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During your junior and senior years of high school, there is not doubt that you have a lot going on. You have your regular classes, the extensive college search that includes campus visits, applications, essays, and more, potential part time jobs, applications for financial aid, and other responsibilities. In addition to all this, you should also be on the lookout for scholarships.
That’s a lot to keep track of! So how do you keep up motivation for the scholarship search? Here are a few tips.
Start Early
You don’t want to put anything involving your future at college off, so starting early is the best way to keep motivation up during your entire search for scholarships. Waiting too long to begin could put the time crush on when the scholarships come due all at once. You may even miss a few that were perfect opportunities and fits for you. You will find your motivation waning quickly if you try to apply to too many in a short period of time.
Starting early gives you plenty of time to search and apply, without adding extra stress onto your already full plate. Beginning in your junior year gives you time to research those perfect fits so that you can apply in your senior year.
Create a Schedule
You should be putting aside a few hours at least once a week to search for scholarships, rather than committing yourself to look every day. This will prevent you from becoming too burnt out on the research. Take that time to search and apply,but make sure you stick to the schedule you create for yourself!
If you take two hours on Thursday to search for scholarships, for example, you may want to use an hour devoted to the search and an hour devoted to the applications. However, you may find you prefer to search on Thursday and apply on Friday. Find what works best to your preferences and personal schedule.
Take Breaks as Needed
You’ve scheduled times for applications. While you should try to stick to that time you’ve set aside, you should allow yourself to take breaks, especially when you feel it’s becoming draining. This could be getting up and stretching, walking around the house or block, or grabbing a quick snack. Anything that helps you wake up is a good plan.
Regular eye exercises are also a great idea. You’ll be staring at your computer for extended periods of time. Every 20 to 30 minutes, try looking away from the screen at a far object, allowing your eye to focus on something else. This will give your eyes the break they need.
The search for scholarships and their applications can get tedious at times. However, it’s important to stay motivated and keep looking out for the ones that apply to you. Taking breaks, scheduling, and starting the search in your junior year or as soon as possible as a senior can pay off big when it’s time to reap the rewards of your hard work.
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| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
6.97%-15.03%* Variable
5.99%-14.00%* Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CITIZENS |
 |
6.37% - 16.70% Variable
4.50% - 15.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT SALLIE MAE |
 |
4.98% - 16.70% Variable
4.07% - 15.66% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CREDIBLE |
 |
6.07% - 11.31% Variable
4.39% - 10.39% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT LENDKEY |
|
|
6.22% - 16.08% Variable
4.09% - 15.66% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ASCENT |
 |
6.54% - 11.08% Variable
3.95% - 8.01% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ISL |
 |
5.62% - 18.26% Variable
4.11% - 15.90% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT EARNEST |
 |
4.98% - 12.79% Variable
8.42% - 13.01% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ELFI |
