It’s never too early to get in on scholarships for your teen. As you search for the right school and a financial pathway there, your teen can be a part of the process with free tools to help you along the way.
The College Board Opportunity Scholarships program guides students through the college planning process and gives them a chance to earn money for college along the way.
The class of 2020 students attending high school in the United States, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories can start qualifying for these scholarships. The Class of 2021 students will be eligible beginning in late 2019.
This program does not require an essay or application, and there isn’t a minimum GPA or SAT test score. Students just need to have a College Board account to join.
Six Steps to get to College
Students can follow a six-step process to earn money for college. Once completed they have a chance to win $40,000 for their college education. The more effort students put in, the more opportunities they have to earn a scholarship. Here’s what your teen can do:
1. Build Your College List: $500
- Students get started by exploring colleges they’re interested in on BigFuture · They can also follow this 10-step guide on how to search and add college profiles to their list
- This scholarship is open from January through the end of July
2. Practice for the SAT: $1,000
- · Students use Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy to get ready for test day
- Make sure they link their College Board and Khan Academy accounts before practicing, to make their practice hours count
- They can follow this 3-step guide on how to link their accounts and unlock personalized practice schedules and plans
- This scholarship is open from January through the end of October
3. Improve Your Score: $2,000
- Students show how practice pays off by improving their SAT score
- Any hours they put into the Practice for the SAT Scholarship also count toward practice for the SAT for 12 hours using Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy
- If they already took the SAT, make sure they check their score online to see if they’ve improved by 100-plus points—either from their PSAT/NMSQT to SAT or SAT to SAT
- This scholarship is open from March through the end of January
4. Strengthen Your College List: $500
- Make sure your college list has a mix of reach, match, and safety schools
- This scholarship will open in August 2019
5. Complete the FAFSA: $1,000
- Fill out the free government form to apply for financial aid
- This scholarship will open in October 2019
6. Apply to Colleges: $1,000
When they complete all six steps, students will also be eligible to earn the $40,000 Complete Your Journey Scholarship.
Bridget Lo is the associate director of direct marketing at the College Board.
