well, im a sophomore in highschool and i was wondering how can i apply for a scholarship for college?

Question

okay heres the deal, im a sophmore in highschool. my grades so far arent that great. I made a "D" and a "f" this quarter, but this is the first time ever i've made a "f" in anyone of my report cards. Also, ive been skipping alot, because of the whole peer pressure thing but im starting to go back to school now and get my life back the way it use to be. thats why i`ve decided to do my own research and ask my own questions to get me started because in 4 months im going to be a junior and i want a fresh headstart. thats why i want to know all about scholarships and internships. i want to know how can i apply for one and i want to know how can i get those letters in the mail about me wanting to visit their colleges and other stuff. i also want to know can i apply for a college as early as junior year. im a beginner on this college stuff. i know noting. thats why im asking for help to get me started.

Answer 1

You're not going to be able to apply to colleges in your junior year of high school, so let's just get that out of the way first. Even if you could, I would definitely not recommend that because so far, colleges aren't going to be terribly impressed with your performance, and you need all the time you can get to make up for your grades.

That being said, it's GREAT that you're taking such an active interest in your education and your future. I skipped school a lot, and I also got a D and an F in H.S., but I wound up being accepted into a handful of really, really good schools and was offered multiple large scholarships. So you can definitely do it, too! Here are some tips:

1) Get your grades up! I know high school is boring and it seems pointless (a lot of it is) but it's just something you have to do. Your junior year is the most important year of high school for you. Colleges aren't going to see your grades/activities from senior year until AFTER they accept you, so your junior year is the most recent evidence of your successes that they have available to them. If they see that you got A's and B's in your junior year after getting some bad grades in the two years before, they'll look favorably upon the fact that you've shown improvement. If you're getting poor grades because you find high school boring (that was the case with me) then I suggest you find a local community college and take some of your required courses there, if your high school allows it. Many states let their students receive credit at community colleges as long as their high school approves it. You may like the structure of a college class more than high school, and if you do well and get a good grade, colleges you apply to will love that! And if you enroll and find out you just can't handle it yet, then drop your enrollment from the class before their deadline, and it won't be marked on your transcript.

2) Get involved! Your extracurricular activities can be just as important as your grades, in some cases. Let's say you don't have straight A's, but you are a leader in your community or are very involved within your school. This makes you look more well-rounded and practically intelligent than a student with a great GPA but zero activity beyond their required classes. Colleges want to see that you go above and beyond the required. And it doesn't need to be difficult. Join a club at school, play a sport, volunteer at your local public library or the Red Cross or something, etc. Make sure you have a healthy mix of community service (this shows you are a compassionate person that cares about the world you live in) and clubs/sports/activities (this shows that you have hobbies and interests and pursue them).

3) Take responsibility! "Peer pressure" can only be blamed to a point. In the end, your friends aren't tying you up and dragging you off campus. Skipping classes is always your choice, and be prepared to take responsibility for your actions. If your friends aren't good influences, then recognize that. They don't have to be your friends. Try to surround yourself around people who care about school and going to a good college. It really, really makes a world of difference.

4) Don't think about scholarships right now! There's no point. You're not even halfway through high school, so it's way too early. Most, if not all, scholarships REQUIRE you to be accepted to a school first. Since you won't apply to colleges until the first half of your senior year and you won't hear back from schools until the second half of senior year, you don't need to worry about scholarships for at least a year and a half. When the time does come, all you need to do is go into your high school's college counselor and ask them. They will be able to answer all of your questions better than anyone here can.

5) Prioritize! Since you need to get into college first before you can worry about how to pay for it, you need to make your top priority *getting into* college. Follow the steps above, and of course take the SATs or ACTs and any other required tests as many times as it takes in order to get the top scores possible (but this doesn't need to be done until your junior year, so don't worry about that yet, either).

Work hard -- you still have plenty of time left. Concentrate on finishing up this year with the best possible grades. Over the summer, get involved in an activity or community service. Or take summer school, if your school allows it, in order to make up for your D and F. Then, when your junior year starts, throw every ounce of energy you have into it. It is the most important year, and it will make or break your chances for a good school and a scholarship.

