Scholarships for High School Sophomores

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Scholarships for college may provide students with an opportunity to cover some or all of the cost of education. Financial aid may be available to those that qualify. It may be possible to apply for scholarships during high school that are available later when you enroll in college. Here is what you may wish to consider about the process of earning scholarships for college for sophomores in high school.

Can Sophomores Apply for Scholarships?

It may be possible to earn scholarships for college for sophomores in high school. If you are a sophomore in high school, it is not too soon to start looking for and, sometimes, applying for these scholarships. Doing so may give you a bit more time to find opportunities that could cover the cost of some of your college education if you qualify for them and receive an award.

Is It Too Early to Apply for Scholarships as a High School Sophomore?

Scholarships for high school sophomores are out there. Not all scholarships allow sophomores to apply, though. Before you apply for any scholarship, learn who the scholarship is open to and follow those instructions. There is no benefit to doing the work to apply for a scholarship if you are not qualified for it just yet. Instead, save those for the previous year. In the meantime, focus on scholarships for sophomores specifically. Some scholarship providers extend these offers to students in 10th grade.

10 Scholarships for 10th Graders You Should Apply For in 2022

The following are some examples of scholarships for 10th graders. If you are in 10th grade, take a closer look at these opportunities that could be available to you.

  1. Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship
  1. National Constitution Bee
  1. American Legion Oratorical Contest
  1. $2,000 Minecraft Scholarship
  1. Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest
  1. Stimson Bullitt Civic Courage Scholarship Competition
  1. Digital Privacy Scholarship
  1. Niche No Essay Monthly Scholarship
  1. Savor Summer College Scholarship
  1. Flavor of the Month Scholarship

How To Increase Your Chances of Receiving High School Sophomore Scholarships?

It may be possible to do a bit of extra work now to see benefits later when you apply for scholarships for college. Though you may qualify for some scholarships for 10th graders now, even if you do not, you may be able to improve your chances of earning a scholarship later. It is a great idea to work diligently at earning a scholarship to meet your needs.

Here are a few tips that may help you with scholarships for sophomores and beyond: 

#1: Apply early before the deadline

Whenever you apply for a scholarship, be sure you are doing so before the deadline (as early as possible once submissions are available.) A late application may cause you to be disqualified.

#2: Submit all the necessary documents the provider asks for 

Most scholarship applications require a significant amount of information, including information about your GPA, interests, and goals. You may also need to provide an essay. Be sure to follow the directions provided on each application. They often differ but don’t let scholarships scare you!

#3: Make sure to write a unique essay rather than using a generic standard essay

Take the time to write your own essay based on your thoughts, beliefs, and interests. Be sure it meets the prompt provided to you. Stick with the information requested, but always make sure what you submit is your own work.

#4: Follow directions such as format

Most scholarships provide specific directions about how to submit assignments. This may be through a specific format such as Word or PDF. They may provide specific information about the length as well. Stick with the rules.

#5: Make sure to answer the essay prompt

Go back and re-read the question asked in the prompt. Did you adequately and thoroughly answer it? Be sure it is on point.

#6: Keep applying

Not only is it important to apply, but keep applying even if you do not earn awards. The more you apply, the more you increase your chances of a favorable response.

#7: Only apply if you meet the eligibility requirements

Don’t waste your time on scholarships that you may not really qualify for over the long term. Be sure that you are applying for scholarships that you truly fit the requirements for to make wise use of your time.

List of Scholarships for High School Sophomores

There are awards worth below. Apply now to our list of scholarships for high school sophomores.

Scholarships for High School Sophomores 2024 List

LifeSmart Scholarship

We are looking for people who are passionate about science and/or social science and who are going to be active in the community and work towards bettering their academic success. We do not select students based on academic or sports excellence but rather we focus on students who may not have the same resources by giving them these resources. Whether that is through the help of peer mentors, student advisors, stipends, etc., we are working towards giving you more experiences that you may not have received. That is what differentiates us from other scholarship programs and their selection criteria.
Award Amount

Total:  $540000

Awards:  15

Deadline

Deadline:  August 31

“Making Waves” Scholarship for Women

Are you a woman in high school, college, or graduate school enrolled during the 2023-24 academic year? If so, let us help you! Our $500 “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women aims to help women cover the costs of pursuing their dreams. Whether that dream is starting a business, learning a foreign language, or attending college on the path to fulfilling your dream, the scholarship will cover those costs and make your journey a little easier. No matter your goals, we want to help out a woman who is passionate about their higher education journey and actively looking for ways to fund it. Thus, this scholarship will be awarded to students based on both the quality of their essays and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. In order to apply, simply write an essay about how the $500 “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women will help you fulfill your dreams. We encourage you to apply and look forward to reading your essays. Good luck!
Award Amount

