Start early!

Even though a majority of scholarships can only be applied for during senior year of high school, by beginning the search process early you can relieve a lot of stress by identifying specific scholarships to apply for as well as starting to collect references and recommendations or other components that will be needed.

- Create a calendar of deadlines (subscribe to our calendar ) to stay organized and on track with your applications.

- Make a list of scholarships to you will apply for, along with their components and deadlines.

- Identify several people who will write you recommendation letters or act as references, often school staff and administrators are required so speak to them early and/or while you are still in their class.

- Develop a strategy. Designate time to search, think of it as a job that you need to put work into in order to get paid.

- Figure out local people, events, and resources who can help you search. Check out the "Useful Links" page for ideas.

- Attend College Fairs or visit colleges and speak to a Financial Aid Officer. Check out their specific scholarships and programs, especially Precollege Programs.

- Be active! Build a resume with activities both in and outside of school. Do community service, explore hobbies and interests, find ways to show leadership and growth.

Educate Yourself!

The more you know about your options and the different types of Aid and Programs, the better off you will be.

FEDERAL PELL GRANTS & OTHER FEDERAL AID

Learn more about federal Pell Grants and other federal grants you don’t have to repay, as well as low-interest federal loans for students and parents.

- www.studentaid.ed.gov

- Loan Forgiveness & Cancellation

Learn about the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), this is required for many need based scholarships, as well as institutional scholarships.

- FAFSA

LEARN MORE ABOUT PAYING FOR COLLEGE

These organizations provide workshops and support with applying for aid as well as the whole college process:

- College Goal Wisconsin

- KnowHow2GO Wisconsin

- Look Forward To Your Future

WISCONSIN STATE AID PROGRAMS

Aid programs specifically for students of/in Wisconsin.

- Higher Education Aid Board of Wisconsin (HEAB)

- Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs (WEOP)

- The Fund For Wisconsin Students

Earn your money! Your GPA will pay!

The only guaranteed money is from Merit Scholarships, given for specific accomplishments. The higher your GPA, the more scholarship opportunities you will have, as well as the most guaranteed money; the amount will vary depending on the Donor or College. Other merit scholarships include community service, club membership, and athletic participation. Seek out opportunities to get involved and demonstrate leadership well before senior year.

Search for yourself, and have others work for you!

There are numerous free search services online, be sure to Avoid Scams, once you create your profile they will contact you with potential matches.

- All students have a Career Cruising Account already, and can start searching for scholarships to apply for now or save for later.

- Make sure you opt-in and participate in the Student Search Service by CollegeBoard and Educational Opportunity Service by ACT when you take your standardized tests.

Resume

Create and keep an updated resume.

- All students have a Career Cruising Account already. It is a great tool for tracking activities, experiences, and awards. It also offers a custom resume builder integrated with the "My Plan" tool to help create, format, and print professional resumes quickly and easily that are tailored for specific uses.

- Career Cruising offers students the tools (as well as the scholarship search) to contact colleges and career professionals through Inspire Wisconsin . A good resume should include job shadow and professional networking experience. Be sure to be active during the career fair each year!

- Many courses and clubs at Central offer professional certifications and licenses, speak to your counselor about what opportunities fit your desired career path and the associated scholarships.

- Attend PreCollege Programs. These programs cover a wide array of subjects from computer to basketball camps, from music and art to cheerleading and study skills. They are offered for varying age groups from pre-kindergarten through high school. Many of the academic programs offer scholarship assistance. Most programs repeat annually.

- Complete Community Service - Many scholarships include a community service component. This can be met through club participation as well as individual extracurricular activities. Or just get out there!

There are scholarships to apply for NOW!

While there are many scholarships available to High School seniors, you do not have to wait. Colleges and organizations offer scholarships for PreCollege Programs, including international travel, research grants, or money to be used after graduation.

A couple examples:

Wisconsin DPI PreCollege Scholarship Program

- The Precollege Scholarship Program allows students eligible for free or reduced price meals from across the state to experience college life on a college campus while they are attending middle and high school.

Questbridge

- Questbridge partners with the country’s best colleges, all of which are actively seeking successful students that have experienced long-term financial hardship. All of our programs are designed to connect you with top educational, professional, scholarship, and life opportunities.

State Department Opportunities for Students

- A wide variety of opportunities including travel through exchange and language programs.

Research Assistantships for High School Students (RAHSS) with NSF-Funded Small Businesses

- Startups and small businesses that are funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program can offer paid research experiences/partnerships with students, teachers, and schools.

Be creative and have fun, there are scholarships for everything , you just have to look.