Most parents, and students, believe that you have to wait until senior year to apply for scholarships–believing the theory that all scholarships are for seniors in high school. That theory is incorrect. There are scholarships for all ages from children, to middle school, to high school (even before senior year). The hard part, however, is finding them.

None of the online scholarship databases includes information about college scholarships that are available only to children under age 13 because of federal privacy laws. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA), 15 USC 6501, and the Children’s Privacy Protection Final Rule, require web sites to obtain “verifiable parental consent” before collecting, using or disclosing individually identifiable information from children under age 13. This effectively prevents online scholarship databases from matching students under age 13 with college scholarships. Because of the difficulties in obtaining consent, all of the scholarship databases avoid the problem by omitting scholarships for underage children from their databases and refusing to register users under age 13. That makes it difficult for parents to find scholarships in that age group.

Today’s post gives you an alternative to searching–links to many of the scholarships available; because it’s NEVER too early to start the scholarship search and application process. Summer is the best time to begin the search and start preparing your scholarship folder/notebook/file.

College Scholarships for Children

http://www.scholarshipexperts.com/blog/college-planning/college-scholarships-for-children

You’re Never too Young for Scholarships

http://www.scholarshipexperts.com/blog/college-planning/youre-never-young-scholarships

It’s Never too Early to Look for College Scholarships

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/12/22/never-too-early-to-look-for-college-scholarships/

College Scholarships for Middle School

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/parent-child/college-scholarships-middle-school

40 Scholarships for High School Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors

http://blog.cappex.com/blog/scholarships/its-never-too-early-40-scholarships-for-high-school-freshmen-sophomores-and-juniors/

Scholarships for Age 13 and under

http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/age13.phtml

6 Scholarships That Reward Kids

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/the-scholarship-coach/2012/08/09/6-scholarships-that-reward-kids