Entering my freshman year of high school, the last thing on my mind was scholarships for college. I had four more years to worry about that, right? Well what if I told you that the earlier you get started preparing, the better. Whether you decide to go to a college in state or out of state, it’s important to pay attention to which classes to take so that you can qualify for certain scholarships. Here is some advice from your school counselor, tips from former Hellgate students who received scholarships, and a list of scholarships you can apply for your senior year. 

     Brayden Terzo is a Hellgate High School 2021 graduate. He now attends Montana State University and was selected as a Montana University Systems (MUS) scholarship recipient. The MUS scholarship is a four-year, renewable scholarship that waives tuition at a valid Montana university. Terzo explained that the two things that helped him receive scholarships were having good ACT scores and an excellent GPA. 

     Although GPA and ACT scores are important, there are still ways to receive scholarships without outstanding scores, according to Lars Erickson, a sophomore at Montana State University. Erickson received the Montana University System STEM and Healthcare Scholarship. Students who are awarded the scholarship receive $1,000 their first year, $1,500 the second year, $1,500 the third year and $2,000 the fourth year. 

     Erickson explained that something that helped him receive scholarships was “writing an essay that helped me stand out from the rest of the applicants with it being well-worded and unique to myself.” For many students, writing essays is the most difficult and often the most important part of scholarship applications. 

     It is frequently said that your essay should be as unique as your fingerprint. Erickson used all of his assets to his advantage. He said, “Using my English teachers as an editing resource definitely helped me.”

     Both Erickson and Terzo explained that if they could go back to high school, they would apply for more scholarships. Terzo said, “If I was back in high school I would’ve tried harder and been more focused on my scholarships because they are essentially free money.” Erickson had the same sentiment and stated, “If I could go back, I would apply to more scholarships. There are tons of different ones that if you put in the work to find, you could easily get.”

     So how can you get started on scholarship applications? First, begin by checking out the Missoula County Public Schools scholarship website. The website has numerous annual scholarships, along with different search engines for scholarships that will help you get started. The Hellgate counselors also advise you to fill out FAFSA during your senior year. 

     Some more tips from your Hellgate counselors include: 

1. When writing your essays for scholarships “Read the prompt thoroughly and be sure to answer what they are asking. After writing, take a break, then go back and review to make sure you are satisfied with everything you have done.” 
2. Don’t be afraid to apply for a scholarship, even if you don’t believe that you’ll win it. “If you meet most of the criteria of a scholarship, apply. It is worth your time for the chance of winning the scholarship. There are times when scholarships have very few applicants, and even none. So sometimes, the odds are better than you might think.”
3. “It is never too early to start. That being said, junior year is a good time to start looking at when deadlines are due during your senior year.” It’s also a good idea to make a list of scholarships and their deadlines so that you can stay on top of applications!

     Although the process of applying for scholarships can be intimidating, it’s important to get started. After all, you have worked so hard throughout your high school career, why not write a few more essays for the chance of receiving free money?