Most high school students begin to start thinking about scholarships for college during their senior year. This is actually a bit later than students should consider how they are going to pay for college. There are excellent scholarships available to students of all races and backgrounds; especially if you have good grades and are active in civic clubs and organizations. For Hispanic students, the best time to begin working toward scholarships is the beginning of their junior year. There are several types of scholarships available to help exceptional students pay for college.
Civic Organization Scholarships: If you are interested in civic clubs that provide community services, you may want to research scholarships in this area. There are usually several organizations that focus on the local or national Hispanic community; and many of these, such as the Hispanic College Fund, reward students who have shown leadership in various volunteer organizations at their school and in their local communities.
Academic Scholarships: Most academic scholarships are available to students of all races; however, there are some that specify that they are intended for Hispanic students. Most of these scholarship funds will look at your overall academic GPA and test scores, so be sure to keep your grades as high as possible. Your chosen university may also have a scholarship fund for Hispanic students, so be sure to make a visit with the college financial aid office. You can usually search for private scholarship funds through a scholarship clearinghouse, many of which are available online. You should NEVER have to pay for a scholarship search service.
Program of Study Scholarships: Some degrees are meant to fill areas of high need and low Hispanic representation, and these programs will usually have scholarships, both private and through the university, that reward Hispanic students for their hard academic work. Possible majors with this type of scholarship are Medicine and Biological Sciences and Education.
There are many other types of scholarships available to Hispanic students who aspire for higher education, so be sure that you have a good working relationship with both your high school counselor, and your college's financial aid office. If you have a strong academic record and have been active in your community, these offices will usually have several scholarships to recommend to you. However, don't depend on others to do your work! Spend some time researching possible scholarships on your own time, as well.