From college brochures to adds on social media, scholarships are everywhere. With so many options, it can be hard to find a reliable source of scholarships that you may actually be qualified for. As I apply to scholarships I have learned these helpful five ways to find awesome scholarships!

1. Ask Your People

Looking back on what inspired me to start applying to scholarships, I realized it was one of my older friends that worked her butt off to win scholarships and afford college. Before she graduated, she gave me a list of local scholarships and her favorite college search engines to use. You may be surprised at the number of tips and tricks that your peers and older friends may have about applying to scholarships. Your experienced college friends have most likely gone through the same scholarship search as you a few years ago and so they might know the best places to find them. Your friends will also probably be willing to help you because these people already care about you.

You should also ask your teachers if they know of any good scholarships. They have seen many students come and go and have probably taught some scholarship winners. Teachers may be able to give you a solid list of scholarships along with helping you revise your scholarship essays to make them even better!

2. Businesses

Large businesses need good, educated employees and to get those employees, high school kids often have to become college kids. In order to help students, in the hope that those students will become positive members of society and maybe a future business partner, businesses may offer scholarships. Some of these businesses may be hospitals, manufacturing companies, or even fast food chains.

Don’t be afraid to ask businesses if they have any scholarships, the worst they could do is say no. If you don’t want to ask face-to-face, try googling things like “Taco Bell Scholarship” and maybe something will come up.

3. Jobs

This sections could be paired with the last one but the strategy is different enough that it should be separate. While you may win a scholarship from a random business to which you have no connection to, you may be eligible for even more select scholarship due to your or your parents’ current/previous employment. My dad has pushed and encouraged me to enter two scholarships that his employers offer. While I don’t know if I have won them yet, I know there is a better chance that I will win those scholarships then large national scholarships. So, moral of the story: Ask your employers and your parent’s employers if they have any scholarships for you.

4. Scholarship Search Engines

There are tons of great scholarship search engines, so it can be overwhelming to choose “The right one”. Good news in, many of the search engines are safe and want to help you. There are those that you really have to read the fine print on to make sure you aren’t signing up for something not to great, but most are good.

My personal favorite site is Fastweb because I have used it a ton, it’s free, my friends use it, colleges have recommended it to me, and teachers have recommended it to me. It allows me to sort scholarships that I like and don’t like. It save my profile so I don’t always have to change the filters (read more about my thoughts on FastWeb here). Some other solid sites I have used are Scholly (which you do have to pay for but there is a free trial) and Unigo. It is a good idea to cross check with other sources to make sure that your are using a safe source.

5. Your High Schools/Colleges

Many larger high schools and most every college offers scholarship to their students. The great thing about these scholarships; most people don’t apply to them, so there is a better chance that you will win one! Schools want their students to succeed and many sponsors may donate money to a school’s scholarship fund. Ask your school’s guidance or admissions counselors if they have any connections for you to win some scholarships.

If a college really wants you, they are going to help you afford their school so that you can choose them. Make sure you are watching deadlines as it seems that a ton of applications are due in the next couple months, at least they are in my case.

What about you? Do you know of any other great ways to find scholarships? Please comment below to help other people on this crazy journey (Like me 🙂