My step-by-step instructions are designed to help high school students and their parents find the scholarships that are available to them. It also serves as a guide for parents who want to start their search early for their high school freshman.
Instructions
1. Visit your high school's guidance office and check with a counselor about local scholarships. They are out there and often easy to win because students don't ask about them and few students apply.
2. Get online. Scholarship websites are out there. Try: www.scholarships.com or www.fastweb.com
3. On scholarship search websites (like those listed above) take the time to fill out the student profiles. It helps the site find scholarships that are tailored specifically for you.
4. Don't confine yourself just to scholarship search sites. Many businesses and corporations have their own scholarship programs: Walmart/Sam's Club, Best Buy, Coca Cola Scholars, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Food Lion, Costco, etc.
Try any and all stores, fast food places, businesses, etc. to see if they have a scholarship program.
Go to your search engine (Google, Yahoo, etc.) and type in the name of the store then scholarship.
5. Check for scholarships at the workplace of your parents. Many employers offer scholarships to the children of the employees. The Koch Foundation is a great example of a company that gives scholarships.
Parents ask your boss, or students ask your parents to ask their boss.
6. Does the student have a part time job? See if their company offer students scholarships or grants for college. There are often incentives to working for a company and one is their willingness to pay for your tuition.
UPS is a prime example of a company that helps students pay for college.
7. Search for scholarships within your state. North Carolina offers a NC Blueberry Festival scholarship. Other states offer scholarships that are unique as well.
8. If the student has decided one a school to attend, contact the financial aid office and discuss what scholarships they have available for first-year students. These scholarships are often opportunities to earn up to a full-tuition scholarship.
However, prepare yourself for possible scholarship competitions and interviews. The best way to prepare is to just be yourself and to answer honestly. Interviewers like to see personality and confidence.
9. Finally, be sure to fill out FAFSA. Check the official website: www.fafsa.ed.gov
This is the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid.
Here is where the free money is given out to students based on their financial need. It bases the amount of grant money a student receives from the state and/or federal government on their need and the cost of tuition for their school.
Remember this is FREE so paying to have it filled out is a scam.
The website gives the deadlines for each state, so FILL IT OUT!
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