a chance to win a National Merit Scholarship. You have to do very well on it-reaching the 99th percentile (although the cutoff varies by state). Still, it’s a very easy way to qualify for a scholarship, and its great practice for taking the actual SAT. If you study well enough for the PSAT, you could get a full ride to college from an array of institutions in your state.
Science Competition Scholarships for Juniors in High School
The second type of scholarships that high school juniors should consider are science competitions. That is a very broad category, but there are multiple science fair competitions that can provide big bucks to high school students interested in college. The big name competitions are the Siemens Competition and the Intel Science Talent Search, but there is an increasing amount of them being made. Each competition has its own rules and regulations, but there is one general premise: complete a high-level, thorough scientific investigation and write a paper on it. These competitions are usually very fierce, but if you have an interest in the sciences, you could very well succeed. These science competitions are taken very seriously, and as a result, the scholarships can be pretty significant. For example, a region finalist in the Siemens Competition will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship. If you manage to make it all the way to the top, the highest prize as a national winner is a whopping $100,000 scholarship.
State Scholarships for High School Juniors in 2012
You should be able to find many scholarships through the state you live in if you plan to continue your high school education there. If you currently attend a high school in Texas, you may be able to earn a few Texas scholarships just by attending a college in the state. Most states do this to encourage people to pursue a higher education within their borders. As long as you abide by the scholarship requirements for the state, you may be able to have your tuition paid for by staying where you are.
If you decide not to state in the state you currently live in, you may still be able to qualify for state based scholarships in the new state you go to. You will most likely need to be a resident of the state for at least one year before applying, but then you can get funding similar to what you would receive in your home state. You can do some more research about that when you start exploring specific schools you want to attend after graduation.
Need Based Scholarships for Juniors
If you come from a low income family, you may be able to qualify for need based scholarships. These are issued by schools, private organizations, and the government to provide needy students with a chance to pay for college. Some need based scholarships are more valuable than others, but they can all be used to supplement your education. To receive one of these scholarships, you will most likely need to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. That will determine what your expected family contribution is for college. If your EFC score is low enough, you could have an array of opportunities with need based scholarships.
You will also have some college grants to look forward to if you have a low EFC score. The Federal Pell Grant, for instance, can provide up to $5,500 toward your schooling every year. As long as you continue to need money for college, it will be there to help you out.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let finding scholarships for high school juniors control your life, as it is just one of many factors of successfully getting into college. Your guidance counselor should help you with finding scholarships too, and being that you are only a junior, you have an entire year to work towards scholarships. Nevertheless, it is never too early to start looking for financial aid for college. With the previously mentioned options, finding scholarships for high school juniors should be a stress-free and easy process.
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