Cal Grants has created a great checklist to keep you on track for financial aid. Check it out here!
4-Year College/University
College entrance exams: SAT and ACT
Take end of junior year and if necessary, in October or November of senior year. These cost approximately $55 each to take. Put your college choices on your SAT and ACT registration so they will receive your scores.
You must be A-G ready to be admitted to a four-year college or university right after high school! Any D’s or F’s received in high school A-G classes must be repeated with a C or better. See your counselor.
You do not have to be A-G ready to be admitted to a community college.
Apply to college during October and November of your senior year. Applications cost $55 to $75 each.
Put your college choices on your FAFSA application, Cal Grant and/or Dream Act applications.
Need a place to start? Here are a few useful resources (courtesy of Ms. Mocete) to help you get started.
Applying to most scholarships won't take place until the summer BEFORE your senior year but here is some helpful information to start you off!
Make a profile on one of these site!
RasieMe: Earn micro‑scholarships from colleges for your achievements as early as 9th grade.
GoingMerry: Personalized matching. Thousands of scholarships and grants.
Fastweb: a National Scholarship Database designed to simplify the scholarship search by helping students find millions of scholarships, grants, internships, and financial aid opportunities
Also, Check out these search engines for scholarships that can be applied to before your senior year:
Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards Serving in a leadership role on a project aimed at repairing the world, Aged 13-19, Self-identified as Jewish, and Residents of the United States. Application Opens August 2023
Taylor Swift ‘1989’ Scholarship The Swifties are one strong army and are very well deserving of a scholarship made just for them! This is your chance to show off your love for your favorite artist and her best-selling album ever, ‘1989’. Any student at any education level with any GPA is eligible to apply for this scholarship. The only requirement is that you are a fan of Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’ album! Deadline: August 1st, 2023
Disney Super Fan Scholarship Are you obsessed with a certain Disney ride? Do you have a deep connection to a Disney princess? Do you have a favorite Disney Channel Original Movie? Whatever your obsession is, as long as it’s related to Disney, we want to hear about it and how it has impacted your life! To apply, write a 400-600 word essay answering this question: What is your favorite thing about Disney, and what does it mean to you? Deadline: September 1st, 2023
Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship For “young innovators, creators and dreamers” age 16-26, who can show in a 2-minute video what their passion is, as well as how higher education will help them pursue that passion and make a positive impact on their community. 100 awards of $25k each! Will open Fall 2023
Rubincam Youth Writing Competition High school students in grades 9–12 at the time of submission. The award winner receives a $500 cash prize, a plaque, and a one-year NGS membership (non-print). Presentation details of the winning submission may appear in NGS Magazine. (This was the only category in the Rubincam Youth Writing Competition until 2007.) Submission Requirements Deadline: December 15, annually
Profile in Courage Essay Contest In Profiles in Courage, John F. Kennedy recounted the stories of eight U.S. senators who risked their careers to do what was right for the nation. These leaders demonstrated political courage by taking a stand for the public good in spite of pressure by interest groups, their political party, or even their constituents. The Profile in Courage Essay Contest challenges students to write an original and creative essay that demonstrates an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage. Deadline: January 12, 2024
Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship This scholarship helps you understand the negative effects of too much screen time. *You must be a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Deadline: January 30, 2024