By Tamara It’s hard to believe that my daughter will be graduating next year. In a mere 11 months, she will no longer be a high school student. She, of course, reminds me of this on a daily basis, but I’m not sure she really understands how quickly that time will pass. Right now, she seems oblivious to the quantity of work that lies ahead. Instead of working on her résumé or writing college essay drafts, she’s working on her tan. One thing, however, has not escaped her to-do list…scholarships. After narrowing down her list of potential colleges, she’s come to the realization that mom was right — college is expensive. And with the cost of attendance ranging between $17,000 and $53,000 per year, she knows that the only way she can possibly afford to attend any of her top choices is to find some free money to help lower her costs. Right now is the perfect time for her to work on scholarship applications, too. She doesn’t have homework or rehearsals to worry about, so she can give them her full attention. If you are a rising high school senior, you too should use the next few weeks to complete as many scholarships as possible. To get you started, here are 10 summer scholarships that you can submit before you head back to school. 1. Goedeker’s College Scholarship This program is open to high school seniors with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The application requires an essay (300 words or more) and a personal statement. One $500 and two $100 scholarships will be awarded. Deadline: July 31. 2. “Go Ennounce Yourself” Scholarship To win this $500 scholarship, students simply need to share their good news or post a new activity online. No essays required! Deadline: July 31. 3. Brandon Goodman Scholarship Each month, one student receives a $300 scholarship through this program. High school seniors with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher may apply. Next Deadline: July 31. 4. Flavor of the Month Scholarship This is one of my favorite scholarships. Simply submit a short essay (250 words or less) describing which ice cream flavor best represents your personality. If your essay is chosen, you can ‘scoop’ up a cool $1,500 for college. One award is offered annually. Deadline: July 31. 5. 2014 National Bible Essay Contest The National Bible Association sponsors this writing contest. Students must submit an essay (600 to 800 words) that explains the meaning of their existence. One $450 scholarship will be awarded. Deadline: August 1. 6. Eve’s Addiction Scholarship High school seniors can win a $1,000 scholarship through this contest by submitting an essay (500 words or more) on the following topic: “How can the Web give a company a competitive advantage?” One award is offered annually. Deadline: August 15. 7. Atlanta Dental Spa Annual Scholarship Don’t let the name fool you. You don’t have to be from Atlanta or be pursuing a dental career to apply for this $1,000 scholarship. Just submit an essay (250 words or more) telling the provider why you deserve to win. Deadline: August 18. 8. Make Me Laugh Scholarship Has something funny or embarrassing happened in your life? Share it for a chance to win $1,500 for college. One award will be offered annually. Deadline: August 31. 9. Creative Outlook Art Contest If you want a break from writing scholarship essays, try this creative art contest. You can submit up to five images for consideration, using one of the following mediums: photography, painting, sketching, fashion design, digital artwork, or even something from the culinary arts. One winner will receive $250. Deadline: September 1. 10. Power Poetry — To Be Heard Scholarship Slam Do you have an interest in poetry? Submit a poem on any topic for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship. Deadline: September 8. Now is the best time to get a jump on these scholarships before your time is filled with college applications and homework assignments in the fall. In fact, there are plenty of other scholarships available over the next few weeks, and you can easily find them when you do our free Scholarship Match. You can even work on your tan, all while earning some free college cash. Just remember to apply some SPF while you are applying to scholarships!