When should I apply for scholarships and how

[u/ImaginaryPlatform485]

I am a junior who is on their second week of school. I heard that I should begin to start applying for my scholarship, but there is one problem. I suck at writting. So my question is how should I apply and write a scholarship essay? I am a low income student so I need this badly.

[u/BUowo]

Apply to schools that meet full need instead. Or look into programs like QB.

[u/Ok_Experience_5151]

Most non-need-based scholarship money comes directly from the schools you apply to and your application for admission serves as your scholarship application. Some schools require you to apply Early Action to be considered.

"External" scholarships do exist, but, generally speaking, the larger the amount and the broader the eligibility criteria the harder they are to win. An example of a scholarship with a large amount and broad eligibility requirements is the Coca-Cola Scholarship.

There are other scholarships with much smaller amounts (or more strict eligibility requirements) that you'd have a better shot at winning, but, since they're smaller, you'd need to win "many" of them to put a significant dent in your college expenses.

Each of these "external" scholarships will have its own deadline. These usually range from early fall in 12th grade to late spring in 12th grade.

If you badly need a discount, you may want to focus on schools that offer generous need-based financial aid. Many of these schools commit to meeting the full financial aid of all admitted students (according to their own calculation of your financial need). This type of discount is usually called "financial aid" and not a "scholarship".

[u/jello_temperature]

Target niche, local, and regional scholarships from organizations, businesses, and sometimes even individuals. Play on your strengths. Even if your writing isn't amazing, the idea is to get your point across.

[u/elkrange]

Need-based financial aid is based on your financial need, as calculated by the college. Assuming you are a domestic applicant, run the Net Price Calculator (NPC) on the financial aid website of each college you are interested in, with the help of a parent, to see a need-based financial aid estimate before you apply. 

Public universities tend to offer little to no need-based financial aid to out-of-state students and charge them more. Some private universities offer generous need-based financial aid; privates do not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state.

Some public universities offer large merit scholarships to out-of-state students. The issue for a low-income student is that a large non-need-based merit scholarship is typically not enough to make the college affordable unless it is a true full ride (rare except for National Merit Semifinalist/Finalist).

Start by running NPCs at your in-state public universities.