How can i get a high school scholarship?

Can I get a scholarship to a private high school? How? ?

• how would i be able to apply for a private high school? the one I'd like to go to is really top notch, and if i could get a scholarship to go there, i think it would really help with applying for collage later on. would i be able to get a sponsor? would i be able to apply for one? I'm an A student and I've participated in a program that's already tested me at a high school level. my reading level is above high school average. Is it possible?

• Answer:

  Actually you may be better off for college being a top student at a good public school than being an average student at a top private school. My husband does admissions interviews for local Harvard applicants, so I'm aware of what top universities are looking for. Great grades and test scores, participation and uniqueness. Is your local public school highly rated? Do they have good college counseling? Do graduates tend to go the the type of college you are interested in? Are your parents willing to pay toward school? Are you willing to do more work than you might have to in a public school for As? Consider these issues when making a decision about private school. Just so you're aware, the top private schools have rigorous curriculums and tend to teach a grade level or more above even the very top public schools. So you would likely be going into a top private high school at a disadvantage. However, if you're willing to put the work in, you should be able to do well, you sound like a very smart, determined student. Many of the top private schools have scholarships based solely on financial need (need-based). But they typically don't cover all of tuition and they expect the family (immediate and relatives) to "sacrifice" to pay as much of the tuition as possible. They look at vacations, home equity, etc to see where you might have money you didn't think of. All of the financial information is sent to a clearing house that analyzes it and gives a recommendation to the school. All info is kept confidential. Religious schools tend to have need-based and merit-based scholarships. Often the merit-based scholarships look at your exam score (HSPT where I live), your elem/middle school grades, participation in school, recommendations, etc. Overall, the best religious schools tend to be less expensive and a little less academically rigorous than the best non-religious private schools. Some have a certain percentage of their student body who is not of that religion, but you'd still take religion courses. Some schools ask you to sign a statement of faith, so you'd have to see if it is within your beliefs. In my area, many of the catholic schools are about a third non-catholic students. Typically, sponsors donate their money to the school and let the school decides who deserves it. This is done because the school can check you out easier, and for tax purposes. Do you have any schools in mind? Now is the time to start looking at them. It depends on where you live, but in my area, L.A., we are doing the high school process now. (ACK! My son starts high school next year.) You will find the admissions calendar on the school's website. Here are things you will likely need to do, your school calendars may be different, so be sure to check right away so you don't miss a date: School Tours/Open House - November, maybe December Applications due - December or January Financial Aid applications due to clearing house or school - December or January Recommendations from teachers (math and english in my area) - January Entrance exam testing (ISEE or HSPT in my area) - by January Interview - January, maybe February Decisions are made in March here. You will likely have to take an entrance exam, where I live it's the ISEE or the HSPT (catholic schools). You should get a test prep book or some tutoring to help score your best. Talk to your school counselor for some guidance, hopefully they will be of help. Look at the school websites and you will see that most of the top and most expensive schools give significant amounts of financial aid. Ask your parent to help, it can seem overwhelming, all the dates you need to keep track of, etc. But it can be done, believe me, all the parents from my son's grade are doing it now and not all are rocket scientists. Don't get discouraged at everything that needs to be done, at least go to check out the schools and see if they're a good fit. Good luck!