Scholarships are available for students with widely varying needs and qualifications.
More than $7 billion in scholarships goes unclaimed every year. With persistent digging, however, you can uncover that full-ride scholarship to the school of your choice. Many students and parents are unaware of the extent to which there are great numbers of scholarships and grants available. But, if you search diligently and take the time to research sources, you can be pleasantly surprised over the financial assistance you gain.
Instructions
1. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application is not only for federal government grants for college, but the Expected Family Contribution it generates as a result of the personal financial information you provide helps colleges determine financial aid packages. The FAFSA can be downloaded or submitted online at the FAFSA website.
2. Get a list of scholarships you are eligible for by searching online scholarship databases such as FastWeb, College Board, Scholarships.com and the Sallie Mae Scholarship Search. These resources are free. Some scholarship search services claim they are free but charge a fee. Be on the lookout for scams.
3. Visit your library and check out books such as "The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2011: Billions of Dollars in Scholarships, Grants and Prizes" by Gen Tanabe and Kelly Tanabe or "The Scholarship Book, 13th Edition: The Complete Guide to Private-Sector Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, and Loans for the Undergraduate" by Daniel J. Cassidy. Make sure you use recently published books or the most recently updated editions.
4. Contact individual colleges you want to attend. Ask the financial aid department about scholarships offered by the school. Ask whether, in addition to academic, athletic and minority scholarships, there are scholarships available in your targeted major field of study.
5. Contact professional associations and corporations for information about scholarships they offer. For example, if you want to work in the computer science field, contact computer and software companies and associations related to computer science.
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