<p>Hey! I was wondering when the best time to fill out scholarships would be? My mom keeps nagging me about completing scholarships but I just don’t have time right now. I know that most of the deadlines are by the end of this month. I was thinking that I could fill some out throughout the summer. Is this a good idea? Thanks in advance!!</p>
<p>I was just wondering. I am a high school senior by the way. =)</p>
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<p>This doesn’t make sense, if most of the deadlines for scholarships you’re interested in are at the end of this month, why would you consider filling out applications this summer??</p>
<p>When is the best time to fill out scholarship forms?</p>
<p>Before the deadline. </p>
<p>That said, are you the first kid in the family to go to college (of your generation)? It may be that your mom is freaking out about the costs and thinks that scholarships are the answers. </p>
<p>In reality, very, very few kids get “full ride” scholarships. Most families make a “patchwork quilt” in getting things paid for. Some savings, some grants, some scholarships, some work and some loans. If your mom is dreaming of a “full ride” then you and she need to talk and get grounded on how the system works. Unless you are a tippy top student or a really top athlete, then scratch “full ride” off the list. </p>
<p>You may do better to put time into grades and extracurricular activities (including community service) and then apply to very local scholarships – such as the City Island Rotary Club scholarship that might be a max of $2000. </p>
<p>The big scholarships of $5K or more are hotly pursued. You’ll be up against home school kids who can take six weeks to write a fabulous essay (meanwhile you have classes, homework, etc). </p>
<p>Meeting with a school counselor and getting “How to pay for college without going broke” may help your mom and you figure out what is a reasonable approach that plays to your strengths. </p>
<p>I hate that, every year, kids beat themselves to death on long shot “big” scholarship contests. I see better results when kids shoot for smaller, local scholarships and string several small pieces together. </p>
<p>If you are low income, DO look into Questbridge. That is a big scholarship that is worth pursuing for some.</p>
<p>Bronxnerd…</p>
<p>If scholarship deadlines are at the end of January, why are you talking about filling them out in the summer???</p>
<p>Let me share some important info for YOU.</p>
<p>Private scholarships are often for SMALL amounts and only for Freshman year. They are also very hard to win. </p>
<p>Private scholarships aren’t the way to help pay for college. Yes, you might be able to cobble together a few small scholarships that total a few thousand dollars, but that won’t help you with soph, jr, and sr years. </p>
<p>What is your financial situation? Do you need money to help pay for college?</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay each year? If you don’t know, ask.</p>
<p>Are you a NY resident?</p>
<p>Are you lowish income?</p>
<p>What is your likely EFC?</p>
<p>What are your stats? If your stats are good enough (GPA and test scores), then there are schools that will give you merit scholarships for your stats…those are usually for all 4 years as long as you keep your grades up.</p>
<p>What schools are you applying to?</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>I see that you’ve applied to Cornell and Bing.</p>
<p>As far as Cornell is concerned, I don’t know if winning outside scholarships is going to help much because it may just reduce your need based aid.</p>
<p>your mom may be thinking that scholarships will reduce the “family contribution” but scholarships don’t really work that way unless EFC is high and scholarships are big.</p>