When and Where to Find Scholarships

I am a high-school senior planning on going to college next year. The cost of the state university where I plan to go will force me to take out loans unless I can get a scholarship. When and where should I be looking for a scholarship? - Need Money
Answer: You'll definitely be doing yourself a favor by looking for scholarships right now. In fact, it would have been better to have started on this task this past summer, as it requires quite a bit of work. Even a $500 scholarship can make a difference. It is money that you won't have to pay back with interest. You need to act now, as some scholarships have fall deadlines. Concentrate on searching for those that you have a real chance of winning.
In general, it is not too practical to fill out form after form applying for large national scholarships. Sure, some students win these scholarships; however, they are extremely competitive and require excellent credentials and might also require considerable financial need.
Your best bet for finding scholarships lies in looking for them close to home. Your own state might offer scholarships for students with a certain grade-point average or choice of major. There seem to be quite a few scholarship opportunities for those planning to be teachers or planning to enter the medical profession. You should be able to investigate these state scholarships online or through material at your high school.
Your counselor should know the names of all the scholarships that are being offered to graduates of your own high school and whether you stand a good chance of receiving one. And don't forget to inquire about scholarships at the college you plan to attend.
Another good source of local scholarships are organizations that family members belong to. Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions clubs often have scholarships, and they are not as competitive as large national ones. Your local church might also have financial support for members.
Don't forget to ask your parents to investigate if their companies offer scholarships for employee's children. More companies have scholarship plans than you might imagine, especially large companies.