get a summer job and start saving that money by putting it aside for school....

you can start applying for scholarships, there are some that are for juniors but ppl dont generally apply until they are seniors... by the time you get to ur senior year, ur scholarship essay will be perfect :)

you can look up the nordstrom scholarship (i remember seeing this when i was a senior last year but i couldnt apply becuase it was only for juniors...)

other than that, make sure u do as much community service as you can and taking leadership positions. prepare to talk about ur life story in your scholarship and if you went through something traumatic, try to find a way to reach out to others in the same position as you were through community service (which will look great in ur essay). start a club, make sure u keep ur relationships with teachers (teacher reccs are big) and good luck!

About the community service, leadership positions, etc. .....

(Hold on your hat. I havn't attended college yet so I don't know how to make this paragraph easier to read.)

Most colleges are not intrested in someone who tries many very different things. Rather they look for someone who has ambition or a passion for a particular thing. In other words, you don't need to be involved in your school play, on the swimming team, and volenteering at the homeless shelter. If you can to everything, go on ahead, but it is usually better if you don't. Instead, if your intrest is acting or being part of a stage crew, get in as many plays as you can. If you like swimming, join a team, compete, or become a life guard (which would also help you earn money). If you like helping the homeless...you probably have the idea. This will show colleges that you understand what you like or want and sticks to it. For them this is good news-they see a student who wants a college education and will stick to it i.e. not drop out. Also an ambitionous student who pursues a certain field or activity is more likely to become "importent" later as a company owner or movie star. And a college wants to be able to caim that person as their alumnus (graduate).

About the orginal question--"I'm a junior and just now thinking about saving for college.  How can I start now?"

I am in the same position.

However, I have started doing the following things.

1. Get a job. You may not be able to make a whole lot of money , but every little helps. I am applying at the library. If you can work odd hours when no one else wnat to or is able to that is a great plus.


2. Write a book. Even if you don't get it published before college, get it written. "I am in the process of getting a book published" sounds impressive.  If you do publish a book, a college will picture your next book with  "Smith went to __ College" in the biography. Hint: don't try to publish a children's picture book. Almost every publisher recieves hundreds of queries (applications) for children's picture books. Instead, try young adult,  books for age five through ten, or hi-low. (Fast moving or exciting stories for older kids (and teens!) who can't read easily.


3. Apply for scholarships. (Which you are apparently already figured out.)


4. Talk about it with your parents if you havn't all ready.


5. Find someone (maybe the above) who manages thier finances well and get their advice.


6. P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens)

That is all I have.

Hope it was helpful.

Do lots of community service so you can win a ton of scholarships.  That's what I did!

www.how2winscholarships.com