Scholarships

Local Scholarships

Scholarship Central is the best platform for local scholarships in the St. Louis County and City.

Naviance Scholarships

Naviance is where we will post all scholarship opportunities the district receives.

Check this regularly as new opportunities arrive frequently and deadlines occur throughout the school year. Many will be available in January 2024. 

National Scholarships

Tip: Create separate email address for these scholarship opportunities since you may get spammed with tons of emails that are overwhelming. There are also more national scholarships in Naviance under "National Scholarship Search"

Scholarship Types:

Listed below are the various types of scholarships. We will go through this more when we talk about financial aid. In the meantime get familiar with these. I would suggest applying to them in this order:

Institutional Scholarships

These come directly from the institution. Usually after you have been admitted. Sometimes there are additional forms to fill out or essays to write, so make sure you are checking with the financial aid offices / admissions offices at your chosen schools.

Local Scholarships

These are scholarships that you are not competing against a ton of people. You are typically competing against students in your school or your community. These are usually stackable with other scholarships, so dont let the lower dollar amounts get you discouraged.

National Scholarships

You are competing on a National level. Usually these are for higher amounts. Make sure that you meet all of the qualifications before applying. Never pay for a scholarship application. 

Scholarship Essay Tips

1. Write about something that's important to you.

It could be an experience, a person, a book—anything that has had an impact on your life. 

2. Don't just recount—reflect! 

Anyone can write about how they won the big game or the summer they spent in Rome. When recalling these events, you need to give more than the play-by-play or itinerary. Describe what you learned from the experience and how it changed you.

3. Being funny is tough.

A student who can make an admissions officer laugh never gets lost in the shuffle. But beware. What you think is funny and what an adult working in a college thinks is funny are probably different. We caution against one-liners, limericks and anything off–color.

4. Start early and write several drafts.

Set it aside for a few days and read it again. Put yourself in the shoes of an admissions officer: Is the essay interesting? Do the ideas flow logically? Does it reveal something about the applicant? Is it written in the applicant’s own voice?

5. No repeats.

What you write in your application essay or personal statement should not contradict any other part of your application–nor should it repeat it. This isn't the place to list your awards or discuss your grades or test scores.

6. Answer the question being asked.

Don't reuse an answer to a similar question from another application.

7. Have at least one other person edit your essay.

A teacher or college counselor is your best resource. And before you send it off, check, check again, and then triple check to make sure your essay is free of spelling or grammar errors.

Resources From: https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/college-essay