Scholarships for high school students are abundant. Students of all income, academic and personal backgrounds can apply to receive scholarship aid. Scholarships usually come from private sources such as local organizations and large foundations. Award amounts vary, but generally range from a few hundred dollars to cover the cost of books to full tuition.
Academic
One common type of scholarship for high school students is an academic, or merit-based, scholarship. Scholarships are often offered to you directly from the school you plan to attend. When you receive a response from the admissions office, your scholarship offer is generally included. In addition to academic scholarships from your college or university, scholarships from private foundations such as the Coca Cola Scholars program and National Merit Scholarship are another possibility.
As of 2011, 50 students designated as National Coca Cola Scholars receive awards of $20,000 and 200 students designated as Regional Coca Cola Scholars receive awards of $10,000 for college. The National Merit Scholarship Award is $2,500 for qualifying finalists.
Need-Based
Scholarships programs often measure your level of financial need in addition to academic prowess. Need-based scholarships may depend on ethnicity or character. For example, the Dell Scholars program offers an award to students who have less than perfect GPAs but demonstrate a commitment to excel in the face of challenging college coursework. Scholarships for minorities with financial need such as the Gates Millennium Scholarship provide educational support to students who may be underrepresented on college campuses. Some colleges and universities offer need-based minority scholarships as a part of a diversity or inclusion initiative.
Writing
Whether you love or hate to write, essay scholarships are available to help you obtain more money for school. Students who loathe the college application essay can apply for the Zinch Three Sentence Essay contest to win a scholarship of $1,000, as of 2011. The essay contest allows you to answer a topic in less than a paragraph instead of binding yourself to lengthy essays that could take weeks to complete.
If you enjoy writing, Ayn Rand's foundation offers a series of writing contests based on her novels; high school students can enter The Fountainhead Essay Contest. As of 2011, the first prize scholarship winner receives $10,000 towards the cost of attending an accredited college or university.
Extracurricular
Your personal interests could land you a scholarship. Students who participate as a caddy or who advocate on behalf of healthy eating can apply to receive awards based on their extracurricular interests. The Chick Evans Scholarship, as of 2011, offers a full-tuition scholarship to caddies with at least two years' experience and a "B" average. The Vegetarian Resource Group provides awards to two students each year who have a commitment to promoting vegetarianism in school. As of 2011, the Vegetarian Resource Group award is $5,000.
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