By pursuing a full-ride or full-tuition scholarship, you can avoid incurring debt from student loans totaling tens of thousands of dollars. The following actions will increase your likelihood of receiving one.

Start preparing early

Most of the advice on this page can help you secure a scholarship that will pay for all or most of your college expenditures, but it’s not something you can do just before the deadline.

It’s crucial to begin your search for a full-tuition or full-ride scholarship during your freshman year of high school rather than waiting until your final year or two, as it can need years of commitment. As a parent, assist your child in understanding the actions they must take to position themselves for success in college.

Take test prep classes in high school and take practice exams to get the best marks possible on college entrance exams, like the SAT or ACT, for example.

Throughout high school, you should consider taking part in internships related to your field of study to help differentiate yourself from other applicants for scholarships. This can support your claim that you are capable of succeeding in practical settings.

One way to make your scholarship application stand out is to make sure you complete four years of community service during your high school career. To make this effort meaningful and to help you stand out from other applicants, choose a cause or topic that you are genuinely passionate about or that advances your professional goals. Scholarship committees prefer to see candidates who are upstanding members of the community and decent citizens.

Perform well academically

To be eligible for the top scholarships that colleges and universities have to offer, high school students must maintain strong grades and test results.

As a result, you should strive to outperform other new students in order to be competitive. Regretfully, colleges usually don’t specify minimums for GPAs and test scores to obtain a full-ride or full-tuition scholarship.

If you’re having trouble in your studies, ask your professors for more assistance, get a tutor, or enroll in after-school classes and programs that cover the difficult subjects you find difficult.

Take challenging classes

Although test scores and grades are significant, colleges also consider the kinds of classes you have taken. A student who took Advanced Placement (AP), honors, college prep, and international baccalaureate (IB) courses may be considered for a full-tuition or full-ride scholarship, whereas you might not be considered if your senior year was filled with easy coursework.

These classes can increase your chances of receiving a scholarship, help you get ready for college life, and possibly even earn you college credit.

Perform well in extracurricular activities

The likelihood is that having strong academic credentials and test results won’t be enough to set you apart from the competition if you want to enter a prestigious university. Taking on leadership roles, such as student club president or class officer, is one method to stand out. One of the most crucial traits to demonstrate if you’re hoping to get a full scholarship is leadership.

Additionally, a lot of universities provide full-ride and full-tuition scholarships to students who succeed in extracurricular activities and sports. This choice may help you decide whether to stay on the team or continue honing a skill, even if it can be challenging to pursue unless you’re currently on that path.

Apply for admission at multiple schools

In terms of scholarship prospects, your chances of being accepted to colleges are better the more colleges you apply to. Even though you might have your sights set on a particular institution, apply to multiple colleges to increase your options.

If a school on your list, even if it’s ranked second or third, offers you a full-tuition or full-ride scholarship and your top pick doesn’t, it can be enough to tilt the scales in favor of the debt-free school.

Develop relationships with teachers and counselors

Letters of recommendation from one or more of your instructors, mentors, or guidance counselors are required for some scholarship applications. Although most educators are happy to provide recommendation letters for kids who have excelled academically, the quality of the letter can be greatly enhanced if you have a positive working relationship with the writer.

By consistently contributing to class discussions, acting with dignity, volunteering to assist teachers, and seeking guidance from your counselor, you can cultivate these relationships.

Submit a stellar application

Although you might believe that your qualifications speak for themselves, this isn’t always the case. Give the application some thought, especially if you are writing essays or personal statements. You might want to ask a parent, guidance counselor, or instructor to edit and proofread your essay and offer suggestions for improvement.

Additionally, don’t hold back. Some high school students could find it tough to talk about themselves, but it’s crucial to emphasize your qualifications and accomplishments in order to get the entire scholarship rather than someone else. If you withhold information, you risk losing out on this chance.