12th: Scholarships & Financial Aid | HBHS Counseling Center

Senior Guide: Funding Your Future

Your Naviance account is your central resource for every scholarship shared with the Counseling Center:

Local Advantage: This is where you'll find scholarships specifically for Har-Ber High School students or those in our local community. These often have less competition!
National Search: It is also a powerful tool for finding national scholarships.

Log In: Access your Naviance Student account. Contact the Counseling Center if you need help with your login credentials.
Scholarship Search: Navigate to the "Colleges" tab and then select "Scholarships" to explore various options.
Local Scholarships: Pay special attention to the "Scholarship List" section.
National Scholarship Match: Use the "Scholarship Match" feature to find national scholarships that align with your profile, interests, and academic achievements.
Application Tracking: Naviance allows you to track the scholarships you've applied for, their deadlines, and their status.

🚨 Important Tip: Never pay for a scholarship search service! Legitimate search engines are always free 🚨

Fastweb: The most popular and comprehensive database, offering personalized matches and a focus on college planning resources.
BigFuture by College Board: A highly trusted resource from the College Board (creators of the SAT). It includes a robust scholarship search tool integrated with college and career planning.
Going Merry: Known for simplifying the process by "bundling" applications, allowing you to apply for multiple scholarships with a single form.
Niche: Excellent for finding monthly, low-effort "No Essay" scholarships that can quickly add up.
Scholarships.com: A large, established database with advanced filtering options to help you pinpoint niche opportunities.
Bold.org: A platform known for hosting exclusive, modern, and often no-essay scholarships, including unique awards based on interests and goals.
Scholarship America: A reputable non-profit organization that administers scholarships for many major corporations and foundations.
CareerOneStop: A reliable, government-backed resource provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, listing over 9,500 vetted opportunities.
Scholly: A mobile-friendly app/platform (now part of Sallie Mae) that focuses on speed and efficiency in matching and applying for scholarships.
Scholarships360: Provides a curated and vetted list, often including helpful application tips and resources alongside the scholarship matches.

Many colleges and universities offer their own scholarships, often based on academic merit, specific majors, talents, or financial need.

Check College Websites: Visit the financial aid or admissions pages of the colleges you are researching to learn about their institutional scholarships.
Application Process: Be sure to understand each college's specific requirement. Some require a separate application, while others automatically consider you when you apply for admission.

Local Sources: Local businesses, civic organizations (like Rotary, Lions Club, Kiwanis), professional associations, religious groups, and parent-teacher organizations often offer scholarships to local students.
School Announcements: Ask your parents, teachers, and community members about local scholarship opportunities.
SPSEF Scholarships: These local scholarships are only for graduating Springdale Public Schools students. Find them at in Naviance or at www.SPSEF.org.

Parent's Employer: Many employers offer scholarships to children of their employees. Ask your parents if their workplace has such programs.
Organizations You or Your Parents Belong To: If you or your parents are members of unions, professional organizations, clubs, or associations, check if they offer scholarships.

Employer & Parent Organizations

Arkansas Department of Education (State Scholarships): The Arkansas Academic Challenge and Governor’s Distinguished Scholarships, among others, can be found at sams.adhe.edu.
- Note: To apply for these state opportunities, you must have already completed your FAFSA.
Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA): The FAFSA is a required part of the college process, and awards are based on financial need.
- Awards: Awards come in the form of loans (must be repaid) and PELL grants (financial awards that do not have to be repaid).
- Help: The HBHS Counseling Center hosts FAFSA Help nights this fall if you would like assistance with the process. You can also contact the financial aid department of the college or university you plan to intend if you have already been admitted!