Frankly, scholarships have winners...and they outnumber the other applicants by and far. I earned the Coca Cola scholarship and they only selected 250 out of 90,000 applicants. Average students don't win these major scholarships, but don't be discouraged. Look locally if you feel like you're average. School clubs, community organizations and local associations reward all types of students. My NHS club awarded me $250 for my involvement in the club...regardless of my grades, test scores and extracurriculars. Also, your local community organizations should be awarding scholarships in the $100-$2000 range; these organizations include Scouting organizations, Kiwanis, Elk's clubs, Rotary Clubs and government chambers, to name a few. Additionally, associations will award scholarships; in Florida the realtors' association provided a very generous scholarship. Sometimes these association-related scholarships will require you to pursue a related major or write an essay.
This leads me to the next opportunity for "average" students. Essay contests. You can find essay contests for a wide range of topics, from Ayn Rand books to Middle East peace to reform of the United Nations. Of course, your writing ability affects whether or not you will advance in these competitions, but these contests truly challenge your thinking and broaden your horizons which makes them excellent experiences. But what if I don't write well? NBD-- no big deal! Plenty of essay contest winners don't impress the judges with their "big words" and polished syntax. Instead, these winners have the ability to communicate effectively, honestly and compellingly.
Lastly, colleges are another great source of scholarship/financial aid for "average" students. These scholarships are sometimes reserved for in-state students or have lower standards than more selective scholarship programs. For example, the Bright Futures scholarship in Florida awards virtually full tuition to students who meet certain academic criteria that is much more attainable than other scholarships. If you earn a 1270 out of 1600 on the SAT, earn an IB diploma or meet other standard requirements...you're going to college for free.
If you're a rising junior or senior, it's still not too late. I founded Bridge Education, a non-profit group that provides SAT prep to disadvantaged students, at the end of my junior year. There's nothing wrong with being an average student, but you always can embrace new ideas and run with them, especially in high school. Hopefully by pursuing local, skill-related and school-specific scholarship opportunities, you will find some great sources for funding your college education!