Good luck!! I know you can do it!

P.S. If you want information on schools mailed to, just go to their website and request a brochure. They'll send it to you for free. Do it for every school you think you may be interested in, because they're not going to contact you themselves unless they are REALLY interested in you. College is too competitive for them to reach out like that except to the very top students.

Answer 2

Well you better get your butt in school and keep it there until you graduate. If you want to apply for scholarships you REALLY do need to have excellent grades and be able to show that you are not glued to your books. You should have outside interests or hobbies that many scholarship programs like to see.
There are literally millions of various scholarships out there and it can easily be very overwhelming to anyone who wants or needs the assistance to help get through college.
Next year as a Junior you should be seeing your school guidance counselor often and start now before this year is out if you can. There are many interest surveys that you can take which will help you determine what might be best for you to study in college.
Do not give up on yourself!!
You are doing the right thing now by asking the right questions. Stay involved in school and get away from those who may be steering you the wrong way with peer pressure. You are still very young and the decisions you make now to succeed (do well in school, then college) will let you get a good career after college. If you start or continue down a negative path then you might not even get out of high school or into college.
So bottom line is that these next few years are going ot be tough and challenging, but that doesn't mean you can not have fun. Enjoy your youth, study hard and learn how to have responsible fun along the way.

Good luck!!

Answer 3

No you do not have to wait. Do it now. It's never too early to start applying for scholarships. Apply to as many that you take interest in.

Answer 4

First and foremost,let me congradulate you on the decision of going back to school and actually making the Efforts to get back on track in school.I know of a lot of people who have dropped out(myself included),but unlike them I busted away from the so called friends and went back to Graduate with Honors for 2 consecutive years in "Who's Who among American High School Students",and had signed up for college later on.The only downside to that though was I waited more than 3 years to attend,otherwise I would have had a $50,000 scholarship just from Honors alone,and another $20,000 for Perfect Attendance($10,000 per year).But enough about me,this is about you making a future comeback for yourself.And I'm going to help you,by answering your question to the best of my knowledge.(1)You can get either scholarships,loans,and/or grants provided by your grades,acheievements(such as sports,band,ect.)attendance records,clubs you're in now or have been in(such as FHA,FFA,4-H,Chess,ROTC,ect.)Also don't get down on yourself about your "D and F"incident on your report card.It isn't the end of the world for you.If you know you're having problems with those subjects,ask to be tutored by someone to pick those grades up.Convince your School and Family just how serious you are on making the "Passing Grades" and only then will you start getting the requirements needed towards the first step.(2)Schools are one source for earning scholarships,but another is Goverment funding(which are called grants or loans).You can get grants under different categories.(1)Millitary-Montgomery GI Grants(2)Tribal Card Holder Grants(3)Disabled or Retardation Persons Grant(4)Lapel Grant. Grants and scholarships are ones that you do not have to pay back.They are given to people who have either earned,exceled,or met or do meet with the requirements listed above.(3)Loans can be loaned to you by the college you attend or the Goverment through the Department of Education.These are listed as "Set"or"Fixed"loans.A "Set loan" is your agreement to pay full amount the day you graduate from college.A"Fixed loan" is one you agree to pay down the road whether you finish as a Graduate or not with monthly billing statemnts and so much in percentage adds on for interests rates that they deduct from how much you send,until the loan is paid in full.If you need more information,ask your school directors and state or government education agencies to fill you in on anything else they may offer for information or otherwise.I hope the information I've provided to you will help you out for future reference.And Good Luck To YOU!

Answer 5

There are books you can borrow from the library that have more information. Here is a book. The author won I think, well, here it says $90,000 of scholarship money. He also talked about his book on Oprah.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Go-College-Almost-Free/dp/0060937653/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-6091374-7742209?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174811366&sr=1-1

Answer 6

Call a college they will work with you. Suggestion: University of Phoenix.