How much time before college should I start applying for scholarships?

Answer:

It’s best to start applying for scholarships at least 12–18 months before you plan to start college.

Here’s why:

1. Some Deadlines Are Very Early

• Many big national and international scholarships close a year before the academic year starts.
• For example, if you want to start college in September 2026, some scholarships may close as early as October–December 2025.

2. You’ll Need Time to Prepare

• Collecting transcripts, recommendation letters, and test scores can take weeks.
• You may need to write multiple essays and tailor them for different scholarships.

3. Local and Smaller Scholarships May Be Later

• School-based or community scholarships sometimes have deadlines 4–6 months before classes begin, but it’s safer not to wait.

4. Ideal Timeline

• 18 months before college: Start researching scholarships.
• 12–14 months before: Begin applying for major national/international awards.
• 6–10 months before: Apply for local, community, or school-based scholarships.
• Ongoing: Keep checking for rolling or last-minute opportunities.

If you want, I can make you a month-by-month scholarship application calendar so you know exactly when to apply for different types of scholarships.
Do you want me to prepare that for you?