Get your credentials in order… are you doing your best to get high grades? Are you preparing for your college entrance exams? Are you involved in a variety of activities so that you will look balanced to the scholarship committee? ( usually at least one school, one community activity, leadership roles look good too 4-H, Scouts, church groups, community service groups etc.) Do you have a clue about what you want to do for a career? If so, there are often scholarships for specific careers. In the summer can you get a job or internship in your career area? If you are not sure, there are programs at your high school or local community college which will help you evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, and interests to help you determine possible career areas.

Also, rarely does someone get a free ride scholarship. You may want to have a some money in savings to help with the first year. I would say a minimum of $3000 for an average college, more if you are headed to a big name school. Start saving now.

Also, take advantage of those college nights or college fairs, where you can get information about several colleges in a few hours… it saves gas and time. When you have narrowed your choices to say 3 to 5, see if you can make campus visits, take a tour etc. You might have a community college on one end of your choices( they are usually fairly easy to get into) and a dream college on the other end of your list. ( Don’t let the price scare you off, the base amount that you are expected to pay may be the same for either end college, you just need more scholarships, grants, loans, work study programs etc, to make up the difference.)

There are usually books about scholarships and programs at your local library, counselor’s office etc. Check the bulletin boards outside the counselor’s offices. Also, I am including a link which worked well for my family. It will take your information and help screen for the most appropriate scholarships for you. It will also keep sending you e mails about new scholarships that meet your criteria.

Have you thought about references yet? many scholarships ask for one to three references from adults, not family members. Who knows you well enough to give you a good reference? Are they willing to do that? Ask them. Never put down a reference without permission. At this point you are just asking permission, they don’t even have to do anything yet. Most people will say yes. Then next year, with the reference form in hand, you can remind them, ” Remember when I asked if you would be willing to be a reference, well….)

Where are your parents in all of this? Even if they are not rich, you will need their cooperation for tax forms, permission forms etc. Are they okay with you going to college? If not, things are harder, but not impossible.

Finally, many scholarships and grants ask for an “Essay.” Use the practice applications from this year to get an idea of what the sponsors want. Start working on the essays now… just think, in a year they will be polished , edited, brief and to the point. Sometimes you will be interviewed. Practice essays help you clarify your thoughts so you are less likely to go braindead during an actual interview.

Get going, you will have an advantage over all those kids who wait until junior or senior year to even think about these things.

But the thing to note is that you don’t have to be an academic genius or have a 4.0 GPA to qualify for many scholarships, in fact some even estimate that is a majority of scholarships. Of course there are scholarships for academic achievement where a high GPA is a requirement, but gone are the days when only high GPA students or the outstanding jocks or the musical geniuses were eligible for scholarships,

The cost of attending college can vary greatly, depending on the school, geographical location, or just name recognition.

State institutions of higher learning are generally less expensive than private institutions. State colleges have lower tuition for in state students, and the tuition for out of state students can be more than double. Even as an in-state resident at a state university, tuition for a year will likely be more than $5000, and at private schools, easily twice that. Then you have books, where those can cost another $500 per semester, and lodging, even in the dorm or college housing, will be about $7500 per year or more. The particular college you have chosen may be a bit more or less, but those figures get you in the ballpark.

Research local college scholarships first, as there may be some great programs offered by local schools, corporations, health-care institutions, or even local philanthropists. Your high school guidance counselor should be the first person to look to for advice on determining which college scholarship programs meet your specific needs and interests, and to help you navigate the application process. Your local library is another good source of research into college scholarships. There probably are sources of assistance known to members of your extended family as well as your friends and their families. The internet has a plethora of contacts to pursue in your quest for information on college scholarships.

You should research the many large national scholarships such as the Gates scholarship funds, those offered by branches of the U.S. military branches, National Merit Scholarship Foundation, college scholarships offered by Coca Cola, and hosts of corporate funded scholarship programs.

The key is to get out there and apply for as many scholarships as you can find. The students who do so can be awarded multiple scholarships, and some even graduate from college with almost zero student debt to be repaid, which takes a tremendous load off your shoulders.

I do not know of any colleges that will give students in your category except for one item. That is there may be money available for you to take free courses in college while you are still in high school, but again it is mostly for higher grades.

If you have not already done so speak to your guidance counselor.