Did you know that there are travel scholarships out there that exist specifically for high school students and teen travelers? That means that you can get financial aid for high school abroad and not even break your piggy bank of college funds. Pretty cool, right? Even though the trend is rising, high school students looking to study abroad do not form a large portion of the academic demographic. This is great news—less competition for you! Take advantage of this smaller niche to extend your network and gather all financial resources available. Win money to put towards your first endeavors around the world; Mom will be happy, Dad will be happy, heck—even you will love the experience of contributing significantly to the finances of the trip. What are you waiting for? Check out everything you need to know about high school travel scholarships now.
There are more scholarship types out there than there are electives to pick for senior year. Get familiar with the different types of financial aid options, and see which one is more relevant to you (and don't forget that you can fit into more than one category!
- Demographic: Minorities, take advantage of these! Whether it's ethnicity, gender, or religion, there's probably a demographic feature you can take advantage of.
- School Sponsored: The first place to check for high school scholarships should be your high school financial aid office. Ask your counselor!
- Location: Did you already check if your desired host country offers scholarships to students coming there? If not, you should.
- Need-Based: If your parents' bank statements aren't overflowing with money, you might qualify for financial aid. This one usually requires parental involvement, so give them a heads up before the due date.
- Program. The biggest chance for scoring a scholarship will probably be through your high school program provider, so be sure to ask what your options are.
- Scholastic: These scholarships focus on grades, class ranking, and GPA's. Now is the time to put all of those late night study sessions to good use!
- Specialized: Are you on the soccer team or the first chair clarinet? Find programs that focus on your niche and see if they’ll help you foot the bill.
Save the procrastination for your math homework and get a head start on applications for your high school scholarships. The research, paperwork, revision, and selection process takes some time, so give yourself plenty of wiggle room—"I wish I had waited to start my travel scholarship applications," ← said no teen ever.
- Be Proactive. Start looking for scholarships at least a semester before your intended study abroad term, if not a full year. Some scholarships are more competitive than others, and the earlier you jump on 'em, the better!
- Stay Organized. Put all deadlines on a calendar; don't be afraid to color code in terms of importance. This helps figure out what to focus on with a mere glance. Plus, it gives you an excuse to use your computer longer when the parents are harping you to turn it off. ;-)
- Schedule Time for Proofreading. Bonus points if you have a friend or favorite teacher skim them over before you hit submit.
- Finish Ahead of Time. It's good practice to aim to finish all paperwork a week before the deadline. You never know what will pop up: pesky illnesses, impossible science projects, surprise essays. And if the scholarship calls for something you missed at first glance (recommendation letter?!), you have a safe amount of time to gather all additional materials.
Lucky for you, long-gone are the days of scholarship catalogs and having to make phone calls to inquire about opportunities (blech). Instead, there are ample resources available within arms reach. This is great considering the only way to find the perfect study abroad scholarship is through research, research, research. (Consider it good practice for when college rolls around!).
Look online! Start browsing through GoAbroad's high school study abroad scholarship directory and filtering based on your preferences. Google specific terms and look at financial aid websites. Stick with reputable resources—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You should never pay to apply for a scholarship! Pro tip—check GoAbroad daily, as the options available change regularly.
Maxed out your internet research? Other places to find high school abroad scholarships include…
- Financial Aid Office. A study abroad representative or the school counselor should have a directory of scholarships applicable to high school students from your school itself.
- Local Organizations. Whether it's a small business or the town's grocery store chain, reach out and explain your cause. If there's a connection between your study abroad topic/country and their focus, chances of getting sponsorship will be higher.
- Places of Worship. You've been putting your loose change into the collection tray for years; time to ask for a favor in return.
- Mom and Dad. Maybe they won't sponsor your entire trip, but it doesn't help to ask!
We're pretty sure you can figure this one out on your own, but we had to mention it; who doesn't want extra money? This might be one of your first "big purchases" in life (it could've been your car, but we love your old beater, too!). It's exciting because this is your first chance to test the waters of financial responsibility and contributing to something you reeeaaallly want. That means the learning starts NOW—even before you set foot abroad.
Much like college, high school travel abroad is an investment in your future. It will pay dividends for years in new skills, precious memories, powerful anecdotes, and fodder for excellent college applications (You thought these scholarship ones were tough? Think again).
Remember—There are many different expenses involved in going abroad, so having extra money from scholarships can be a big help. Anticipated costs include…
- Program Fees. Most scholarships are applicable toward the program fees, which usually include the application process, scholastic support, classes, and supplies abroad.
- Accommodation & Transportation Fees. Some accommodation fees might be included in the program cost, especially if you signed up for a homestay. Also—flights aren't cheap.
- Spending Money. You probably won't be getting a weekend job while studying abroad, and Mom and Dad won't be there to give you a weekly allowance. So, it's necessary to save up some money beforehand.