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Scholarships
Scholarships
Scholarships are free money! Organizations, companies, government agencies and even individuals create scholarships and grants that award students money if they fulfill (or promise to fulfill) a certain requirement. That requirement might be to study in a certain field, join a professional group or write a winning essay about how an organization affects your life. It also might be as simple as being a member of a certain group or having your name drawn from many entries.
Because the amounts and types of scholarships and grants vary, you might be eligible for several of each. Unless you earn an award that pays for all your college costs, you may receive more than one as well, so you want to apply for as many as you can. For more information on scholarships and grants, check out ICAN'S Scholarships and Grants webpage.
For information regarding local scholarships around the Sioux Central Community School District as well as some local Iowa scholarships, check out Sioux Central's Local, State and National Scholarships Catalog. Payment of some local scholarships may require the Scholarship Request Form to be completed and returned to the Business Office with proof of enrollment.
For information regarding state and national scholarships, check out free online scholarship directories to see which scholarships you qualify for. The following websites that provide a free scholarship directory where students can search and apply for a wide variety of scholarships: Iowa College Access Network (ICAN); Iowa College Aid; RaiseMe; I Have a Plan Iowa; CollegeBoard; FastWeb; Scholarships.com; GoingMerry; MyScholly; Niche; StudentScholarshipSearch.com; StudentScholarships.org; FinAid.org.
State and national scholarships are open at any given time throughout the year. Check the free scholarship directories listed above regularly so you don't miss out on scholarship opportunities. Local scholarships typically become available in January and most deadlines are in mid-April. By graduation, you should know which scholarships you have received and will need to report that information to the college you plan to attend in the Fall.
Not sure how to apply for scholarships and grants? No problem. Check out ICAN'S Applying for Scholarships and Grants webpage for more information on how to properly apply for scholarships and grants to better your chances of being awarded.
Senior Timeline
Senior Timeline
August: Be sure to take courses related to the field of study/career you're interested in pursuing. While Sioux Central may not have classes related to your specific career, you can take courses through Iowa Central or the Northwest Iowa Career Academy. Make sure to keep your grades up - GPAs are important for college admission! If you plan to go to a 4-year college/university and you haven't yet taken the ACT or SAT, register for the September or October exam dates.
September: Have a list of 5-10 colleges you're interested in attending. If you haven't already, go on college visits so you can get a better idea of what college is right for you and your future career goals. If you're not sure what you want to do for a career after high school, use this time to take career assessments, research jobs that may be a good match for you, interview those that work in those careers, and job shadow if you can.
October: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens on October 1st. Seniors need to file the FAFSA if they plan to use federal student loans to help pay for college. The FAFSA is also required to be eligible for (income) need-based scholarships and grants. You can put your top 10 colleges on your FAFSA application. The earlier you fill out your FAFSA, the better!
November: Start applying to your top colleges if you haven't already. You will want to apply to your top colleges by Thanksgiving Break, so you have time to apply for scholarships offered by your college before the deadline, which is usually in January. You can apply for scholarships offered by the college(s) you're interested in attending as soon as you are accepted.
December: Make the most of your Winter Break by using this time to start searching for and applying for scholarships. Most scholarships are due in the Spring, but some can be due as early as January or February. Check out Ms. Weinzetl's scholarship guide for more information on scholarships, how to apply for them, and a comprehensive list of local, state, and national scholarships.
January: Continue to apply for scholarships. It's a tedious process, but worth it. Stay organized and apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible for. The more scholarships you apply for, the more likely you are to be awarded some of them.
February: Continue applying for scholarships!
March: You guessed it.. continue applying for scholarships! Be aware of scholarship deadlines!
April: Take a breather. Scholarship season is coming to an end. Sit tight, stay focused, and finish the year strong!
May: College Decision Day is May 1st. This means that by this date, you want to choose the college you're going to attend in the Fall and let the other colleges you were accepted to know your decision to go elsewhere.
June: Get ready for college! If you aren't already enrolled in your courses for your first semester at college, reach out to your college's advising department to get enrolled in some courses.
July: Got everything for your dorm or house, if you're moving out of your parents' place? Make sure you have what you need before your classes start! Enjoy the ride!
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