Apply for scholarships
What are scholarships and grants?
Scholarships and grants are types of aid that you don’t need to pay back. This type of aid is also called “gift aid,” “free money,” and “merit aid.”
Many scholarships are awarded for achievement in academics, athletics, or a specialty area such as music, fine arts, or math. Most students end up using a mix of scholarships, federal or state aid, and loans to finance their education after high school.
Finding scholarships
You can apply for scholarships in a variety of ways:
- Along with your application for admission to a college, if available
- Through the college’s website
- Through your parents’ employers
- Through local clubs and organizations
You can also search for scholarship opportunities through free websites, like these:
You should also check with your school counselor or college advisor to see if they have a list or database of local scholarships that may not show up in these scholarship search engines.
Start earning microscholarships with RaiseMe
When many of us hear the word “scholarship,” we likely think of a big chunk of money that students earn for an extraordinary achievement or talent, like winning an arts competition or getting named MVP of a high school sports team. And we often think of the “scholarship hunt” as something you only do in your senior year of high school.
Luckily, RaiseMe widens the door for who, when, and how students can earn scholarships through all of high school—not just your senior year.
RaiseMe is a free platform that can help you discover colleges and earn what are called “micro-scholarships” for your academic and extracurricular achievements throughout high school.
You can earn micro-scholarships for what you’re already doing. This may include:
- Courses - getting A’s, maintaining a certain GPA, and more
- Extracurriculars - engaging in college prep or leadership activities
- Community service - volunteering
- Honors and awards - being recognized
- Test scores - scoring well on the SAT/ACT
- College events - going on a college visit
- FAFSA - completing the FAFSA senior year
- Work experience - working, interning, or supporting one’s family
RaiseMe partners with several public and private colleges and universities throughout the country, and each institution decides which scholarship awards to offer and how much money they’ll grant for each award. It’s important to know that you’ll only receive micro-scholarships if you apply, are admitted to, and enroll in the college you earned them for.
The Texas First Program
As you explore scholarship options, be sure to ask your counselor about the Texas First Program. This program allows top Texas students to graduate early with the Distinguished Level of Achievement and earn up to a year’s worth of scholarship dollars at any Texas public college, university, or technical school. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to jump-start your postsecondary journey!
Tip: Since there are so many scholarship databases, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and look for help from organizations that guarantee scholarship awards for a fee. You should never pay for assistance to search for a scholarship or to complete a scholarship application.
Highly selective scholarships
Some scholarship programs are highly selective and have an intensive application process that can begin as early as junior year.
Many of these programs award exceptional students with full-ride scholarship opportunities that pay for 100% of tuition, fees, and may also cover other costs associated with college.
Visit these links to learn more about some of these programs, their requirements, and if you may be a qualified applicant.