As a high school sophomore, you’re no longer a brand-new freshman, but you're still a few years away from senior year. It may feel like you have plenty of time to start thinking about college and scholarships, but the truth is, sophomore year is the perfect time to begin applying for scholarships
. Starting early will give you valuable experience, help you discover your strengths, and potentially unlock financial resources that can help you throughout high school and college.Here’s why sophomore year is an ideal time to start applying for scholarships, as well as how you can take advantage of the opportunities available to you right now.
We'll showcase some examples on this page, drawn from elsewhere on this website, HighScholarships.com. For more details and additional scholarships for sophomores, scroll down to the "High School Sophomores" button below.
Applying for scholarships might seem overwhelming at first, especially when you’re faced with essays, forms, and deadlines. But starting now gives you a chance to get comfortable with the application process so that when you reach your senior year, you’re already an expert. Additionally, you’ll avoid the last-minute rush that many students face during their final year of high school.
Sophomore year is the time to build your scholarship skills. The Voice of Democracy Scholarships from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), for example, is a fantastic opportunity for students who are passionate about democracy. With a written and recorded essay on a pre-assigned theme, this contest offers scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $35,000. Many sophomores have traditionally won these awards; so you can, too. In addition, even if your application were not to be selected, entering now gives you the chance to reapply in future years. This will help you build experience, improve your writing skills, and familiarize yourself with competitive scholarship processes.
Take, as another example, the National High School Oratorical Contest Scholarships; participating in a competition like this one can help you develop your public speaking skills, which will be valuable for future applications and in many areas of life. The competition focuses on topics related to the U.S. Constitution, and winning local competitions could lead to awards ranging from $2,000 to $25,000. By starting as a sophomore, you can refine your speech and presentation before targeting bigger prizes later in high school.
When you apply early, you're more likely to stand out from other applicants – and as a sophomore, you have the added advantage of applying before the competition becomes even tougher in later years.
For example, the Siemens Scholarships in Math, Science, and Technology are open to students who submit research projects. Sophomores can apply as part of a group project, which allows you to collaborate with others and gain valuable teamwork experience. Seniors can only submit individual projects, so this gives you a unique opportunity to avoid competing with them. With awards ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, these scholarships can make a huge impact on your academic future – and the earlier you start, the more opportunities you'll have to refine your skills.
Similarly, "Do Something" Easy Scholarships offer monthly opportunities for students who engage in volunteer activities. You don’t need to write essays or submit transcripts – many of these awards simply require you to show proof of community service, share a piece of art you’ve created, or submit a short video about your experiences, skills and tasks that will be of use in scholarship applications in future years as well. These smaller, easier scholarships are ideal for sophomores because they give you the chance to start winning scholarships without the pressure of lengthy applications. With new opportunities every month, it’s easy to build a strong application portfolio.
Sophomore year is also a great time to explore your talents and begin building a well-rounded scholarship profile. If you're passionate about the arts, for instance, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards provide an excellent opportunity for students interested in visual arts or creative writing. Whether you're submitting an art portfolio, a writing dossier, or poetry, these awards recognize creative excellence. Ranging from $500 to $12,500, the awards include scholarships for college tuition, summer programs, and even teacher rewards. Many sophomores have won these awards, and applying now allows you to refine your artistic skills while adding a prestigious honor to your resume.
The National Young Arts Foundation Scholarships are another opportunity for students with talent in the arts. Whether you're into classical music, dance, theater, photography, or writing, you can apply for scholarships ranging from $250 to $10,000. Some finalists are even nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. As a sophomore, you’ll still have time to develop your craft and can reapply in future years. By starting early, you can build a strong portfolio that will make you a competitive candidate for future scholarships.
Many scholarships available to sophomores are smaller, but they can serve as an important steppingstone toward bigger awards down the road. For instance, the American College Foundation Visionary Scholarships require a simple 500-word essay on why college is important to you, and awards range from $1,000 to $2,500. Applying now helps you develop your writing skills and gives you extra chances to apply for more substantial scholarships later on.
Likewise, the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest offers scholarships up to $10,000 for essays that demonstrate an understanding of political courage. As a sophomore, applying for this essay contest gives you an opportunity to build your writing portfolio and your ability to argue a position creatively. Since the application process is similar every year, this early application will give you the opportunity to develop your writing and research skills, giving you an edge in future competitions.
Applying for scholarships now can also help you build your college savings early. Some scholarships, like the Siemens Scholarships and the National High School Oratorical Contest Scholarships, provide generous funds that can be used for future education. Even smaller awards like those from the Voice of Democracy or the Do Something scholarships can be a great way to save money for your college fund. By starting early, you can accumulate more savings over time – without the stress of trying to win large awards in your senior year.
Don’t wait until your junior or senior year to begin applying for scholarships. Starting as a sophomore gives you a head start and allows you to build valuable experience while increasing your chances of winning. From arts and writing to STEM and community service, there are numerous opportunities for sophomores to apply for scholarships that can help you both now and in the future.
By applying early, you’ll not only have more time to perfect your applications, but you’ll also gain skills and recognition that will help you stand out when the larger scholarships come your way. So why wait? Visit our website today to explore these scholarships and start applying early!
The scholarships provided in the following pages are organized by grade level in high school, ordered by deadline; there is, thus, no longer any need to go through thousands of resources to find those applicable to you. Having been prepared with high school students in mind, highscholarships.com makes the task rather easy for you.
On this page, you will find numerous scholarships that are specifically for high school seniors. This is when you qualify the most number of scholarships! Do not wait longer!
SHOW ME ↓This page is dedicated to scholarships that are for high school juniors, of which there are plenty. Some of these can be applied for by high school seniors as well.
SHOW ME ↓Here, you can find scholarships for high school sophomores, although some of them are available also to high schoolers at other levels. Start early!
SHOW ME ↓There are also scholarships are for high school freshmen! These are not as many in number as other grade levels, but provide a reason to start early.
SHOW ME ↓It is not too difficult to fully fund your college dream via scholarships. Once you have identified the right opportunities/matches among countless resources, an endeavor highscholarships.com makes easy for you, statistically speaking, even if you had a low success rate, you can fully fund a private college education.