Total:  $500

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  January 31

Pivotal Essay Contest

We live at a pivotal moment in history. Urgent challenges and rapidly developing technologies confront society — the choices we make now will shape humanity’s long-term future. It is in this context that Pivotal, in partnership with the Global Priorities Institute at Oxford University, is proud to announce a global essay contest focused on the world’s most pressing problems. With $25,000 in prizes, a panel of world-class judges, and no entry fee, this contest provides an unparalleled opportunity for young minds to engage with critical global issues. To aid in their exploration, participants may also request a free copy of William MacAskill’s “What We Owe The Future,” a seminal work that dives into our responsibilities to future generations. Any queries can be directed to support@pivotalcontest.org.
Award Amount

Total:  $75000

Awards:  3

Deadline

Deadline:  October 10

JumpStart Scholarship

The College JumpStart Scholarship is an annual, merit-based competition— financial need is not considered—that is open to 10th-12th graders, college students and non-traditional students. The main requirement is that you are committed to going to school and can express your goals for getting a higher education. The first place prize is a $1,000 scholarship to help cover educational expenses. This award can be used at any college or university in the United States.
Award Amount

Total:  $2000

Awards:  2

Deadline

Deadline:  October 17

Dissident Project National Essay Contest

Have you ever stood tall in the face of injustice? When did you realize the value of your American freedoms? What caused this realization? What does it mean to be free? On our trips to schools around the country, we’ve heard from hundreds of incredible young people. You’re a dissident, too — and it’s time to tell the world your story. In our first national essay contest, the Dissident Project wants to award the bravery and resilience of three high schoolers whose essays touch our hearts. The final five contenders will be judged by a panel of esteemed guests who do important work in the journalism and human rights space. Scroll down to pick your prompt, meet our guest judges, read the rules, and check out the prizes.
Award Amount

Total:  $18000

Awards:  3

Deadline

Deadline:  December 31

Microsoft Imagine Cup Scholarship

The Imagine Cup Games Competition is a global contest for the best new student games and the winning team will take home $50,000 (US). Create a desktop or tablet game using Windows, or a mobile game using Windows Phone, or a browser game using Windows Azure and you could win big at the Imagine Cup World Finals in Seattle. Many of our competitions are intended for teams, so you may also need to create a team to participate. If a competition requires a team, you’ll be able to pick your team right on the Submission page. If you don’t have a team yet, you can create one in just a few moments – you just need a team name and team country, and you’re ready to go. This competition is intended for a team of experienced coders. As part of this competition, you’ll submit a complete piece of software, usable by our judges, as well as supporting documentation.
Award Amount

Total:  $100000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  May 15

Buildgirls ACE scholarship

In 2022, buildgirls.org was founded in Bethesda, Maryland to empower, educate and engage females in high school about FACE (Females in Architecture, Construction & Engineering) . Recognizing the lack of female representation in the industry drove us to become passionate to cause change in this large and growing industry. Since early 2022, we have been developing new approaches to tackle both the attitudes surrounding women in ACE and also the limited exposure available for women, especially in high school. We support several initiatives, including facilitating discovery experiences, informative discussions, guest speakers, hosting events, creating inspiring competitions, partnering with universities and partnering with companies to join FACE by creating experiences specifically for talented young women. The gender disparity in infrastructure has been widely recognized, but few initiatives have been established at a younger age when girls decide what they want to pursue. We aim to empower and engage girls through offering a variety of opportunities at the high school level. We hope that through this program, not only will there be an increased awareness of women’s potential, but also that girls will be able to recognize their own.
Award Amount

Total:  $27000

Awards:  3

Deadline

Deadline:  January 15

Niche $25,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

“Help cover the cost of college without writing a single essay! Niche is giving one student $25,000 to help pay for tuition, housing, books and other college expenses — no essay required!”
Award Amount

Total:  $25000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  June 15

Christian Connector $2,000 Catholic College Scholarship Drawing

The Christian Connector offers a “one-stop-shop” for receiving free information from Christian colleges and Bible colleges. There are over 80 Christian colleges that students can conveniently choose from – all in one place! Completing the free information request form is like attending a huge Christian college fair without ever leaving home.
Award Amount

Total:  $2000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  May 31

AOPA Student Pilot Scholarship

The AOPA Student Pilot Scholarship is open to U.S. students who are pursuing a private, recreational, or sport pilot certificate and already have a student pilot certificate. Students must be members of Women in Aviation, International (WAI); both men and women are eligible to join WAI. Click here to learn more and to apply today!
Award Amount

Total:  $3000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  February 10