There are many hidden or hard to find resources that seem to go unnoticed until the student is slipping financially and the danger of having to quit college is upon them. In order to avoid this stress and complication, it is the student?s responsibility to probe and search, ask plenty of questions, and scout for monetary contribution opportunities wherever they may be. Though admissions and guidance counselors are often the best resources that the student can utilize, there are funding opportunities that these specialists may not be aware of, or that they are not authorized to submit upon for the student, so depending fully upon their expertise may not be enough.
The first form of aid that you need to apply for is the FAFSA application. This form should be filled out as early as January 1st of your high school senior year. The closer you can fill it out and send it in the better as aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis. Considering that there are millions of applications that will be submitted, the difference of just a couple weeks could be the difference between receiving money and being denied. In addition to the FAFSA, you should also explore the CSS Profile form. This is a form that is required by some schools. It is best to check with your high school guidance counselor.
Not only are colleges good sources of scholarships and grants, there are also many other local organizations and programs that you should pursue and explore. You should canvas the organizations and memberships that you or your family participates in. Churches, social groups, and clubs, no matter their size, often fund scholarship programs that are not made public, and you will never know until you ask. There are many great scholarships that are available that are not advertised to the public, and you should do everything you can to prove that you are a worthy candidate to receive the awards.
In addition to colleges and universities, another great source of scholarships are the employers of the student?s parents. Many times there is money available, even if it is only a couple hundred dollars. Even a few hundred dollars can go a long way and by simply adding a few of these smaller scholarships they will quickly add up. Most colleges have a work-study program that will help subsidize the student. You are not necessarily paid for your time, but you will be forgiven from the amount of money that you will owe upon graduation. Talk with your counselor about the details and applying for their program.
If you do find yourself needing to get a loan or two, there are some great new interest rates being introduced on federal and private student loans. This is great news for those who haven?t collected enough money through scholarships and grants to pay for their entire tuition. Just like any other loan commitment, make sure you understand the terms of the loan and shop around for the best rate. One thing that you should note is the re-payment schedule. Most of them do not require re-payment until at least 6 months after graduation.
The first form of aid that you need to apply for is the FAFSA application. This form should be filled out as early as January 1st of your high school senior year. The closer you can fill it out and send it in the better as aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis. Considering that there are millions of applications that will be submitted, the difference of just a couple weeks could be the difference between receiving money and being denied. In addition to the FAFSA, you should also explore the CSS Profile form. This is a form that is required by some schools. It is best to check with your high school guidance counselor.
Not only are colleges good sources of scholarships and grants, there are also many other local organizations and programs that you should pursue and explore. You should canvas the organizations and memberships that you or your family participates in. Churches, social groups, and clubs, no matter their size, often fund scholarship programs that are not made public, and you will never know until you ask. There are many great scholarships that are available that are not advertised to the public, and you should do everything you can to prove that you are a worthy candidate to receive the awards.
In addition to colleges and universities, another great source of scholarships are the employers of the student?s parents. Many times there is money available, even if it is only a couple hundred dollars. Even a few hundred dollars can go a long way and by simply adding a few of these smaller scholarships they will quickly add up. Most colleges have a work-study program that will help subsidize the student. You are not necessarily paid for your time, but you will be forgiven from the amount of money that you will owe upon graduation. Talk with your counselor about the details and applying for their program.
If you do find yourself needing to get a loan or two, there are some great new interest rates being introduced on federal and private student loans. This is great news for those who haven?t collected enough money through scholarships and grants to pay for their entire tuition. Just like any other loan commitment, make sure you understand the terms of the loan and shop around for the best rate. One thing that you should note is the re-payment schedule. Most of them do not require re-payment until at least 6 months after graduation.
About the Author:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About The Author: Brandon Hansen is a college funding enthusiast and expert. His website at http://www.myschoolplans.com/ offers simple yet effective guide on how you can get the most scholarships and grants that are available to you.
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