• Slideshow - The financial aid process is complex and often overwhelming. It involves extensive research, dealing with numerous organizations, and completing a variety of forms by specific deadlines. The appropriate help along the way is crucial.
  • Slideshow - The financial aid process is complex and often overwhelming. It involves extensive research, dealing with numerous organizations, and completing a variety of forms by specific deadlines. The appropriate help along the way is crucial.
  • Slideshow - The financial aid process is complex and often overwhelming. It involves extensive research, dealing with numerous organizations, and completing a variety of forms by specific deadlines. The appropriate help along the way is crucial.

Scholarships

So Many Applicants, So Few Recipients

Scholarships are typically awarded to students that match certain criteria. They could come from the school, private sources, or a variety of other donors.

Where Are They

There are a number of places you should look when seeking the proverbial "free-money" known as scholarships. Try starting with these:

  • State Department of Education - Most states offer scholarships for residents going to in-state schools.
  • Membership Organizations and Employers - This may include any and all affiliations that could potentially offer a college scholarship.
  • Institutional Scholarships - Most schools offer their own scholarships, especially for extraordinary academic achievement. Check all the schools that you are applying to.
  • Local Scholarships - High School Guidance Counselors can be a great source of information regarding city, county, and state-wide scholarships.
  • Free Scholarship Search Services - Companies that offer these include College Board, FastWeb, and Wiredscholar.

When To Apply

You want to make sure that you start researching and applying for scholarships early. Scholarship deadlines are typically a few weeks before the term that the scholarship will be used for. Therefore if the scholarship is for a full academic year, the deadline is likely to be sometime in August.

You should start researching and applying for these scholarships months in advance. A good time to start preparing and applying is over the summer. You will make the scholarship deadlines for the fall and will have plenty of time on your hands to write essays!

How To Apply

There are tons of resources out there to perfect your scholarship applications and essays. Start by checking out the free information that College Board offers.

For professional assistance with Scholarships and Financial Aid, please Contact Us.

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