Continue February scholarships

Overview

Scholarship application season continues through February. Focus on local, regional, and identity-based scholarships that align with your profile.

Priority in February

• Local community foundation scholarships
• State-level scholarships
• Identity-based scholarships (first-gen, underrepresented, specific backgrounds)
• College-specific scholarships that continue into spring
• Major-specific scholarships for your intended field

Where to Look

• Fastweb.com - reset your profile with senior-year info
• Your counselor's scholarship list (most HS counselors maintain local lists)
• Your parent's employer (many offer scholarship programs)
• Your religious affiliation
• Your ethnic/cultural community organizations
• Local service clubs (Elks, Rotary, Masons, Lions, Kiwanis)
• Your hobby/interest groups
• Your sport or artistic organizations

Time Allocation

• Spend 1-2 hours/week on applications
• Apply to 2-4 scholarships per month through spring
• Don't exhaust yourself; consistency matters

Application Essentials

• Essay (usually 500-700 words)
• Transcript
• One or two recommendations (different from college recs, ideally)
• Application form
• Sometimes: interview, video submission

Essay Recycling

Scholarship essays often overlap with:

• "Why this field?" essays from college apps
• Leadership or service stories
• Personal background narratives

Adapt your Common App essay and college supplements for scholarships.

Essay Specificity

Tailor each essay to the scholarship's values:

• Service scholarships: emphasize service
• Leadership scholarships: emphasize leadership
• STEM scholarships: emphasize research/academic
• Identity-based: emphasize that specific experience

Deadlines to Watch

• March-April: Major local scholarships often deadline here
• May: Some large private foundations
• Summer: Some college-specific scholarships

Expected Success Rate

• Local scholarships (under 50 applicants): 20-40% win rate
• Regional scholarships (50-500 applicants): 5-15%
• National scholarships (1,000+ applicants): 1-3%

Applying to 20+ local/regional scholarships typically yields $2,000-$10,000 in winnings.

Non-Scholarship Money

While you're at it:

• Grants from religious organizations
• Tuition exchange programs (if parent works at a college)
• Tribal scholarships (for Native American students)
• Military benefits (GI Bill for family members)
• State-specific grants

Reporting

• Save copies of every application
• Track decision dates
• Follow up on undecided applications in late spring
• Report winnings to colleges when decisions arrive

Scam Awareness

• Never pay to apply for a scholarship
• Never give credit card info
• Never send SSN to "verify" a scholarship
• Legitimate scholarships communicate through clear, verifiable channels

Payment Method

• Most scholarships are disbursed directly to the college
• Some are paid to the student (reported as income for tax purposes in some cases)
• Keep records for tax filing