Students can begin to apply for scholarships as early as their freshman year in high school.

Students can find scholarships by perusing online scholarship search sites, such as: www.raise.me, www.flinn.org, www.dorrancescholarship.org,  www.collegesuccessarizona.org, www.azfoundation.org, fastweb.com, scholarships.com, cappex.com, scholarshipowl.com, www.hsf.net/scholarship/, www.myscholly.com, and more.

Students should apply for as many scholarships as possible. Please make sure students meet the minimum qualifications for each scholarship and directly answer the essay prompt for the scholarship.

Yes, there are scholarships for students interested in attending community colleges and technical schools.

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Yes, there are scholarships available for non-citizens. Here are a couple: https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/pedrozamorascholarship2022  and  https://aynrand.org/students/essay-contests/#tab-5-2019

Students or parents should never have to pay for a scholarship application. Check with school counselors regarding a scholarship’s legitimacy.

Not all scholarships renew each year. Students must clarify the renewal status of their scholarship(s) with the organization that awards the scholarship.

Yes. Any amount of scholarship money is helpful.

Merit-based scholarships are tied to a student’s academic excellence, athletic excellence or a skill, such as playing an instrument in their school’s marching band. Need-based scholarships are income-driven and based on financial needs of individual families.

Yes. Students need to research and speak with college admissions counselors regarding availability of scholarships for students with GPAs lower than 3.0.

Yes, of course. It will require a bit of research on the student’s part.

Unfortunately, there is no magic formula to determine whether you will be admitted to a particular school. But one can certainly gauge whether their credentials are comparable to previously admitted students. Simply do a Google search on the school’s freshman profile to see the average GPA, test scores, etc.

Don’t fret. Focus on building a relationship with your new guidance counselor, since they will likely have to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf and send pertinent information to your selected colleges/universities.

Brainstorm ideas for both essay prompts to see if you have enough supporting details to create a well written one. Decide based on which essay exemplifies your best academics, leadership abilities, and/or service to others. You can always use the least impressive essay for another application or scholarship.

It is important to start planning early by getting a job, saving, and applying for multiple scholarships.

It is important to communicate and understand the reason(s) your parent/guardian prefer you to attend an in-state school. Determine if you have enough in financial aid and scholarships and family who live in the state where you plan to attend school. This may help your parents feel more at ease about you relocating. If possible, take your parents to visit the campus environment you could be living in, if allowed.

You want to ensure that you attend a school where you can be successful. Be sure to include schools on your list that match you academically, and work hard to improve your grades. Work on writing an excellent college admissions essay. If you have a special talent in sports, arts or other extracurriculars, dedicate more time to them.

Not everyone is a great test-taker. However, you will have multiple opportunities to re-take the college entrance exam. Meanwhile, think of other ways you can illustrate yourself as a desirable prospective student. For example, strong letters of recommendation, a unique and/or memorable college essay, and an impressive list of extracurricular activities.

Students should apply to a balanced variety of schools, including schools they cannot afford. Some schools have programs that only award need-based aid in the form of grants that do not need to be repaid.

They do not count toward your admissions unless you send your scores to each prospective school. If you earned a 4 or 5 and you believe the scores will help you gain admissions, send them.

The biggest problem with most standardized timed test is not figuring out the answers, rather figuring out how to answer them in a timely fashion. One surefire way to improve your pacing with the exams is to take timed practice tests section-by-section until you are ready to take a full-length timed practice exam. The more you practice, your pacing will improve greatly.