Financial aid that is awarded to students according to merit is known as merit aid (or merit scholarships). Unlike need-based aid, private scholarships for top school juniors are awarded to students who achieve certain standards in academics and/or extracurricular activities, or who meet established guidelines.
Can a Junior in High School Make an application for Merit Scholarships?
While many private scholarships are just open to high school seniors or college undergrads, there are many private merit awards high school juniors can apply for. A few of these are from nonprofit organizations and businesses. They are targeted directly to high school juniors, but other medication is available to candidates in a wide age range.
By securing private scholarships throughout their junior year in high school, your son or daughter can be thoroughly ready to apply for colleges during their senior year knowing that some of the price is already covered. Some scholarship recipients even receive “full-ride” awards that cover the entire cost of an undergraduate education (tuition and fees, room and board, and other expenses).
11 Scholarships for High School Juniors
There are plenty of scholarships senior high school juniors can use for. Here are a few great options that are available to most students and do not require an exceptional academic record or outstanding achievements in athletics or any other areas.
Although there are several one-time awards, most scholarships are awarded annually. The applying deadline is generally round the same time (e.g. the middle of May), however the exact date may shift slightly each year. It's essential to verify the applying deadline for the year your student will apply. Some awards favor candidates who apply earlier in the application window.
College JumpStart Scholarship
This scholarship opportunity is open to high school juniors along with sophomores and seniors. College undergrads and nontraditional students will also be eligible. There isn't a minimum GPA requirement, and financial require is not considered. Applicants must write an essay showcasing their passion for pursuing the amount.
- Award: $1,000
- Requirements: Essay showcasing the applicant's resolve for education, hard work, and perseverance
- Deadline: Mid-April
“Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship
Funded through the Bold.org scholarship platform, this award gives $25,000 to a single winner each year. It's available to a lot of students at any education level, school, and field of study. Plus, there is no minimum cumulative GPA or essay required. The scholarship is offered to the “boldest” applicant, as judged by their Bold.org profile. With this award, a “bold” applicant is somebody that is motivated and determined. Early applicants possess a better possibility of winning.
- Award: $25,000
- Requirements: Create a student profile on the Bold.org scholarship website. Recipient may be the applicant who shows probably the most “boldness” (determination, self-motivation, and earnestness)
- Deadline: Early January (applications in earlier windows are favored).
Dear Evan Hansen College Essay Writing Challenge
Open to students in 11th or 12th grade who are situated in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, or Westchester, as well as Nassau, Orange, Rockland, or Suffolk counties during the upcoming academic year. This award requires a college-application style essay (no longer than 650-words) that describes how “Dear Evan Hansen” resonates with and inspires you. Essays should be specific, possess a clear narrative arc, and adhere to the theme from the challenge.
- Award: $1,000
- Requirements: Each applicant must write a college-application style essay (no longer than 650-words) that describes how “Dear Evan Hansen” resonates with and inspires you. Essays should be specific, possess a clear narrative arc, and adhere to the theme from the challenge.
- Deadline: Early May
Doodle 4 Google Scholarship
Open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade, this scholarship award is offered by Google. To apply, students must submit a “Google Doodle” that may be featured around the Google homepage. The winner receives perks and prizes along with the $30,000 scholarship, and their school also gets to be a $50,000 grant from Google. All of four finalists receives a $5,000 scholarship.
- Award: $30,000 (plus prizes) +
$50,000 technology package towards the winner's school/non-profit organization +
$5,000 scholarship for every of four finalists - Requirements: Submit a Google Doodle design
- Deadline: Mid-January
Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
This scholarship fund is named for renowned education authors and is open to all students. The only application requirement is a short essay (less than 250 words) answering among the questions on the application. Students may also submit an item on the topic of their choice or reuse an essay submitted for another scholarship, college application, or senior high school class.
- Award: $1,000
- Requirements: Short essay (under 250 words)
- Deadline: End of July
Prudential Emerging Visionaries Awards
There are some winners from the Prudential Emerging Visionaries Award each year. This scholarship was once known as the Spirit of Community Award and is available to high school students between 14 and 18 years of age. There are 20 winners who each receive a visit to the Prudential headquarters to have an Awards Summit along with the scholarship money.
- Award: $15,000 grand prize for just one winner +
$5,000 each with other winners - Requirements: Applicants must submit a well-designed, innovative intend to solve their communities' financial or societal challenges
- Deadline: Early November
Niche $500 High School Junior Scholarship
Essentially a lottery, this award is offered towards the winner of the random drawing. It's available to all high school juniors, and the application is minimal. To apply, students can simply complete a quick survey on Niche.com. Doing this also allows students to see and make an application for other scholarships hosted around the Niche.com platform.
- Award: $500
- Requirements: Submit a scholarship application (winner chosen randomly)
- Deadline: Early June
Young Filmmakers Contest
Aspiring filmmakers from third grade through post-graduate school can sign up to the Young Filmmakers Contest. Submission is free of charge, and also the winning films will premier at the One Earth Film Festival. Senior high school juniors possess a list of several topics to select from for their film, which should provide a means to fix environmentally friendly or sustainability issue discussed.
- Award: $100 to $1,000 cash prize or scholarship and matching grant, amount determined by age/grade
- Requirements: Create a film between three and eight minutes long that showcases a problem along with a solution in one of those topics: wildlife/ecosystems, water, climate, energy, food, transportation, or waste
- Deadline: Late June
American Legion Oratorical Contest
Rather than an essay, this scholarship requires students to organize and offer an address about the Constitution. There are several assigned topics speakers can choose from. All students under age 20 qualify to compete. State winners receive a minimum of $2,000, and those who advance farther within the national contest can win additional scholarship money.
- Award: $25,000 (national winner)
$22,500 (second-place winner)
$20,000 (third-place winner)
$2,000 (state winners) plus an extra $2,000 for advancing beyond the first round of the national contest - Requirements: Present an address about the U.S. Constitution with an focus on citizen duties and obligations
- Deadline: State-assigned deadlines
National Finals are held in April
Voice of Democracy Scholarship
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization offers this scholarship towards the student who submits the very best audio essay on an assigned topic. For example, the 2023-2023 theme is “America: Where Will we Move from Here?” The winner from each state receives a $1,000 scholarship, and the national winner gets a $30,000 award.
- Award: $30,000 (national first-place winner)
$1,000 minimum (state winners) - Requirements: Submit a sound essay on the patriotic topic chosen through the VFW
- Deadline: Late October
SelectBlinds.com College Scholarship
Innovation is paramount to winning this scholarship. Applicants must submit an idea for a new way to use window coverings or perhaps a new technology that could improve window coverings. Any format is suitable (e.g. essay, photos, art, video), and creativity is strongly encouraged. Students should also submit an essay (