Scholarships for High School Seniors

Are scholarships for high school seniors available to those with a less than perfect GPA? The senior year of high school is a very stressful time for most teenagers. It is the last year at home, and the reality of being an adult is finally impacting them. They have to decide what they are going to do with the rest of their life. Will they join the military? Will they find a job? The answer for about two thirds of them, however, is to continue their education at either a community college or a four-year university. This, however, opens up a new world of problems. They need to keep their grades up, take the SAT and ACT tests, apply for colleges, research, write essays, apply for their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and, perhaps most importantly, find a way to pay for it. If at all possible, they should try to go to college without putting themselves into debt. This leaves them with two options: get a job while scrimping and saving every penny possible, or applying for scholarships. Contrary to popular belief, scholarships are not awarded to only students with a 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) and all-star athletes. While there are plenty of academic merit scholarships and athletic scholarships available, most would be surprised to learn that there are an abundance of other types of scholarships for high school seniors as well. According to the U.S. Department of Education and the National Center for Education Statistics, over 1.2 million scholarships are given out to seniors every year, and not just for a high GPA, either.

Available Scholarships for High School Seniors in 2012

The Federal Pell Grant Program is a good place to start applying for college scholarships in 2012. It does not have to be repaid, unlike the FAFSA. Last year, it awarded students up to $5,550 for the 2011-2012 academic year. The grant is awarded to students from low-income backgrounds that have proven themselves in need of free money by the information they provided while filling out the FAFSA. First, they determine whether the student is dependent on parents or not. If so, they determine whether a student is needy or not by looking at a percentage of the parents’ net income and assets. If the student is independent (living on their own or with a friend), they run a similar formula based on the student’s income (if any exists). The program is good because it allots free money to those who might not otherwise be able to afford college, and is a great place to start looking for scholarships.

Besides federal aid, there are many organizations, institutions, and even individuals that offer scholarships to high school seniors in 2012. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, for example, awards 250 seniors per year a substantial sum of money ($20,000 a year for four years to the top fifty, and a one-time payment of $10,000 to two hundred). Any senior with a 3.0 cumulative GPA is eligible, all they need do is apply and hope to be selected. Some wealthy citizens donate large sums of money to their communities, designating it for scholarships for local students. One town in Oregon, for example, was left an enormous sum of money by a man named Leo Adler. Each student who graduates from any high school in that district with a 2.0 cumulative GPA is eligible, and will receive a minimum of $2,000 a year. Another, more well-known, scholarship available to seniors is the Dell Scholars Program, which awards money to students based on need and college readiness. The requirements are fairly simple: have a 2.4 cumulative GPA and have participated in an approved college-readiness program. There are plenty of scholarship drawings available as well. These are fairly simple: simply enter your name and information, and you are automatically entered to receive money. There are many community groups that just love to give kids scholarships as well, such as the Lions Club, the Elks club, or Kiwanis. If you are religious, your church or synagogue may even offer scholarships.

High School Senior Scholarships for Those Joining the Military

There is a way where virtually any high school senior can go to college for little to no money. It’s called the G.I. Bill. Unfortunately, it requires military service, which some people have a problem with. This can be a good option for others, though. The internet has made it possible to go to college from virtually anywhere, even if you are currently deployed in, say, Afghanistan. This should not be utilized just for free college, however. The G.I. Bill is an added perk for those already considering joining the armed services. It is not advisable to enlist solely due to it.

There are many ways a high school senior can find scholarships, even if they have bad grades. It requires a lot of work, however. You will need to write essays, get letters of recommendation, and take (or re-take, in some cases) the SAT and ACT tests. It’s not easy, but it pays off. Think of it as a job. You are paying yourself, just not right away. You will feel the benefits of this hard work when you graduate from college with little to no debt. There are plenty of scholarships for high school seniors; you just need to spend time finding them.