ByHow To Obtain Scholarships for Teenagers
Many believe scholarships and grants are available only to college students. While it’s true that undergraduates and grad school students can look forward to more opportunities than high schoolers, you can still find financial aid during the K–12 years.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about scholarships for teenagers. We’ll show you:
- What kind of awards you can expect
- Where you can find programs
- How to successfully apply for them
- Why DoNotPay is your best option for obtaining aid
Who Is Eligible for Scholarships for Teenagers?
Scholarships for teens are dedicated to students aged 13–19, which covers the following levels of study:
- Seventh grade
- Eighth grade
- High school freshmen
- High school sophomores
- Juniors
- Seniors
- College freshmen
- College sophomores
Aside from the age factor, scholarships for teenagers also have other requirements you need to meet that focus on student profiles.
Take a look at this table to see what student profiles a scholarship for teens may focus on:
| Student Profile Based On | Examples |
|---|---|
| Student origin |
|
| Field of study |
|
| Faith | |
| Minority group | |
| Special qualifications |
|
Types of Scholarships for Teenagers
Awards can come from a variety of sources, such as the educational institution you’re in (high school or university), the federal government, state organizations, companies, and private funds. Regardless of their source, financial aid programs are divided based on:
- Merit
- Need
In some cases, you will need to prove both your academic merit and financial need.
Merit-Based Scholarships for Teens
Awards based on merit are aimed at students who demonstrate a high level of academic performance, as well as a resume of extracurricular activities, such as community service, voluntary work, and employment records.
Students can prove they qualify for a merit-based award through several factors, as follows:
- Class rank
- GPA level
- SAT or ACT scores
- Letters of recommendation from professors
- Essays
The following table shows some examples of merit-based scholarships for teens:
| Scholarship Name | Eligibility Requirements | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Denny's Hungry for Education Foundation Scholarship |
| Varies |
| BMI Student Composer Awards Program |
| Up to $5,000 |
| Steven J. Finkel Service Excellence Scholarship |
| $10,000 |
| Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow Scholarship |
| $6,000 |
| Actuarial Diversity Scholarship |
| $4,000 |
| American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Adrianna Andreini Scholarship |
| $17,500 |
Need-Based Grants
Low-income students who can’t secure a merit-based scholarship can turn to grants based on financial need. Financial need is determined by students proving their Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which has to be below a limit determined by the grant they’re applying for.
Students can get their EFC evaluated by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form or creating the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile.
Some need-based grants teenagers can apply for include:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
- State-related grants
- High school’s or university’s grant programs
- Private grants
Finding Scholarships for Teenagers
The most tedious part of securing scholarships for teenagers is going through the research process. It’s a time-consuming task that can take weeks or even months to complete. You will have to visit hundreds of sources to find programs you’re eligible for.
To speed up the process, here are a few places you should take a look at for information about awards:
- Your school’s financial aid office
- Your school’s website
- Private financial aid consultants
- Your state’s department of higher education
- Online search tools
- DoNotPay
DoNotPay allows you to skip the entire research process and find all the necessary info in one place. When you and answer a few questions, you will receive a list of all scholarships for teens for which you meet the criteria.
Scholarships for Teens—The Application Process
As financial aid programs have varying sets of requirements, the way you can apply differs from one scholarship to another. Before you start filling out the application form, you should research the award you’re interested in and see if you have prepared everything you need for a successful application.
Regardless of what the process looks like, you should always have a checklist to see if:
- The deadline hasn’t passed
- You meet all criteria
- You have all the required paperwork
Get Free Money for Tuition Fees Effortlessly With DoNotPay
Tired of searching and applying for programs manually? You don’t have to do it any longer! DoNotPay can help you automate your scholarship hunt and complete the entire process in less than five minutes. To find scholarships for teenagers, all you need to do is:
- Use your browser to
- Search for the Apply for Scholarships product
- Answer a few questions about your academic performance and financial standing
- Choose the type of scholarship you would like to receive
Our app will use the answers you give and create a personalized list of all scholarships for which you’re eligible. If you want to secure a no-essay scholarship, you can do so within the app. We will apply on your behalf as soon as you instruct us to!
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