A grade-by-grade scholarship timeline

By · Published · Updated

Most scholarship advice targets seniors, but a lot of what determines whether you're eligible for money later gets decided years earlier.

Freshman year

Grades this year count toward your GPA just like every other year, even though you're not used to it yet. Try a few different clubs or activities rather than going all in on one thing. Many scholarships, and colleges in general, reward sustained involvement over all four years of high school, so it's worth figuring out early what you'll actually enjoy and stick with.

Sophomore year

Take the PSAT if your school offers it. Sophomore year is practice, not the year that counts for National Merit, so there's no pressure. Start noticing which teachers you connect with, because they're who you may ask for recommendation letters for your college applications. Deepen your involvement in a couple of activities, and favor quality over quantity.

Junior year

This is the year the PSAT actually counts, if you're aiming for National Merit recognition and scholarships. Start creating a list of scholarships you'll be eligible for as a senior. Check scholarships open to juniors right now too, since some applications may already be open. Take the SAT or ACT at least once. Toward the end of the year, ask a teacher if they'd be willing to write you a recommendation letter down the line, so you're not asking cold in the fall.

Senior fall

This is when most national scholarship deadlines fall, often starting in September and running through December. File the FAFSA as soon as it opens (see the FAFSA guide for why that matters). Formally ask your recommenders now, and give them at least a few weeks to write. Check deadlines by month so you're not caught off guard.

Senior spring

More scholarship deadlines fall in this window, especially state grant programs and awards that may be tied to college decisions. Once acceptances and financial aid offers come in, read the fine print on any scholarship you've won. Some reduce a college's own aid package when you bring in outside money, which is worth knowing before you start stacking awards.